Lark Candles Teacher Grant Past Winners
We want to thank all of our customers who have helped support Lark Candles. The only way we are able to give out teacher grants is through the continued support of our customers, because a portion of each candle we sell goes towards teacher grants. If you can, help us out by telling your friends and family members about Lark Candles. By doing so, we can make the common question that teachers ask themselves, "Should I spend my own money on supplies for my children?" become a question of the past.
Previous Winners
August 2021- Stefanie Drab, Kindergarten Teacher, Shawboro Elementary School.
Shawboro Elementary School is a Title I school located in the small, rural community of Shawboro, North Carolina (about an hour south from Norfolk, Virginia). Numbering less than 2,000 people in the entire community of Shawboro, funds are limited and teachers do not receive any money towards their classroom or supplies. Unfortunately, many classroom supplies are instead funded by the teachers or through donations.
As part of winning the Lark Candles' Teacher Grant, Lark Candles will be purchasing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) items off Mrs. Drab's Amazon wish list. Mrs. Drab wrote this in her application of why having STEM items are so important, "having an opportunity to work in classroom STEM bins will allow my students the opportunity to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. Many of my students do not have access to STEM materials at their homes. By allowing them a chance to experience these centers in our kindergarten classroom, I will be able to build their educational foundation with creativity and a love of learning."
We hope that the STEM items will enrich the learning of Mrs. Drab's kindergarteners and plant the seeds of higher order thinking skills.
August 2021 - Anna Owenby, Poplarville Lower Elementary School, K-2nd Music Teacher
Poplarville Lower Elementary School is also a Title I school located in the small, rural community of Poplarville, Mississippi (about an hour and a half drive from New Orleans, Louisiana). The town of Poplarville has approximately 25% of the population living below the poverty line (the United States average is 13%). For children located in this area, music diversity is hard to come by.
Mrs. Owenby, a 4th year music teacher, explained her vision to us in her application of how she intended to use her grant with the 450+ students she teaches, "I often use authentic videos and recordings in my classroom to support my goal of introducing students to music from around the world. To support this teaching, I would love to develop a classroom library of composers and musicians representing a wide range of culture, ethnicity, gender, and backgrounds.... I want my students to have more knowledge of contributions to music from people around the world, not just traditional composers and musicians like Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven. As a result, I want them to connect with these musicians who might have a similar ethnicity, culture, gender, or background as my students and explore ways they can make a difference in their world, whether through music or another medium they are passionate about."
We hope the books that Mrs. Owenby plans to purchase will bring inspiration to her students to make a difference in the world.
December 2021 - Cierra Kopecky, Old Mill Middle School North, 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Our winner for the December 2021 Lark Candles Teacher Grant is Cierra Kopecky! Ms. Kopecky, is a 1st year teacher, teaching 7th grade language arts at Old Middle School North. Old Middle School North is a Title I school located in Anne Arundel County (a county in between Baltimore and Washington D.C.).
As many teachers would recall, the first year of teaching is always tough since you have not quite acquired all the materials necessary as a more tenured teacher would over years of teaching. Many of these materials are often pivotal to the learning enrichment of the students and for a first year teacher sometimes the minimum is not ideal, but what is affordable at the detriment of the students. It is for this reason we were interested in Ms. Kopecky's application which highlighted her need for a book nook to help encourage reading in her classroom.
As part of winning the Lark Candles' Teacher Grant, Lark Candles will buy items off Ms. Kopecky's Amazon wish list to help set up her book nook. Ms. Kopecky wrote the following in her application, "It is hard to get the children to want to read...with this grant I could buy bean bags and other fun chairs." Ms. Kopecky continued on in her application elaborating about how all the items will hopefully, "give kids an incentive to read."
We hope that the items will enrich the reading of Ms. Kopecky's 7th graders and help foster the growth of reading!
August 2022 - Kellie Adams, Thompson Junior High, Special Education Teacher
Our winner for the August 2022 Lark Candles Teacher Grant is Kellie Adams! Kellie is a 10th year teacher who has been teaching in an autism program for the past 7 years. She plans to use her grant money for games to encourage social skills, as well as some lighting to provide a welcoming atmosphere.
"Even when the days can be long and challenging, I love working with my students. They always seem to keep me on my toes! I plan to use this grant to purchase some new lights that allow us to have a cozy classroom atmosphere and limit distractions. We are always working on social skills, so a couple of group activities would be perfect!"
Kellie, thank you for everything that you do for your students. Lark Candles is honored to help you kick off the school year with some much needed supplies!
August 2022 - Christina Iannacone, Repertory Company High School For Theatre Arts, History Teacher
Our other winner for the August 2022 Lark Candles Teacher Grant is Christina Innacone! Christina is a history teacher at Repertory Company High School For Theatre Arts, a Title 1 School, in New York, NY.
