By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Jemison teachers were awarded almost $11,000 in Partners Enhancing Education in Chilton (PEECh) grants on Feb. 7, reeling in the most money for Chilton schools.

PEECh is part of the Chilton Education Foundation, which aims to support Chilton County schools. Once a year, members of the PEECh grant committee distribute grants to winning applicants.

PEECh board members Rex Bittle and Betty Giles delivered the checks and made the surprise announcements to 2018 Jemison and Thorsby recipients.

Jemison Elementary School (JES) brought in the most, with a total $3,970 awarded by PEECh to six teachers for their projects.

Checks for $1,000 each were awarded to JES teachers Lacey Rebecca Brown and Donna Harmon. The funds will support Brown’s “Science for Little Scientist” and Harmon’s “Read Everyday and Discover” projects.

Jaclyn Porter was awarded $750 for her “Sensory Integration Classroom,” Dana Price received $230 for her “Math Centers,” Allia Sheikh received $360 for her “Math Centers and Manipulatives” and Bridgett Smith received $630 for her “Resource Room Student Library.”

Jemison Intermediate School (JIS) accepted $3,340 total from the PEECh grants.

The funds were distributed as follows: Kelcie Broadhead received $525 for her “Microscopes/Novels” project, Karen Hayes received $1,000 for her “Elementary Starred Reviews,” Sharon McDaniel received $325 for her “Web-based Learning,” Rachel Mims received $990 for her “21st Century STEM School: Moving From Newspaper to Newscast” and Matthew Staggs received $500 for his “Classroom Library.”

The check presentation at Jemison Middle School was met with much enthusiasm by recipient and seventh grade life science teacher Lori Gooden.

Gooden, who said she was “speechless” at the announcement, was awarded $925 for her “Science Experiments” project. Gooden said the money will fund new microscopes for her classes.

Teachers from Jemison High School (JHS) accepted $2,620 total from PEECh.

JES library media specialist Lori Farris was granted $1,000 for her “Empowering Readers” project, teachers Marsha Lake and Raynette Ellison were granted $920 for their “Farm to Table Herb Garden” project and Suzanne Lenoir and Amanda Anderson were granted $700 for their “Character Counts” project.

“Any person that comes that wants to donate to the PEECh committee, we’d be happy to get it,” Giles said.

Donation checks are payable to PEECh or to Chilton Education Foundation, and can be mailed to P.O. Box 225, Clanton, AL 35046.