From iPads to calm corners, Anderson County Civitan grants make impact
Special-education teachers receive grants from Anderson County Civitan Club Pictured at a recent gala receiving the awards are, from left, Rita Honeycutt-Finley of Clinton High School, Wendy Edwards of Clinton Elementary School, Tiffany Warman of Lake City Middle School, Rhonda Phillips of Briceville Elementary School, Gabriella Wolfe of Claxton Elementary School, Lexie Willis of Andersonville Elementary School and Tiffaney Kline of Anderson County Career and Technical Center.
Of that total, $5,671.86 went to Anderson County Schools and $416.80 to Clinton City Schools.
The Anderson County Board of Education approved adding the funds to the district’s budget at its Sept. 11 meeting.
The Civitan Club had announced the seven grant recipients earlier, during its annual Civitans Helping Advance the Next Generation’s Education gala Aug. 12 at Calhoun’s in Oak Ridge.
The gala, which is available to view on the ACTV YouTube page, was sponsored by 15 local businesses.
Clinton High School’s Rita Honeycutt-Finley received funds to purchase three iPads for her students.
“Currently her students have to share one iPad, and the majority of her students are nonverbal,” said Kathy Chippendale, Civitan Club president. “So, this will allow the students to work together as a group and focus on their communication.”
Clinton Elementary School: Wendy Edwards requested resources for a high-sensory environment to support children with emotional needs. The grant will fund sensory tubes and bottles, fidgets, motion tiles, a yoga ball set, a feelings mirror and a spin chair, among other items.
Lake City Middle School: Tiffany Warman received funding for sensory-friendly equipment to help students with attention deficit disorder and autism to be able to concentrate.
Her request included headphones, earbuds, standing desks, stools, a balance board and floor pillows.
Claxton Elementary School: Gabrielle Wolfe used funds to create a “calm-down corner” for students needing a break or quiet workspace.
Supplies included a cocoon, muscle mat, curved tension rod, weighted blanket, sit-stand desk, ambient lighting, swivel chair, ball chair and noise-reduction earmuffs.
Andersonville Elementary School: Lexie Willis received funds for a cubby organizer, bookshelf, math manipulatives, modular cube shelf, rug, storage bins and paper trays.
Anderson County Career and Technical Center: Tiffaney Kline received funding to equip instructors with tools, training and resources to support students with disabilities.
“This will build teachers’ confidence and increase the use of inclusion strategies, foster collaboration with general teachers and improve student engagement,” Chippendale said.
Items include binders, training sessions and a lending library with tools such as noise-canceling headphones, a digital classroom timer, sensory boards and stones, easy-read tape measures and digital calipers.
Briceville Elementary School: Rhonda Phillips plans to integrate math, science, language arts and art by purchasing STEM kits. Included are programmable robot, ramps, balls, exploration sets, magnets and other materials to encourage problem-solving and multi-sensory learning.
The program also honored three graduating seniors planning to study special education or related fields: Samantha Wolfe of Oak Ridge High School, Breea Jackson of Clinton High School, and Maleah Miller of Anderson County High School.
A fourth student, Allison Gardner of Clinton High, received the Allison Doak Scholarship through the Civitan Appalachian District.
She plans to study medical coding at Roane State Community College.
Additionally, three past Civitan leaders were inducted into the Civitan Legacy Foundation:
Carl Kincaid Sr., first president of the original Clinton Civitan Club in 1925, recognized for public service and leadership in Magnet Mills.
R.C. “Dudley” Hoskins, Clinton pharmacist and progenitor of Hoskins Drugstore, who served as president from 1952-53 and was the first president of the Anderson County Chamber.
Retired Circuit Court Judge Don Elledge, president from 1988-89, past president of the Clinton City Board of Education, and longtime community leader.
For more information about the Anderson County Civitan Club, visit civitan.org/anderson-county or the club’s Facebook page.
