By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Thousands of dollars of grants were awarded to dozens of Paris and Henry County Schools teachers at the PLUS Endowment reception Tuesday evening. The event was the first in-person event since the COVID pandemic and it displayed a different format from previous award presentations. Instead of an evening banquet, Tuesday’s event was a shorter dessert reception, held at First Baptist Church.
Additionally, the organization is reimagining its focus. Treasurer James Smith served as emcee for the evening and said, “We’re trying real hard to call it ‘PLUS’ instead of PLUS Endowment and we’re recalibrating the process.”
With fundraising efforts somewhat hampered by COVID in recent years, Smith said, “We’ve gone through rough years but we continue to be blessed to be able to fund these grants.”
PLUS Endowment was started in 1999 by former Henry County Schools Director William Atchison and provides grants to teachers in both the county schools and Paris Special Schools programs for innovative projects for students.
Announcing the award winners were board members Stacy Hayes, Jane Etheridge, Nolan Poteete, Heather Stone and Smith.
Secretary Heather Stone said, “We would like to be sure and note that we recognize and THANK those on whose shoulders we stand. Many hours of work have gone into the PLUS organization over the years; and, we would not have been able to hold this reception today if it were not for them.”
Plus officials also thanked the HAT Law Firm of Paris for sponsoring the reception.
Recipients of the William Atchison Grants were:
“The Hen House Emporium”, John Hinson, Harrelson School, $2,000
“Our Community: Connecting our Curriculum Through Personal Experience”, Melissa McElroy, PSSD, $2,000.
The $5,000 MEGA grant–usually the highlight of the presentation–was not awarded Tuesday night due to qualifications not being met.
PLUS officials thanked the Knights of Columbus for their generous donation/fund raiser. Over $2600 was donated to help the special education students. Eight grants were awarded in this division.
The Roddy Adkisson Special Education Award was awarded to Austin Thompson from Henry Elementary on his CommuniTEA grant.
2022-2023 Plus Special Education Winners
1. Hydronponics Aerogarden- Inman 3-5; Tracey Bomar and SPED teachers;
$500
2. Wiggle While you Work- Inman 6-8 th , SPED Inclusion; Alex Edgin; $450
3. Explore More Math-Inman 6 th ; Holly Peale; $500
4. My Secret Reader- Harrelson K-2; Kennedy Williams; $303
5. CommuniTEA- Henry Elem. K-8; Austin Thompson; $500
6. Grab and Go Adapted Art Box-Lakewood Elem. K-5; Carrie Burns; $300
7. Morning Tubs for Busy Hands- Lakewood Elem. K-5; Kimmi Stevens; $500
8. Chefs-R-Us- Lakewood K-8; Kelly Baker; $500
PLUS officials also thanked the Kim McDaniel Shining Bright Foundation for their generous donation to Plus. Shining Bright grant winners:
Gabrielle Payne at Harrelson 2nd grade for “Ladybugs and Chicks and Frogs, OH MY” ( $500) and
Jonathan Langford and Kim Underhill at Rhea 2nd for “Chapter Book Come Alive ( $493)
2022-2023 HCHS Plus Grant Winners
1. Steps Towards the Future-HCHS 10-12 , Residential Maintenance; John
Harrison; $500
2. Steps Towards the Future-HCHS 10 th -12 , Leadership; Laura Moss; $500
3. Steps Towards the Future-HCHS 10 th -12, Greenhouse , ; Chance Young; $500
4. Powered by Pupusas-HCHS 10 th -12, Spanish; Tiffany Dunn; $500
5. Art for All- HCHS 10-12; Adaptive Art; Kim Bynum; $500
6. The Great Outdoors-HCHS 10-12, All areas; Paige Drew; $500
7. Maintaining Facilities and Friends-HCHS 10-12; Agriculture; Noah Rogers;
$500
8. Patriot Painting- HCHS 10-12, Graphic Design; Dillion Faith; $433
2022-2023 Plus Representatives Grants
1. Let’s Create with Legos- PSSD Liaison; Becky Cate; $500
2. Hatching Chickens in STEAM- Rhea K-2; Erin Sinclair; $500
3. Star Bucks- PES 5 th ; Leigh Anne Barrett; $500
4. Larger than Life Chess- Inman Middle 6 th -8 th ; Landa Elizondo; $500
5. Patriot Pride is State-Wide!- E. W. Grove 9 th ; Ashley James; $500
6. Fidgets and Stress- Harrelson K-8 th ; Jennifer Petronico; $500
7. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- HCHS 9-12 th ; Jessica Lemons; $500
8. Design, Build, Create!- Henry Elementary 3 rd ; Angie Cook; $500
9. The Golden Coin- Lakewood School K-8; Danette Jones; $500
10. Book Vending Machine ( Lakewood Middle); Morgan Bruce; $500
11. Patriot Playschool Community Engagement; Henry Co. Liaison; Dr. Susan Burton – $500
Total- $5500
2022-2023 Grove Plus Grant Winners
1. Battle of the Books- Grove 9 th ; Lisa Luton; $500
2. Calming Room-Grove 9 th – Counseling; Laureen Carpenter; $500
3. Cooking Healthy Anywhere-Grove 9 th – Janet Pearce; $377
4. Level Up with Games-Grove 9 th ; Carey Bell; $500
5. Practicing Patriot Pride- Grove 9 th ; Noah Roger; $500
6. Mark It Up!- Grades 9-12 ( Grove and HCHS); Jessica Hart; $500
7. Make –Up Artist Workshop- Grades 9-12( Grove and HCHS); Wendy Breedlove; $500
8. McCartney– Brain Break Fridays–Low Tech Makerspace in the Library; $500
9. Cox– Creative Writing Book Tasting–Pressing Books into Students’ Hands; $500
Total granted =$4377
2022-2023 Plus Multiple Grades Winners
1. STEAM Powered Literacy- PES for K-8; Erin Sinclair and Shayna Miles; $500
2. Plum Pretty Pastels-Harrelson K-8 th and Art 1; Traci Thomas-Shankle; $496
3. Paint, Paint, and Dry, Dry for Your Favorite Social Studies Time- Harrelson 6-
8 th ; Traci Thomas-Shankle; $500
4. Cooking up Language-Henry PK-8 th , Second Language, Katie Hernandez;
$500
5. The Show Must Go On!-Henry Elementary 4-8 th , Theatre; Samantha
Murphy; $500
6. Ready with iReady- Henry Elementary K-8 Reading and Math, Lisa Olive;
$500
7. Adult English and Spanish as a Second Language Class- Henry, Adult
Learners, Katie Hernandez; $500
8. Games to Learn English and Spanish with Adult Learners- Henry PK-8 th ,
Valeria Godina; $500
9. Science of Reading Support-Henry K-4, Lana Currence; $500
10. LET’S GO TO THE SCIENCE FAIR!- Henry Elementary 5-8, Valeria Godina;
$500
11. BON APPETIT!- Henry Elementary K-8; Valeria Godina; $500
12. Introduction to Ukulele Techniques- Henry Elementary 3-4 th , General
Music; Kayla Price; $500
13. Family Steam Night- Lakewood K-8 th ; Leigh Anne Durham; $500
14. Personal Amplification: A Teacher’s Best Friend- Lakewood P-8 th , David
Weatherly; $500
15. Unbe WEAVEable Class Weaving Projects- Lakewood Elem. Art K-5,Brandi
Besand; $495
Requested funds= $7491
2022-2023 HCHS Plus Grant Winners
1. Steps Towards the Future-HCHS 10-12 , Residential Maintenance; John
Harrison; $500
2. Steps Towards the Future-HCHS 10 th -12 , Leadership; Laura Moss; $500
3. Steps Towards the Future-HCHS 10 th -12, Greenhouse , ; Chance Young; $500
4. Powered by Pupusas-HCHS 10 th -12, Spanish; Tiffany Dunn; $500
5. Art for All- HCHS 10-12; Adaptive Art; Kim Bynum; $500
6. The Great Outdoors-HCHS 10-12, All areas; Paige Drew; $500
7. Maintaining Facilities and Friends-HCHS 10-12; Agriculture; Noah Rogers; $500
8. Patriot Painting- HCHS 10-12, Graphic Design; Dillion Faith; $433
Total requested=$3933
Also, Grove listing for two grant winners who teach in grades 9-12;
Those grant winners are Jessica Hart for “Mark It Up!” and “Make-Up Artist Workshop” by Wendy Breedlove; both are $500 grants.
Photo: Stacy Hayes and James Smith present awards. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
