Q.C. group aids student, teacher projects

Queen Creek High School students in Stephanie Maynard’s science class will soon create a simulated oil spill and study its effects on the environment, thanks to a grant from the Queen Creek Schools Education Foundation.

The $300 grant will give Maynard’s students the chance to study the oil spill in a controlled environment, and learn the cost factors and cleanup process that come with an environmental disaster.

Maynard’s grant was one of three given to teachers Dec. 21 by the foundation.

Since its inception in 2005, the foundation has awarded $1,700 through eight teacher grants. The foundation has also given $7,000 in scholarships to three students to help them further their educations after graduating from Queen Creek High School, said Tom Bidlack, the new president of the education foundation.

“We want to help teachers and students so they don’t have to dig into their pockets to further education,” said Bidlack, a Queen Creek resident elected president in November.

Bidlack, one of the foundation’s original members, was asked to join because of his experience with an education foundation in Ohio, where he was also a former school board member.

“I appreciate all that teachers have done over the years,” said Bidlack, an insurance agent. “Even though I don’t have any direct involvement with the school district, it’s still an important part of the community.”

Teachers and students complete online applications for the grants and scholarships, and a committee chooses the best curriculum projects and most deserving students to receive the extra help. Students are selected based on community involvement, grades, overall character, and a desire to continue their educations, Bidlack said.

The education foundation raises money for the Queen Creek Unified School District through various fundraisers. Members have hosted a dunk tank at the Queen Creek Monsoon Festival, manned a booth at the first Feastival event at Desert Mountain Park, and held a cookout before the Higley High football game against Queen Creek High. A fundraising golf tournament is planned in September at Las Colinas Golf Course in Queen Creek, Bidlack said.

Craig Seymore, one of five directors of the education foundation and president of the Queen Creek district governing board, said the money going to teachers and students is something that’s not otherwise available.

“These are just extra things that they’re able to do that otherwise funding wouldn’t provide,” Seymore said. “The more money we have, the more money we’re able to give to children and to help teachers further learning in the classroom.”

The two other $300 grants handed out earlier this month will help fund a butterfly project at Jack Barnes Elementary, and an adaptive library at Queen Creek Elementary.

Ann Adkins, who teaches second grade at Jack Barnes, will use her grant for a project called “Barnes Beautiful Butterflies.” With the extra money she will be able to give her students the visuals to help them observe the complete metamorphosis of butterflies.

Meredith Relken, a preschool speech and language pathologist at Queen Creek Elementary, is using her grant to buy materials for an adaptive library for students with special needs.

The students will have the opportunity to have literature and technology available to them to enhance their abilities to participate as they explore literature.

The Queen Creek Schools Education Foundation meets from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month in the district board office, 20435 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek. For information, visit qcfund.org.