FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Gisler Teacher Is Top Grant Winner

To Charlotte Schroeder, money raised by a community foundation to enhance school programs makes a world of difference.

“It helps us to purchase materials that we would not have the funds to buy,” said Schroeder, a teacher at Robert Gisler Elementary School.

Schroeder was among Fountain Valley School District teachers who received grants from the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation began raising money in 1982 for school programs cut from the district’s budget.

At last week’s school board meeting, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $16,507.77 to the district’s teachers.

The grants, in varying amounts, will be used to fund physical education, audiovisual and performing arts programs and to buy geography, math and history materials and equipment, computer software and physical science kits.

Schroeder was awarded the largest grant of $2,984, which will be spent to buy equipment and materials to teach math in all grade levels.

Since 1982, the foundation has raised about $169,000 for the school district by holding bingo games.

Debbi Setterquist, foundation president, said the organization’s goal is to provide the funding for programs teachers want for their children.

Said Schroeder: “As a teacher, I want to try new programs but I don’t have the funds. But the foundation, they give the encouragement and the funds to try experimental programs or obtain the things we need for our school.”

And, Schroeder said, the bottom line is that extra funding enriches the education of students.