Name Carolyn Gassmann

EPPSP Group 39
Butler University

The Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals

STANDARD:
30. Leverage community resources and local partnerships to enhance the educational
atmosphere. Mobilize local resources such as health and human services agencies,
departments of public safety, and parks and recreation, community colleges, businesses,
community-based organizations, and other entities in order to maximize opportunities for
students, parents, faculties, and staff. (ELCC 4.2)

Summary:
For the last two years our district has prioritized certifying all teachers in Project Lead the Way
(PLTW). With that certification, I am able to lead students through multi-activity science lessons
with topics ranging from environmental sciences to computer science and everything in
between. The lessons are highly engaging and bring science to life to students in a whole new
way. Leading my student through these activities is one of my favorite parts of teaching.

One of the topics the students in first grade study is light and sound. In one of the activities from
this lesson students explore stations in which they strum a guitar made of rubber bands and a
tissue box, tap glasses of water that vary in size, and use a stethoscope to listen to a partner’s
heart in order to learn how sound is created in one location and travels to their ears.

Last year when I taught this lesson I worked with the nursing teacher at our district’s technical
high school to borrow a handful of stethoscopes for my students to use. By far, this was the
kids’ favorite part of the entire lesson. This year, I wanted to find a way to get enough
stethoscopes for every student to use one for a longer period of time. I looked into the cost of
getting a class set of stethoscopes for this unit. Unfortunately they were very costly, so I was
prepared to contact the nursing teacher once again; until an exciting opportunity arose.

The Lawrence Township Schools Foundation (LTSF) is a non-profit organization that works to
better the educational experience of the almost 16,000 students in the district. Right before I
was getting ready to teach this unit, LTSF announced that they were giving out $11,000 worth of
grants to teachers for various projects. Immediately this unit popped into my brain, and I started
exploring the application process.

In order to apply I needed to research the quantity and cost of a class set of stethoscopes,
present the selection committee with the why of my project, and explain exactly how the money
would be used. Luckily my grant application was selected, and my students were able to
experience the excitement of spending a period of time using a stethoscope of their own to
explore the traveling of sound!
Reflection:
I have applied for grants in the past, and each time I do so, I love getting asked the “why” of my
application. For me, putting time and effort towards applying for a grant pays dividends in the
long run for students. The look on my students’ faces when they learned that they were each
going to be able to use their own high-quality stethoscope brought me so much joy in knowing
that exerting a little of my own effort allowed my students to gain excitement in education.

Teaching in a district that serves a heavily low-income population comes with challenges. There
are fewer families able to support the classroom, less organizations tend to partner with the
schools, etc. Because of this I, and my colleagues, have to work a little harder to find
opportunities to enhance the educational experience for students. As a teacher this means
applying for grants or finding community members whom I know to come speak to the class. I’ve
found that these things make students so excited and give them experiences they remember for
a very long time.

As a principal, I am excited to do this on a larger scale. I know that it will be crucial to create
meaningful partnerships with local businesses, churches, hospitals, etc. These partnerships can
make such a difference in the educational experience of students. When they see that the
teachers and administrators in their school care enough about them to bring in new experiences
and new things for them, they respond more positively and can achieve more greatly. When
adults seek out high-quality experiences for their students, children of all socioeconomic
statuses can thrive in new ways.

Artifacts: