First graders in Alex Tompkins’ class at Bridle Ridge Elementary School use "Whisper Phones" during partner reading and independent reading to increase fluency and build confidence. The "Whisper Phones" were purchased through a grant from the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation. From left: Sebastian Galant, Jakeson Batchelder, and Jenna Berendzen.

The Foundation Prize Patrol traveled the District on Wednesday, Jan. 29, to present more than $11,000 in grant awards.

Many of the grant award will be used for items to provide hands-on experiences for students. Some examples include robotics parts, books for a parent book student, a 3D printer, and video production equipment.

Foundation Board President Phil Parke, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, and several Foundation Board Members made the surprise presentations.

Stonegate Elementary Digital Learning Teacher Ashlie Renfro received a $450 grant to help fund a Family STEM Night, including materials for STEM stations. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Foundation President Phil Parke, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Renfro, and Stonegate Elementary Principal Doug Becker. Back row: Board Member Mike Medsker, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Board Member Jason Harper, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

First Grade Teachers at Stonegate Elementary School received a grant of $700 to purchase supplies to provide students with a “soft start” to their day. The teachers are Tobi O’Donnell, Amy Greble, and McKenzie Quinn. Front row: Board Member Kim York, Board Member Dana Jermain, O’Donnell, Greble, Quinn, Foundation President Phil Parke, and Stonegate Elementary Principal Doug Becker. Back row: Board Member Mike Medsker, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, and Board Member Jason Harper.

South Middle School Sixth Grade Teachers Sophia Newmaster and Melissa Schmidt (not pictured) received a grant of $680 to purchase supplies and kits to create a Makerspace for the classroom. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Newmaster, Foundation President Phil Parke, and Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston. Back row: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, South Middle School Principal Randy Randolph, Board Member Mike Medsker, Board Member Jason Harper, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

First Grade Teachers at Raymore Elementary received a grant of $335 to purchase math classroom kits. Teachers are Debbie Thompson, and Erica Sorrick, and Lindsay Meyer. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Thompson, Sorrick, and Meyer. Back row: Raymore Elementary Principal Jennika Miller, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Board Member Jason Harper, Board Member Mike Medsker, and Foundation President Phil Parke.

High School Art Teacher Amy Hellums received $750 to purchase a color printer. Front row: Board Member Kim York, Board Member Dana Jermain, Hellums, Foundation President Phil Parke, and Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston. Back row: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Board Member Jason Harper, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, and Board Member Mike Medsker.

Teacher Bill Harrington received a grant of $500 to purchase a 3D printer for the Project Lead the Way program at South Middle School. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Harrington, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Board Member Mike Medsker, and South Middle School Principal Randy Randolph. Back row: Board Member Jason Harper, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation President Phil Parker, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

Peculiar Elementary School Teachers Amanda Friedline and Katie Kiger received a $750 grant to purchase books for take-home reading. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Friedline, Kiger, and Foundation President Phil Parke. Back row: Peculiar Elementary Principal Rob Weida, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, and Board Member Jason Harper.

Bridle Ridge Elementary School First Grade Teacher Alex Tompkins received a grant of $115 to purchase Whisper Reading phones. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Tompkins, and Foundation President Phil Parke. Back row: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer, and Board Member Jason Harper.

Tammy Novak received a grant of $750 to purchase supplies and tools for STEAM activities for use at the Success Academy. The items include WeDo Legos, ProBots, and Mouse robots. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, Novak, Success Academy Administrative Intern Kristie Farris, and Board Member Kim York. Back row: Board Member Jason Harper, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation President Phil Parke, and Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston.

Raymore Elementary School Art Teacher Kellee Clark received a grant of $395 to purchase supplies for circuitry fiber designs. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Clark, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, and Board Member Kim York. Back row: Board Member Jason Harper, Board Member Mike Medsker, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation President Phil Parke, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

Peculiar Elementary Counselor LaTasha Robinson received a grant of $730 to purchase mental health supports and resources. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Robinson, Board Member Kim York, District Behavior Interventionist Allison Scott, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, and Peculiar Elementary Principal Rob Weida. Back row: Foundation President Phil Parke, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Board Member Jason Harper, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

Cari Bryant (not pictured), Marriah Willis, and Connie Badgett received a grant of $735 to purchase two sets of sensory paths for Timber Creek Elementary School. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Badgett, Willis, Timber Creek Elementary Principal Lovie Driskill, and Board Member Kim York. Back row: Board Member Jamie Bogner, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Foundation President Phil Parke, Board Member Jason Harper, Board Member Mike Medsker, and Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees.

Teacher Jeff Rives received a grant of $745 to purchase video production equipment for the Wolf Pack production room at South Middle School. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Board Member Kim York, Rives, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, and Board Member Mike Medsker. Back row: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation President Phil Parke, South Middle School Principal Randy Randolph, Board Member Jason Harper, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

Teachers Stephanie Barnes and Ashton Whitton received a grant of $370 to purchase Osmo Genius kits with accessories for use by Special Education students at Eagle Glen Elementary School. In front, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Barnes, Whitton, and Board Member Kim York. Back row: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation President Phil Parke, Board Member Mike Medsker, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Board Member Jason Harper, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.

Mary Shatford, Director of Shull Early Learning Center, received a grant of $550 to purchase chutes and balls to encourage problem solving. Front row: Board Member Kim York, Shatford, and Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston. Back row: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Board Member Jason Harper, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, and Foundation President Phil Parke.

High School Teacher Scott Jermain received a $750 grant to help fund the “Gentlemen of the Court” event. Front row, from left: Board Member Dana Jermain, Scott Jermain, Foundation President Phil Parke, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, and Board Member Kim York. Back row: Board Member Jason Harper, Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele, and Board Member Mike Medsker.

Ray-Pec East Middle School Teacher Paul Barker received a grant of $720 to purchase VEX parts for the automation and robotics class as part of Project Lead the Way. Front row, from left: East Middle School Principal Katie Campbell, Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Board Member Dana Jermain, Barker, Board Member Jason Harper, and Board Member Kim York. In back: Superintendent Dr. Kari Monsees, Board Member Mike Medsker, Foundation President Phil Parke, and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Pam Steele.