Union County Public Schools announces Empowering Educators Fellowship winners

Union County Public Schools (UCPS) has announced the launch of its first-ever Empowering Educators Fellowship, aimed at supporting innovative teaching projects. The initiative invited UCPS teachers to propose projects that enhance student engagement, creativity, and learning outcomes. Three teachers were selected to receive up to $1,000 each for their projects.

The selection committee chose Abby Wheaton, Sakara Bruce, and Margie McGraw for their commitment to innovation in education. "Please join us in congratulating Abby Wheaton, Sakara Bruce, and Margie McGraw! We're incredibly proud of these educators and excited to see the positive impact their projects will have on our students," stated UCPS.

Abby Wheaton's project at Union County Middle School involves GT students exploring the "Villain's Journey" using Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" as a guide. Students will create villains, design board games based on their stories, and make comic books. This project emphasizes student-driven learning and creative expression.

Sakara Bruce at Sturgis Elementary is incorporating Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) into her classroom. Through interactive gameplay, students will learn subjects like history and math. "This is such an exciting opportunity for our students!" said UCPS about this engaging approach.

Margie McGraw's project at UCHS introduces programmable robots called Seekers to teach coding. Students will use these robots in real-world scenarios to enhance practical learning experiences. The project aims to benefit current and future students by fostering creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills.

UCPS expressed pride in its teachers' creative ideas: "We're so proud of all of our teachers and their creative ideas! We can't wait to see these exciting projects in action!"