Nine South Whidbey School District teachers were presented with $200 classroom stipends at a teacher staff assembly in preparation for the school year on Sept. 1. The recipients are either new to the district or have been given a new classroom assignment.

“We wanted to welcome and support the new teachers, as well as those in new classroom positions this year,” said South Whidbey Schools Foundation President Chris Gibson. “Many teachers use their own money to help outfit their classrooms and this was our way of showing them that the Foundation cares.”

Michele Sakaguchi, one of the teachers who received a stipend and is making the transition to teach eighth grade math at Langley Middle School, said that “not only are the funds helpful in purchasing materials and supplies for my new classroom, but it’s also great to feel the support that the stipend represents from the South Whidbey Schools Foundation and our community that supports the Foundation.”

In addition to the stipends, the foundation awards classroom grants through the annual South Whidbey Schools Foundation grant program.  Last year, nearly $30,000 was awarded to 26 local teachers to support creative and innovative learning projects that would not otherwise be within district funding allocations.

Visit www.swsfoundation.org to learn more about the Foundation’s “Adopt-A-Grant” program and other ways the community can support local teachers and schools.