PUNXSUTAWNEY – A Punxsutawney area educator was among 11 teachers from across FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania service area to be awarded the company’s Mathematics, Science and Technology Grants, which will be used for creative hands-on projects, workshops and teacher development during the 2008-2009 school year.
Jeffrey J. Kuntz of Longview Elementary School was awarded a $500 grant to purchase materials needed for his “Project Earth” initiative. The project is designed to provide professional development workshops for K-5 teachers with hands-on activities and instructional resources that will assist in teaching key concepts of environmental education. These teachers will then share these activities with their students throughout the district.
This is the third time Mr. Kuntz has obtained a First Energy MST grant, last qualifying for a project in 2004.
“We’re very pleased that we can offer this help for local education programs,” said John Shimko, Penelec’s area manager. “Mr. Koontz is an asset to the Punxsutawney School District and its students and we are pleased to once again help support his efforts. We encourage other teachers to apply for these grants next year.”
FirstEnergy offers grants of up to $500 to individual teachers and administrators at schools served by its electric utility operating companies – Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison, Pennsylvania Power, Penelec, Met-Ed and Jersey Central Power & Light – and where it has facilities.
Preference is given to projects that involve electricity. Since 1986 when the program started, grants have been awarded to more than 1,000 educators in grades K-12, as well as leaders of youth groups like the scouts and 4-H.
Grant recipients are recommended by a panel of educators who make up FirstEnergy’s Educational Advisory Council. As part of the program, recipients must furnish a written summary and evaluation of their projects that can be shared with other educators in FirstEnergy’s service area.
Educators can apply for FirstEnergy grants for the 2009-2010 school year in
May of 2009.
FirstEnergy is a registered public utility holding company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; exploration and production of oil and natural gas; transmission and marketing of natural gas; and energy management and other energy-related services.
