Superintendent of Perry Township Schools
In Perry Township we are a team. Our teachers and staff band together in so many unique ways to educate and empower our students.
I have seen our educators dress up during fun-spirited fashion shows to teach our students important lessons. I have watched our experienced teachers mentor new teachers because they understand that when our teachers grow, our kids grow. I have observed staff members rally around colleagues going through tough times. We are united!
On Saturday, April 22, our Perry Township team will come together for a special fundraiser to support our schools. At 7 p.m. our staff will report to Southport Fieldhouse to play the world-famous Harlem Wizards, who are known for their high-flying, interactive antics on the basketball court. The game is sure to be a fun-filled event that delights kids and adults. It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Tickets are $6 in advance at www.ptef.org/events, $8 at the door. The game is organized by the Perry Township Education Foundation and will benefit classroom innovation grants for our schools. The PTEF is committed to our schools by serving as a “catalyst to create excitement in order to improve education experiences and student achievement with the goal of developing contributing members of the community.”
Since its inception, the PTEF has funded more than $1.2 million in creative and innovative learning grants, and it is such a thrill to see these grants in action in our classrooms.
Craig Hendrick, a teacher at Perry Meridian Sixth Grade Academy, was awarded a grant to establish a program called Guys Read. As the name suggests, the goal was to encourage our male students to read. ISTEP data indicated that our boys tend to lag behind girls in passing the language arts section of the test.
Students in the program arrive early to school once a week to read novels. Mr. Hendrick noticed the boys encouraged one another while reading and formed bonds that carried over outside of the classroom. The original students, who have advanced to the next grade and moved on to a new building, still return once a week to participate and to serve as mentors. It is truly inspiring to watch their confidence and proficiency grow.
There are so many other examples of how grant dollars make a difference in our classrooms, and we hope you will attend the game to support the cause. For more information regarding grant recipients or to purchase tickets, visit www.ptef.org/events.