Four Sequim teachers receive grants from Beta Nu President Sue Clary. The grants are funded by the Helen Gariepy Fund to aid teachers in their professional development. From left, Andrea Slack, Kevin Magner, Clary, Sharle Osborne and Sheri Burke. Sequim Gazette photo by Mark Couhig
by MARK ST.J. COUHIG
Sequim Gazette
Four area teachers received grants this week from Beta Nu, the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
The four, all teachers in the Sequim School District, will use the funds to improve their teaching skills.
Sharle Osborne, a fourth-grade teacher at Haller Elementary Grant, received a grant to purchase Rosetta Stone software to increase her fluency in Spanish.
Andrea Slack, a third-grade teacher at Haller Elementary, received funding to help her pursue her National Board Certification.
She is learning new ways to initiate positive interactive relationships with families as they participate in
the education of their children.
Sheri Burke, a third-grade teacher at Greywolf Elementary, received funds to continue work toward her National Board Certification; she is improving her capacity to adjust instruction for individual students.
Kevin Magner, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Sequim Middle School, received tuition reimbursement for a course in “Writing Dynamic Compositions,” which will help him improve his students’ essays.
Beta Nu provides funding for purposes beyond those paid for by the district.
Beta Nu president Sue Clary said, “The workshops and college coursework are all completed outside of school time — when the teacher has recognized that she or he could professionally improve with additional education and training. We are delighted to provide this assistance to teachers.”
The grants, made possible through the Helen Gariepy fund, are given twice annually to teachers.
In the spring, grants are made to students, juniors or above, who are accepted into an educational program at their college or university. Students must be graduates of a Clallam County school or Peninsula College.
Although these four teachers are all from Sequim, grants are provided to teachers in all Clallam County schools and at Peninsula College.
The Beta Nu Scholarship Committee is always seeking applications from teachers. Instructions and applications can be found at www.beta nuchapter.com.
Beta Nu is a chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, whose purpose is to provide support and education for teachers.
There are 28 members in the local chapter. All are active or retired teachers.
