SPRINGDALE -- An oversized cardboard check for $100,000 caused Jones Elementary School students to erupt with applause and cheers.
Representatives from Farmers Insurance presented the check to teachers Justin Minkel and Amber Stout during an assembly in the school's cafeteria Friday morning. The pair is one of five national winners of the insurance company's Thank a Million Teachers/Dream Big Challenge.
At A Glance
Reading Level
An Institute of Education Statistics report compared kindergartners from families in the richest fifth of socioeconomic status, measured by income and parents’ occupations and education levels, to those from the poorest fifth. The report found children from the poorest fifth came from families that:
• Owned 38 books compared to 108 in the top fifth.
• Read to their children less often: 63 percent versus 93 percent were read to three or more times a week.
• Spent the most hours a week watching television: 18 hours versus 11 hours.
• Had only one parent: 48 percent versus 10 percent.
Source: Institute of Educational Statistics
"We just finished with the Thanksgiving holiday, but it's never too late to say 'thank you,'" Jim Rollins, superintendent of the Springdale School District.
The students responded with a resounding chorus of "Thank you!"
Minkel, a first-grade teacher, and Stout, a third-grade educator, submitted their Home Library Project to the Farmers grant program. The goal is to give 20 books to each of the school's students each year. The grant will allow them to buy 25,000 books for 1,000 students.
"Every child will read at a much higher level thanks to projects like this," Rollins said.
The teachers were also surprised to learn Friday they will be riding the Farmers Insurance float during the Jan. 1 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
"More than anything, Farmers values teachers," said Greg Collier, a Farmers agent in Springdale.
Collier helped spread the word about the contest that was decided by a national public vote. The contest broke the country into five regions with one of 15 finalists winning in each area. The Thank a Million Teachers program donated $1 million this year. Farmers awarded several $2,500 grants throughout the year in addition to the five $100,000 winners announced this month.
It took a last minute surge to push Jones Elementary into the top spot after trailing a Texas school with one week left to vote, said Carrie Bonney, Farmers spokeswoman. Voting was open Oct. 1 through Nov. 30 and individuals could cast one vote per day.
Jones won by 2,349 votes. People cast 35,201 votes in regional voting.
"We could not have done this without the community support," Minkel said.
Teachers in Blackfoot, Idaho, and Henderson, Nev., also learned Friday they won $100,00 grants. Farmers will present the final two awards next week.
Social media and email played big roles in drumming up support. Minkel said it was a lot of work, but he was able to educate many people about the program's goals during the campaign.
"I would like this to become a case study and expand this program statewide, and even nationwide," he said.
Minkel started the program five years ago in his classroom, and Stout expanded it to 13 classrooms last year. The teachers received some money from the School District, but also relied on community donations. They also spent their own money to buy books. Stout said she was always hitting used book stores and rummage sales to find used books.
The grant will take the program into all 26 classrooms at Jones, and supply them with 20 new books each of the next two years. A couple of classrooms at Harp and Lee elementary schools will also participate in the program. Rollins said all three elementary schools feed into J.O. Kelly Middle School.
Minkel said he has students go to the Scholastic website and create a wish list of books they would like.
"It gives the kids choices on what they want to read, and they are excited because they get to keep it," he said.
Melissa Fink, Jones principal, said the program is so successful because 98 percent of the school's 640 students live in poverty.
"When you work at a school like Jones, you have to think outside the box," she said.
Donna Elder, reading specialist and director of literacy and family learning services at the National Center for Families Learning, said reading at home helps strengthen the parent-child bond. Reading together can improve both the student's and parents' literacy, she said.
"Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health concluded that programs to boost the academic achievement of children from low-income neighborhoods might be more successful if they also provided adult literacy education to parents," she said.
National Institute of Health researchers found a mother's reading skill is the greatest determinant of her children's future academic success, outweighing other factors, such as neighborhood and family income, Elder said.
The center worked with Jones in the past when the school won a three-year Toyota Family Learning Program grant.
"They are doing some great things in Springdale," she said.
NW News on 12/06/2014