2023 Bent Tree Foundation Awards Pickens County Teacher Grants
By Debbie Ford, Chair
Bent Tree Foundation Grant Program
On October 10, 2023, Gerald Hunter, Chairman of the Bent Tree Foundation, Debbie Ford, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Program, Mike Moffitt and Nancy Davis, both Bent Tree Foundation Directors, had the pleasure to continue the commitment of the Bent Tree Foundation Mission by presenting nine Pickens County Educators and Administrators at Pickens County schools with grants totaling over $8,000. The grant funds were raised through a variety of fundraising events and the generous donations of many Bent Tree residents. Each of the grants was personally presented to the school administrators and educators for implementation of their respective grants during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Hill City Elementary School Principal, Angela Kretschmar, accepted grant funds for grant recipients Andrea Gartell for her grant entitled “Flexible Seating” and Jenny Richards for her grant entitled “Tinkering with “Tinker Tars”.
Scott Stephens, Tate Elementary School Principal, accepted funds for grant recipient Krista Newton for her grant entitled “Mirrors and Windows: Diverse Books Matter 1-4”.
Harmony Elementary School Assistant Principal, Stephen Hunter, accepted funds for grant recipient Jennifer Valeriana for her grant entitled “Interdisciplinary Units for Kindergarten”; Tiffany Griffis for her grant entitled “Super Size Our Centers” and Mandy Ledford for her grant entitled “Flexible Seating For SPED Students”.
Corey Thompson, Jasper Middle School Principal, accepted funds for Rhonda Noe’s grant entitled “Motivation, Movement, and Maps”. Mr. Thompson also accepted grant funds provided by Bent Tree Foundation Board member Nancy Davis, in memory of her husband Dr. Monte Davis, professor emeritus at Georgia Tech, for Lydia Kress whose grant was entitled “Expanding Horizons: Enriching Through Atlases”.
Pickens High School Principal, Matt Combs, accepted funds for Scott Hamilton’s grant entitled “Preparing Special Ed students for Future Employment”; Dennis Wilson’s grant entitled “OSHA 10 Certification” and Jeremy Sellers grant entitled “Change of PACE”.
The Bent Tree Foundation looks forward to hearing about the educational impact and/or results of the individual grant implementations at the end of the school year. In addition, the Bent Tree Foundation would like to thank the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Review Committee members and former educators: Jodi Thurmond, Mike Moffit, Nancy Davis and Nancy Moffitt for their dedication and review of the 2023 grant applications on behalf of the Bent Tree Foundation.
2022 Bent Tree Foundation Awards Pickens County Teacher Grants
By Debbie Ford, Chair
Bent Tree Foundation Grant Program
On October 18, 2022, Gerald Hunter, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation, Mike Moffitt, Nancy Davis and Debbie Ford, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Program, had the pleasure to continue the commitment of the Bent Tree Foundation Mission by presenting 11 Pickens County Educators and Administrators at 6 Pickens County schools with grants totaling over $7,000. The grant funds were raised through a variety of fundraising events and the generous donations of many Bent Tree residents. Each of the grants was personally presented to the school administrators and educators for implementation of their respective grants during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Hill City Elementary School Administrator, Angela Kretschmar, accepted grant funds for grant recipient Jenny Richards for her grant entitled: “Bringing Music to Life Through Stories”.
Harmony Elementary School Administrator, Stephen Hunter, accepted funds for grant recipients Jennifer Valeriana for her grant entitled: “Math Alive!”, Kayla Culbreth for her grant entitled: “Reaching All Students Through Interactive Learning” and Coladie Duncan for her grant entitled: “Walkway to Harmony”.
Tate Elementary School Administrator, Ann Long, accepted grant funds for Krista Newton for her grant entitled: “Bring Reading to Life: Secret Stories”.
Pickens County Middle School Administrator, Duane Chronic, accepted funds for grant recipients Leigh Chapman and Randy Marler for their grant entitled: “Digital Cameras for Yearbook/Photography. In addition, grants were funded for Charlene Stirewalt for her grant entitled: “Lettuce Grow a Food Factory”, and Stephanie Rickman for her grant entitled: “History at our Fingertips”.
Pickens County Junior High School Administrator, Kanyon Petti, accepted grant funds for Lauren Tolar for her grant entitled: “A Technical Turn for The Better” and Todd Dobson for his grant entitled: “Farm Fresh Eggs”.
Pickens County High School Administrator, Chris Williams, accepted funds provided by Bent Tree Foundation Board member Nancy Davis, in memory of her husband, Dr. Monte Davis, professor emeritus at Georgia Tech, for Dr. Connie Nelson for her grant entitled: “AP Chemistry Equipment and Supplies”.
In addition, the Bent Tree Foundation would like to thank the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Review Committee members and former educators Mike Moffit, Nancy Moffitt, Leah Kelly and Nancy Davis for their dedication and review of the 2022 grant applications on behalf of the Bent Tree Foundation.
2021-2022 Bent Tree Foundation Awards Pickens County Teacher Grants
By Debbie Ford
Chair, Bent Tree Foundation Grant Program
On October 6, 2021, Gerald Hunter, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation, Mike Moffitt, Nancy Davis and Debbie Ford, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Program, had the pleasure to continue the commitment of the Bent Tree Foundation Mission by presenting 9 Pickens County Educators and Administrators at 6 Pickens County schools with grants totaling over $6,000. The grant funds were raised through a variety of fundraising events and the generous donations of many Bent Tree residents. Each of the grants was personally presented to the school administrators and educators for implementation of their respective grants during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Hill City Elementary School Administrator, Jennifer Halko, accepted grant funds for grant recipients Maria Collins for her Grant entitled: “Wiggle and Learn”; Jenny Wehunt for her Grant entitled “Buckets Full of Rhythm – Drumming Through COVID”; Georgia Allen for her grant entitled “Standing to Learn” and Suzanne Hardison for “Full STEAM Ahead with Kindergarten and First Grade” funded by Nancy Davis, in memory of her husband, Dr. Monte Davis, professor emeritus at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Harmony Elementary School Administrator, Marla Callahan, accepted funds for grant recipient Jennifer Valeriana for her Grant entitled: “Letters Alive!”.
Jasper Middle School Administrator, Corey Thompson, accepted funds for grant recipient Andra Callahan for her Grant entitled: “Listening Math Centers”.
Pickens County Junior High School Administrator, Dr. Chad Flatt, accepted grant funds for Laurie Guelcher for her Grant entitled: “Jr. Dragon Café Expansion” for the Intellectually Disabled Program.
Pickens County High School Administrator, Dr. Chris Wallace, accepted funds provided by Bent Tree Foundation Board member Nancy Davis, in memory of her husband, Dr. Monte Davis, professor emeritus at Georgia Tech for Dr. Connie Nelson for her grant entitled: “Physical Science Equipment”.
Pickens Alternative Center for Education received a grant for Kelly Flatt for her grant entitled “Growth Mindset Gardens”.
Also, each of the grant recipients and their Administrators were invited to attend the Scholarship and Grant reception provided by the Bent Tree Foundation scheduled for May 1, 2022, at which time they will present the educational impact and/or results of their individual grant implementation.
In addition, the Bent Tree Foundation would like to thank the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Review Committee members and former educators Tim Long, Mike Moffit, Susan Duncan, and Nancy Davis for their dedication and review of the 2021 grant applications on behalf of the Bent Tree Foundation.
2020-2021 Grant Presentations
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, there were no grants awarded.
2019-2020 Bent Tree Foundation Grant Recipients
by Debbie Davis
On October 23, 2019, Jesse Hunter, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation, Board members
Brian Orletsky, Nancy Davis and Debbie Davis, Chair of the Bent Tree Foundation Scholarship /Grant Program, had the pleasure to present 10 Pickens County Administrators and Educators at 5 Pickens County schools totaling over $9,089.00. The grant funds were raised through a variety of fundraising events including a golf event, Wines of the World and the generous donations of many Bent Tree residents. Each of the grants was personally presented to the School administrators and educators for implementation of their respective grants during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Pickens High School Administrator, Chris Wallace, accepted grant funds for a grant submitted by Holly Rylee for her grant entitled “Dragons are Green Recycling Program and for Dr. Connie Nelson for her grant entitled “AP Honors Chemistry Inquiry-Based Learning Technological Equipment” which was funded by Nancy Davis, in memory of her husband Dr. Monte Davis, Professor Emeritus at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Pickens Junior High School Administrator, Dr. Chad Flatt, accepted funds for a grant submitted by Sabrina Adler entitled “Reading Across the Curriculum” and for a grant submitted by Sue Watters entitled “Modular Robotics” funded by Nancy Davis, in memory of her husband Dr. Monte Davis, Professor Emeritus at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Hill City Administrator, Jennifer Halko, accepted grant funds for grant recipients Sonia Chapman for her grant entitled “Hydroponics…the future of Agriculture” and for Suzanne Hardison for her grant entitled “Media Center Makerspace: Giving Students a Place to Design and Create”.
Tate Elementary Administrator, Stephanie Hall, accepted grant funds for grant recipient Krista Newton for her grant entitled “Listen to Read”.
Harmony Elementary Administrator, Marla Callahan, accepted grant funds for grant recipients Jennifer Blankenship for her grant entitled: “It’s Alive! Letters Alive!”; for grant recipient Chelli Youngblood for her grant entitled “STEM Bins”; and for Tiffany Paschal for her grant entitled “Accessible Books for All” which will be utilized at several Pickens County schools.
In addition, the Bent Tree Foundation would like to thank the Bent Tree Foundation Grant Review Committee members and former educators Tim Long, Linda August, and Nancy Davis for their dedication and review of the 2019 grant applications.
Also, the Bent Tree Foundation wants to thank all of the individuals in Pickens County and the Bent Tree community whose generosity and financial support help make this Bent Tree Foundation Mission possible!