VENTURA : 22 Teachers Win Grants to Advance Innovative Programs

Twenty-two Ventura teachers have been awarded grants totaling $11,000 to help aid innovative classroom programs.

The 1991-92 “mini-grants” were awarded to teachers in 14 elementary, middle and high schools by the Ventura Unified School District Educational Foundation, said Sylvia McGinnis, the foundation’s executive director.

The nonprofit organization, established in 1987 and supported by community leaders, parents, teachers and business people, raises money for programs that usually do not receive money from the school district, McGinnis said.

“There are some real strong programs in Ventura, and we want to keep them going,” she said. “We try to fill in where the district is unable to.”

The foundation uses its funds to initiate and maintain innovative programs developed by teachers and to keep teachers abreast of new technology, she said.

Among the programs awarded grants was a project created by Loma Vista Elementary School teacher Jacqueline Gilmore to develop and increase students’ writing skills through the use of computers and a program developed by Will Rogers Elementary School teacher Aline Grossman that will use dance to build self-esteem among bilingual students.

Balboa Middle School teacher Julie Horne said she was thrilled to get the $500 grant that she had requested. “It will make it easier to get more up-to-date bits of information to the students,” she said.

Horne said she will use the money to buy a television and videocassette recorder to show videos on subjects such as teen pregnancy, drugs and divorce.