The Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools Board of Directors

The Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools
Board of Directors 2020-2021

Lauren Fine, Co-President
Carol Lorenzo, Co-President
Judie Goldenthal, Treasurer
Deena Samberg-Shefsky, Secretary

Leslyn Odom Clark
Nancy M. DePalma, Ed. D.
Sherry Feinglass
Roger Goldbeck
Judie Goldenthal
E.J. Greenspan
Keats Jarmon
Barbara Lerner
Lori Remington
Jerel Rocktaschel
Michael Schramm
Shelley Solomon
Karianne Sorti
Paul A. Sullivan
Greg Teich

Ex-Officio

Tom Moore, Superintendent
Anastasia Khrenova
Judy Levy
Bob Macca
Lorna Thomas-Farquharson

Founders

Heather Congdon
Dougie Trumble

Administrative Director

Kristin Johnson

$20,000 awarded to WHPS Department of Diversity Advancement

Please click here for the press release announcing the investment of $20,000 towards the department of Diversity Advancement.

Grant in Action

James M. Ellis Grant ~ Student Leadership Development Towards Cultural Competency. Rebecca Lewis, Lead Teacher & Justin Gusy

Click here to view the news story about this grant. For more details on this grant, click here.

Grateful. For generous donors and innovative teachers that help inspire students.

Click here for a note of thanks received from the Hall High Coral Club.

Great Grants for the 2019-2020 school year!

Click here to view the grants awarded for the 2019-2020 school year. For details about each grant, click here to view a summary of each grant by school.

Witness Stones Project

Click here for an article featuring Elizabeth Devine, retired history teacher who along with Tracey Wilson, town historian and retired history teacher, and Denise deMello retired Library Media Specialist will be honorary chairs at West Hartford's Cookin' on March 28, 2020 for their work with this project. Thanks to generous donors to the Foundation, the Frank Webb Home Grant: Witness Stones West Hartford will enable this project to continue at all three middle schools.

Seritage Growth Properties Grant: Be Somebody! on NBC news

Click here for a link to a news clip on NBC News featuring the Seritage Growth Properties Grant: Be Somebody! Students at Duffy Elementary school will experience "Be Somebody" with in-residence artist Rob Surette as he guides students through a speed painting show that floods kids' minds and hearts with awe, hope, beauty, love and self-empowerment. Mr. Surette will also work with students to create a mural in which every student will help create. Once completed, the mural will be framed and presented to Duffy in a school wide presentation.

Join board member Michael Schramm and amazing West Hartford educators in a new WHCTV news program, The Foundation Presents.... Click the month for previous episodes January 2019, March 2018, January 2018, November 2017, October 2017, September 2017 Episode July 2017 Episode, June 2017 Episode, May 2017 Episode, April 2017 Episode.

Cricket Press Grant: Teaching on the Edge

Click here to view the amazing grant implemented by teacher, Kathy Hardesty, at Smith Stem Elementary School where students learned about the atmosphere by launching a meteorological balloon.

In the News

Click here to view all the articles about the Foundation in the news!

Dr. Robert and Gladys Dunn Grant: Enhancing Student Learning with Coral Reef Aquariums

Click here to view a video about what inspired Anthony Wasley to apply for a grant.

Click here to see what Sedgwick Middle School Library Media Specialist, Shannon McNeice, is planning for the students at Sedgwick Middle School with the grant, "Everyone can be a Maker!: drawing all students to a community makerspace!"

Special Initiative Grant, Producing 21st Century Citizens & Artists, awarded to Morley School for 2016-2017 school year

Producing 21st Century Citizens & Artists will establish a partnership with a sister school in Haiti promoting communication & collaborative learning via new technological enhancements. Morley students will authentically study diversity and culture in the world. Click Here to learn more about the exciting grant which will be implemented for the 2016-2017 school year.

Lessons bring students 80,000 ft into the Stratosphere!!!

Thanks to the Foundation's generous donors & the Smith PTO, the Dr. Karen List Grant: Up, Up & Away! is one example of the innovative, creative learning FWHPS brings to West Hartford Public School Teachers! Congratulations to Kathy Hardesty, Courney Jacklin, Melissa Behrens & Anthony Truss, the teachers who researched, wrote the grant and implemented this wonderful grant!

Click Here for an article in West Hartford Press, pg 7

Click Here for an article in We-Ha.com

Click here for a video images documenting the Great Balloon Chase in action on June 4, 2015

Click Here for an article from the West Hartford Patch for the SECOND Great Balloon Chase of the year!

Click Here for an amazing, inspirational video created by the Smith STEM school teachers

Click Here for an article in The Hartford Courant

Click Here for an article in The West Hartford News, pgs 1 & 11and featured in we-ha.com

Click Here for the article in West Hartford Press, pgs 7 & 9

Click Here for the NBC Connecticut News Report

Click Here for the WHTN News 8 Report

Twitter - Our two balloon chasers came back home successfully from Massachuetts! Mission Accomplished!

Grants in Action

Click Here to learn more about the Thomas Ford Memorial Grant: Hip Hop Dimensions~An Experience in Dancing our Way to Building Teamwork at Duffy Elementary School.

Thanks to The Pauluk Family Grant: Launching Literacy through the Nutmeg Nominees, students at Webster Hill show their enthusiasm in being part of a book club.

Click Here to learn more about The Keck Family Grant: Shakespeare IS Company!! at Conard High School

Click here to purchase notecards created by West Hartford Public School Students to support the Teacher Grant Program.

Whiting Lane Grants in Action in the news - West Hartford Life, April 2014 pgs 4-5

Books and birds: Media Specialist Lee Gluck instructs inside and out

Charter Oak International Academy thanks the Foundation & our generous sponsors through a creative video by students

Click here to view the video news report by Charter Oak Students