Kennebec County retirees continue to support the classroom

Kennebec Retired Educators Association (KREA) will award three $150 grants to educators in Kennebec County schools. The KREAtive grants supplement expenses incurred in student-centered, interdisciplinary projects and may be expended for materials used in the classroom, speakers’ fees, project development expenses, etc.

Grant description and applications are being disseminated to every principal of all elementary, middle, and high schools. The principals are then asked to make them available to their classroom teachers.

“Even though we are not actively teaching in the classroom anymore, for many of us that is where our hearts remain long after we retire,” says Rosanna Joseph of Waterville, chairperson of the innovative KREAtive Classroom Grant Committee and retired Winslow elementary teacher.

“We just want to give back to our schools and students in as many ways as possible,” says committee member Phil Gonyar of Waterville where he served as chairperson of the high school social studies department. Having also served as superintendent of schools in Bangor, Gonyar initiated the annual grant project in 2014.

Grant applications must be submitted by email to gldavis56@yahoo.com or be postmarked by October 30 to KREAtive Grant Committee, c/o George Davis, 12 Fieldstone Drive, Waterville, ME 04901. The deadline for submitting the grant application is October 31, 2017. The winning applicants will be notified by December 1, 2017 and will receive the grant money at that time.

KREA is comprised of retired educators from 54 schools in 31 cities and towns.