Chappaqua School Foundation Honors Amanda McDonough

Chappaqua School Foundation Honors Amanda McDonough: The Chappaqua School Foundation honored Amanda McDonough with the 2019 Janet L. Wells CSF Faculty Innovator of the Year Award at an award ceremony on Thursday, November 14. The award recognizes faculty who demonstrate a commitment to educational innovation by bringing transformative learning experiences to our students. CSF is proud to recognize all of the nominees of this award for demonstrating a steadfast commitment to innovation.

Ms. McDonough, a Bell Middle School Art Teacher, was nominated for demonstrating original educational ideas that have had a substantive impact in her classroom. Described as a “game changer” in the lives of her students, she effectively identifies uses of technology, previously thought inconceivable, to dramatically redefine teaching and learning processes. As a result, students have become fluent in using technology to create, refine and promote their art. An early adopter of the CSF-funded Bell Learning Lab, Ms. McDonough also received a grant for a digital design studio and most recently collaborated in writing a grant awarding Bell Middle School a multi media production cart.

Past winners of this award include:

2018: Diane Madaio and Justin Olive

2017: Mara Cohen and Warren Whitney

2016: Eileen Kenna and Ann Marie Scalici

2015: Paul Bianchi, Mike DeBellis and Kevin Kuczma

2019 GRANT RECIPIENTS HONORED

Other Chappaqua School System teachers were honored as recipients of 2019 CSF Grants. Last year CSF was able to fund 20 grants, totaling over $195,000 and impacting every school in the district. Some of the highlights of the grants awards were:

District Wide STEM Augmented and Virtual Reality: A District Wide Grant of $24,480 to fund two types of technology which will allow middle and high school students to construct and experience virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Chappaqua schools will be one of the first to pioneer the use of Microsoft’s Hololens 2 devices to create VR and AR content. The Hololens, together with Samsung HMD-Odyssey Mixed Reality Headsets, will be piloted in the STEAM centers at each school as teachers and staff developers work with students to create and experience a variety of immersive VR/AR content. This grant was made to support the work of Josh Culwell-Block, Director of Technology and Innovation; Zach Arnold, Ellen Moscowitz, Instructional Technology Teachers.

Greeley Multi-Media Art Production: Greeley High School was awarded a grant of $53,360, on behalf of Louise Brady, Art Department Chair, Katherine Ottamanelli, Jennifer Schmidt, Art Teachers for Multi-Media Art Production. The fund will be used to bur iPads that will provide students in drawing and fashion design classes to have more advanced and robust digital drawing opportunities. The remainder of the funds will be used for digital SLR cameras and equipment for photography and filmmaking students. And to support the creation of a recording studio at Greeley with the purchase of cameras, studio equipment and computers.

Griffin Greenhouse Program: Grafflin Elementary School was awarded $49,560 for a new Greenhouse Program where student will learn about plant biology, sustainability, healthy choices and environmental stewardship. Debra Alspach, Assistant Principal, Ellen Paradiso, Library Media Specialist, Elizabeth Rose, Art Teacher, Carol Scappaticci, Fourth Grade Teacher, Katie Snyder, Alison Matthews, parents were honored at the ceremony for inspiring this program.

About CSF

CSF, a non-profit, all volunteer organization was created in 1993 by community parents who wanted to help fund innovative ideas and programs that could not be supported by the school budget. Through the solicitation of personal donations, company match donations and events, CSF raised funds to provide grants to all CSF schools. On average CSF awards 10-15 grants each year for projects proposed by district teachers, parents, students and community members.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming fundraisers sponsored by CSF include the annual Harlem Wizards vs. The Chappaqua Challengers faculty and administrator basketball game on Sunday, January 26th. And the Annual CSF Spring Benefit that will be held at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on Friday, April 24, 2020.

To make a donation or to learn more about the Chappaqua School Foundation click here.