2023-24 Teacher Grant Awards Announced

Thirteen teachers were awarded funds to enrich their classrooms and schools with a wide variety of items including science, reading, and physical education curriculum materials, DEI dolls, print-making supplies, and binding machines. At their December 12, 2023 meeting, the Pullman Education Foundation approved more than $6000 in awards to teachers, Congratulations to the following teachers!

• Desiree Greystone

• Heidi Fluegal

• Willma Fields

• Joe Covill

• Katharine Covill

• David Cofer

• Katie Wexler

• Kate Agnew

• Craig Brantner

• Haley Fishback

• Stephanie Newman

• Marla Haugen

• Edward Wilhelm

Class of 2019 Scholarship Awards

Congratulations Pullman High School Class of 2019 scholarship recipients!

• Jessica Clark Memorial Scholarship, $1000: Jocelyn Gross

• PEO Chapter S Scholarship, $1500: Katelyn Wills

• Class of 1948 Scholarship, $1000: Florence Adesope

• Mary Paznokas Scholarship, $500: Chelsea Bammes

• Corinne Simasko Memorial Scholarship, $1900: Henry Ward

• Karin Myklebust Scholarship, $1000: Jenna Herzog

• Ryan Brindamour Memorial Scholarship, $1000: Roman Romanyuck

• Future Teacher Scholarship, $2000: Maria Jaiyeola

• Class of 1956 Scholarship, $750: Kenny Peng

• Class of 1960 Scholarship, $1000: Ty Hendrickson

• Noah Evermann Humanitarian Award, $2500: Sadie Lenssen

PHS STEAM Proposal Lands Innovation Grant Award

Pullman High School chemistry teacher Johanna Brown and art teacher Rob McPherson’s $9880 proposal for a capstone project involving students enrolled in ceramics and chemistry is the 2019-2020 recipient of the PEF Innovation Grant. Grant funds will support the construction of a Raku kiln, purchase of a glazing cabinet with carts, glaze-making supplies and materials, Raku process supplies, and printing costs for display posters.

Students will study the science of ceramics by using raw materials to create glazes which then will be applied to their pottery creations. Pottery will be fired at specific temperatures and results analyzed. The process of experimenting with glazes will require student use and knowledge of the scientific process, engineering practices, and the aesthetics of ceramic artwork. Student artwork and scientific displays will be exhibited each year at the PHS spring arts festival.

This ambitious project will count on help from shop teacher Vince Hanley’s welding class to build and install an outdoor kiln for Raku firing. Mike Wendt of Wendt Pottery in Lewiston, ID., will advise on pottery production, and Michael Maughan, Ph.D, Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, will provide guidance in research and experimental design.

2018-19 Teacher Grant Awards Announced

Twenty-eight teachers were awarded funds to enrich their classrooms and schools with a wide variety of items including science, reading, and math curriculum materials, Chromebooks; playground equipment and visiting speakers. At its December 11, 2018 meeting, Pullman Education Foundation approved more than $8000 in awards to teachers plus an additional $2000 to PSD libraries Congratulations to the following teachers!

PreSchool: Heather Franklin

Franklin Elementary School: Marci Sontegerath, Dom Ventresco, Nancy Nelson, Scott Randall, Ann Lee, Jennifer Escobedo, Katie Evermann, Lonna Carrier, Haylee Fishback, Corine Andersen.

Jefferson Elementary School: Sarah Corbin, Sadie Boone, Jill Brockmier, Chelsea Jones, Diane Hathaway, Breeanna Gibson, Meg Conley, Trisha Doumit, Anthony Haynes, Abby Liss, Jamie Bye, Sandra Casanova.

Sunnyside Elementary: Allison Bell

Lincoln Middle School: Heidi Fluegel, Marla Haugen, Savannah Helbling, Kelly Schultheis, Carone Jones.

Pullman High School: Calvin Creger, Paden Carlson, Dan Bromley

Pullman School District: Allison Bellmore

Teachers Invited to Apply for Mini-Grants

The PEF is accepting applications until December 4, 2018 from Pullman School District teachers wanting to purchase materials that will enrich/augment classroom experiences for their pupils. Grant requests may not exceed $500. Awards will be announced in December and must be expended by May 31, 2019. The number of grants awarded will depend upon PEF funds available. In 2017-2018 Franklin, Sunnyside, LMS and PHS teachers—12 in all—plus libraries district-wide, benefitted from nearly $5000 in PEF funding supporting instruction in math, literature, French, and outdoor education. Find Teacher Grant information and the application form on this site under About/Grants.

Spartan Seed to Feed Underway

Spartan Seed to Feed, the Innovation Grant garden project under the direction of LMS teacher Marla Haugen, is underway!  They are currently receiving welcome design help from WSU Landscape Architecture students in Professor Jolie's class.   Marla originally envisioned having raised beds constructed and ready for fall planting, but the design collaboration with WSU will push the project to spring.  In addition to her involvement in the planning and design process this fall, Marla is starting a Spartan Seed Garden Club.  The club will have a hydroponic system courtesy of Joe Astorino at the Community Action Center, and flower bulbs to plant around the LMS campus.

At the garden site, a quad-trac tire procured by Craig Nelson is in place as a raised bed.  As soon as donated compost arrives, it will be planted with radishes.  Marla needs a wheelbarrow, and although some storage space at LMS has been allotted for gardening tools and supplies, a dedicated garden shed is on her wish list. 

2018 Scholarship recipients announced

Congratulations to the Pullman High School Class of 2018!

Noah Stephen Francis Evermann Humanitarian Award $2500:  Kameron Kinkade

Future Teacher Scholarship $2000: Kaden Hildenbrand

Corinne Simasko Scholarship $1900:  Berklee Child

Jessica Clark Scholarship $1000:  Laura Madison Shearer

Karin Myklebust Scholarship  $1000:  Brianna Reyes

Ryan Brindamour Scholarship  $1000: Jared Holstad

Class of 1948 Scholarship  $1000:  Alyssa Bailey

Class of 1960 Scholarship  $1000: Elizabeth Hwang

Class of 1956 Scholarship  $750: Sara Moore

Mary Paznokas Scholarship $500: Grace Teague

Chapter S PEO Scholarship  $1500: Jane Tang

$10,000 award launches Spartan Seed to Feed Project

L-R, Marla Haugen with Principal Cameron Grow and 7th grade students: Cotton Sears, Matthew Bowman, Kunza Tolman, Rachel Meyer, Eliza McNelly, Sammy Fisher, Ethan Anderson  

Lincoln Middle School science teacher Marla Haugen recently received the good news that the Pullman Education Foundation selected her Spartan Seed to Feed Project for its $10,000 Innovation Grant award.   The raised-bed garden project, which gets underway in the fall, will transform a seasonably wet, grassy area with poor drainage into an outdoor science classroom.  Twelve raised beds with gravel pathways will be constructed with the help of students, volunteers from the Palouse Conservation District Americorps, the FFA, Boy Scout Troop 460 and other local service groups.

Middle school students who already participate in the lunchtime composting program will have hands-on experiences preparing soil, making cold frames, planting, weeding, and harvesting crops which will be used by the school's kitchen, the LMS Culinary Club and the YMCA.    Crops to be grown include raspberries, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, carrots, green beans, beets, potatoes, squash, cucumbers and peppers.  Excess produce will be donated to the Community Action Center.  During the summer months, it is anticipated that the garden will be maintained by the YMCA.  

The garden plan also includes an aesthetically pleasing gathering place with benches and picnic tables.  In the future, Marla would like to plant fruit trees on an adjacent slope.   It is anticipated that Spartan Seed to Feed will become the prototype for future gardens being planned by Jefferson and Franklin  elementary schools. 

Support Pullman Education Foundation today!

You can make a difference for all students
in our Pullman Public Schools!

This past year, the Pullman Education Foundation (PEF) experienced some great success. We could not have done this without the generous support of members of our community, like you.We've
·         established the Innovation Grant, providing $10,000 annually to implement new programs and provide opportunity for innovation or enhancement of existing programs in the classroom
·         supported nearly $7,500 in small teacher grants, allowing ideas to blossom and positively impact a large number of our students
·         invested in the Collaborative Learning for Educational Achievement and Resilience program (CLEAR) that trains educators and staff to recognize and provide support for students who are dealing with some of life’s most challenging situations
·         assisted our schools’ libraries with the purchase of resources
·         invested in the 5th Grade Camp with the purchase of camp tents
·         awarded $14,000 in college scholarships

As the PEF looks to grow and build upon the success we see in our schools, we are asking each of you to think about how you might invest in the schools, students, and educators of Pullman.

This year we are offering a variety of options for donating to the PEF. Contributions with a check can be mailed to PO Box 151, Pullman, WA 99163; WSU employees can make ongoing gifts via the WSU Combined Fund Drive by selecting the Pullman Education Foundation; and we are excited to announce our new secure online payment system at www.PullmanEducationFoundation.org/donate.

On behalf of the Pullman Education Foundation, thank you for your consideration of a generous—and tax-deductible—gift to support our students and the dedicated teachers and staff of our schools.

CLEAR project in place at Sunnyside Elementary School

Collaborative Learning for Educational Achievement and Resilience (CLEAR) is a project funded in parts by the Pullman Education Foundation, Whitman County Health Network, and the Pullman School District.  CLEAR staff members provide professional development, coaching and consultation to the staff at Sunnyside Elementary School twice/month.  Much of the professional development focuses on understanding children who have experienced trauma and how to approach and engage those students at school. 

Data collected by the WSU-Spokane Child and Family Research Unit indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) “pile on” when young brains are developing.  As children who have had one or more ACE become adults, many are impacted with health conditions such as alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.    Pam Brantner, principal at Sunnyside Elementary School, says, “There is no better time to address physical and mental health than with our children.  CLEAR strategies have helped us to better meet student needs, understand the impacts of outside events on school, and support students to positively impact student learning.”  One strategy used in the school was to teach children the hand model of the brain and what it feels like when they flip their lids.  “The brain exercise has helped all students recognize how they need to feel in order to be successful learners.  All students in our school recognize this model of the brain and how to apply strategies to get them to their “downstairs brain” where learning occurs.”

The Pullman School District is working in partnership with the Pullman Regional Hospital to secure outside funding to add this approach to other schools in the near future.