By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield Educational Trust’s longtime tradition of providing grants to educators is still going strong.
LET Co-President Kathryn Price said during a recent School Committee meeting that the nonprofit organization was founded by a group of parents in 1990.
“It’s a 34-year-old group,” said Price. “The mission is to fund new and innovative projects that are outside the operating budget of the Lynnfield Public Schools. We are a volunteer-run group that has an executive board. We also have an advisory board that is made up entirely of LPS staff. We have a pretty robust group of teachers in the district advising us, which has been awesome.”
Price said LET has two types of grants that are awarded to educators.
“Grants that exceed an amount of $500 are submitted in the fall and in the spring,” said Price. “We review those through a formal process. For anything under $500, we have a small allocation that can be submitted at any time. The grant applications are funneled through the building principals so that they are advised of any initiatives that are underway.”
Price said LET has been looking to “reinvigorate some of the nice traditions that the group had for a really long time.” She said LET presented October 2024 Apple Awards to Lynnfield High School History/Social Studies Department Head Susan Breen, LHS nurse Risa Ferrara and LHS Counselor Krista Normandin.
“That is a really fun thing to be apart of,” said Price. “There is no selection process. Everybody who is nominated receives the Apple Award. We have a certificate and a magnet that we deliver to each recipient. It’s really fun getting to recognize wonderful teachers.”
The LET recently held its Annual Appeal, which raised $5,575. LET is holding a Spelling Bee that will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Lynnfield Middle School auditorium, beginning at 6 p.m. A snow date has been scheduled for Friday, Jan. 24.
“We are hoping to get robust attendance in order to be able to increase our grant making this spring,” Price wrote on LET’s Facebook page. “We will be looking for teams of five organized by age: Grades 1-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6, grades 7-8, high school and adult municipal groups to sign up together. We will also be looking for team sponsors (families, businesses, etc.) and one event sponsor. If you are interested in this, you can email us a LynnfieldEducationalTrust@gmail.com.”
Grants Coordinator Karen Panos said the LET has awarded a number of grants to educators over the past 34 years. She said one of the grants were production studios that are located in the media centers at both elementary schools. She said Education Technology Department Head Rochelle Cooper submitted the grant.
“Rochelle’s goal was to have production studios in the media center of each of the elementary schools,” said Panos. “She wanted really dynamic spaces where students could really actively engage in creating podcasts, video productions and vlogs. LET was excited to be able to fund the essential equipment of microphones, soundproofing materials and green screens.”
Cooper noted in a video that the grant also funded lighting, cameras and soundboards for the production studios.
“We had a great response from teachers and students,” said Cooper.
Cooper said KISS 108 DJ Gianna Gravalese, who lives in town, visited one of the studios to talk to students about broadcasting and podcasts.
“We look forward to learning and creating more in our production studios and working with highly engaged and happy students,” said Cooper. “Thanks LET.”
Panos said LET funded a water filtration station in the Lynnfield High School cafeteria that was requested by Science Department Head Scott Gordon.
“His students have done extensive research about the negative affects of single plastic use bottles on the environment and individual health,” said Panos. “Two water filtration stations were already in place at the high school, but they weren’t easily accessible because they were both on the second floor. We were able to fund one on the first floor. He has seen a dramatic increase in the use of stainless steel water bottles at Lynnfield High School.”
Panos also said LET helped fund Lynnfield Middle School’s fifth grade three-day field trip to the Freedom Trail in Boston. She said LMS teachers Mark Vermont and John Davidson submitted the grant.
“After studying the American Revolution, this trip to Boston is always a huge success,” said Panos. “It makes real history come alive. This grant contribution helped offset the cost for each student for transportation as well as the entry into various museums, including Paul Revere’s house, the Bunker Hill Monument, the USS Constitution and many others.”
Panos also said LET funded a Positive Spin grant that was applied for by Huckleberry Hill fourth grade teacher Debra Tracy. She said the Positive Spin presentation given by motivational speaker Brett “Ooch” Outchcunis focused on “social-emotional health.”
“This program emphasized positive life choices for a healthy state of mind,” said Panos. “The presenter, known as Ooch, used comedy, storytelling and music to teach students about the power of perspective and positive spin. Students learned how to step back and reset to slow down and think before you react. They also practiced some really fun and easy to remember tips and techniques to use when faced with disappointment and frustration. This presentation was for the entire school.”
Panos said LET funded the LHS Art In The Hallways grant that was submitted by Unified Arts teacher Elizabeth Hayden.
“This is part of an ongoing initiative to showcase amazing student artwork in the hallways,” said Panos. “In addition so, it raises awareness for the art program. Additionally, it beatifies the hallways. If anyone has been in the high school recently, I am sure they have seen some of this amazing art. Student artwork remains at Lynnfield High School after the student graduates. It serves as a hall of fame and a place for students to leave their mark. Students learned how to mat and frame the art, and those materials were funded by LET.”
Panos said LET also funded a grant requested by Summer Street School media specialist Alex Caram that allowed author Marty Kelley to give a presentation to students.
“Marty Kelley is an enthusiastic presenter and students always love when a famous author comes to school,” said Panos. “He provided a motivational workshop and presentations for each grade. He connected with students by sharing childhood experiences and ideas for writing. He also walked students through his writing process as well as techniques for illustrations. Students left his workshop with insight on generating ideas for their own writing.”
Panos also said LET funded a mini grant for LMS adjustment counselor Marisa Botta that renewed her therapy dog Finn’s certification and insurance.
School Committee member Jamie Hayman praised the work that LET has done for the district’s educators and students.
“This is such important work,” said Hayman. “We have a great district here and we try every year to fund as much as we can through our operating budget. It is no secret that operating budgets are getting tighter and tighter, and this is extra. These are the things that take you from really good to great. I hope the community pays attention to this type of work.”
Price thanked Hayman for the kind words.
“I was a classroom teacher in a public school once upon time,” said Price. “Getting these projects funded as an educator is really gratifying. It shows that investment and it speaks to people’s creativity and innovation. They have the drive to meet their students’ needs.”
After Price and Panos finished giving an overview of the LET’s initiatives, the meeting’s attendees gave both women a round of applause.