The Bent Tree Foundation Awards Grants to Pickens County Teachers
By Leah Kelly, Grants Chairman
Bent Tree Foundation
On October 21, 2024, Gerald Hunter, Chairman of the Bent Tree Foundation, along with Nancy Davis, Secretary for the Bent Tree Foundation, and Leah Kelly, Grants Chairman for the Bent Tree Foundation, had the distinct pleasure of awarding twelve grants to teachers and administrators in Pickens County. The grant funds, which totaled over $7,000, were raised through various fundraisers thanks to the generosity of Bent Tree residents. Each grant award was personally presented to the educator, and their administrator received the funds to be designated for purchasing their awarded supplies for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Angela Kretschmar, the Administrator of Hill City Elementary School, accompanied us to music teacher Jenny Richards’ classroom to award her funds for her grant titled “Continuing to Tinker with TinkerTars,” which will provide one-stringed guitars for her students.
Stephen Hunter, the Administrator of Harmony Elementary School, walked us through several classrooms where educators received checks. Second grade teacher Andrea Brooks was awarded funds for her grant, “Makerspace Extravaganza,” which includes a cart filled with activity cards and materials to enrich student learning. Stacie Brownell received a check for her English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) grant titled “Asset-Based Access to English,” providing supplies that offer visual support and text chunking for scaffolding grade-level complex text. Beth Darnell wrote a grant called “Unlocking Letter Sounds” to help her Kindergarten students understand phonics, the foundation for learning to read. Additionally, Jennifer Valeriana, also a Kindergarten teacher, received funds for her grant “Shining a Light on Sensory Learning,” which includes a lighted box and translucent manipulatives.
Miranda Combs, the Principal of Jasper Middle School, accepted funding for Media Specialist Eileen Steinhauer, who wrote a grant titled “Fill the Shelves” to help purchase more books for the Media Center. Math teacher Tammy Duncan received a check for her grant, “Wobble Your Way to Success,” which will allow her to purchase interactive chairs for her students. She was urged by a student, Cooper LeSueur, to apply. He was in the classroom when we awarded Ms. Duncan her grant. Additionally, Randy Marler was awarded funds to purchase “Earthworm Dissections” for his 6th grade students.
Kaynon Petti, the Principal of Pickens Junior High School, guided us as we awarded three grants to teachers. Kimsey Head, a special education teacher, received funding for her grant proposal titled “PJHS Junior Dragon Snack Cart.” This initiative will provide her students with the opportunity to develop real-life skills in a safe environment. Misty Norton wrote a grant called “Read Theory Digital Reading Program,” which will benefit all 7th grade students at Pickens Junior High School by enhancing their English-Language Arts skills. Suzette Hermann proposed “Investigation Stations,” allowing her 7th and 8th grade students to use various measurement tools to gather data. This grant was personally funded by Mrs. Nancy Davis in memory of her husband, Dr. Monty Davis, Professor Emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
And finally, Matt Combs, the Principal at Pickens High School, accompanied us to Dennis Wilson’s construction classroom. Mr. Wilson received a check for his grant proposal entitled “OHSA 10 Training.” This program will allow his students to earn an industry-certified credential that will benefit them for a lifetime.
In addition, the Bent Tree Foundation would like to thank the Foundation’s Grant Review Committee members and former educators, Nancy Davis, Leah Kelly, Sherri McMullen, and Bruce Parker for their dedication and review of the 2024-2025 grant applications on behalf of the Bent Tree Foundation.
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!