By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer—
Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. has announced that Courtney Crabtree and Sarah Hill have been awarded the Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award to recognize their innovation through collaboration in the classroom.
Crabtree and Hill, kindergarten teachers at Cowan Elementary School, were nominated by former principal, now assistant superintendent, Tim Brown for their partnership to creatively give their students, and students of all ages at Cowan, more access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), through a series of projects funded by Robert P. Bell Education Grants.
This spring, Crabtree and Hill hosted the third annual Cowan Elementary STEAM Night for students and families in kindergarten through sixth grade. During the event, students and their families participated in hands-on activities that explored important STEAM concepts. Crabtree and Hill created the activities and organized volunteers from the school. The teacher duo applied for and received a Robert P. Bell Education Grant to purchase many of the supplies used for STEAM Night and incorporated the activities into their classrooms as well.
“The success of the three STEAM Nights was only possible with the innovation, dedication, and creativity of two outstanding educators,” wrote Brown in his nomination. “They had a vision to introduce their students to new ideas and in the end did that for all students that were able to attend our three great nights. Cowan Elementary is fortunate to have great teachers like Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Crabtree making a difference for so many students.”
The kindergarten teachers have been awarded Robert P. Bell Education grants individually and collaboratively. Many of the projects funded focus on cross-curriculum lessons and empower their students to learn creatively.
Crabtree and Hill were surprised with the award in front of students and administrators at Cowan Elementary on August 19.
The Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching award was established to complement the Robert P. Bell Education Grants program and honor teachers who have gone above and beyond to use creativity and innovation to enhance learning by their students. The annual program rewards, recognizes, and encourages extraordinary educators who have applied for, received, and executed a Robert P. Bell Grant from The Community Foundation in their classroom.
To commemorate the award, The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded a $1,000 grant to Cowan Community Schools to be used by Courtney Crabtree and Sarah Hill in their classrooms. For more information about the Robert P. Bell Education Grants, please visit The Community Foundation’s website at cfmdin.org or contact Carly Acree-King, Program Officer, at cacreeking@cfmdin.org.
