Amanda Curtis received three of the 11 grants given to Helena teachers by the Helena Education Foundation earlier this week.

Curtis, a math teacher at Helena Middle School, said submitting three grant applications gave her better odds of being awarded at least one.

"The probability is higher the more you apply," said Curtis, who always thinks with a math brain.

The three grants total $4,642 and will provide more hands-on math experiences for students.

The largest of the three will fund remote answering devices for Curtis' class, allowing students to participate in individualized review and assessment. As each student responds to short-answer or multiple-choice questions, data is immediately complied and downloaded to the teacher's computer, providing the opportunity for immediate feedback.

The second grant purchases a digital projector so students can participate in simulations and tutorials on the Internet.

Currently Curtis types up all her lesson plans, which she prints and makes transparencies of to use in class. The projector will eliminate that middle step and cut down on waste, Curtis said.

The third grant is for an intensive set of math games, giving teachers an opportunity to implement new techniques for dynamic math lessons.

Curtis said one game, for example, is similar to Scrabble using equations instead of words. Down the road, she is hoping to host a family math game night with the aim of getting math into the homes of her students.

All of the grants put some technology and interactive activities into mathematics.

"It will be more engaging instead of a boring math lesson," Curtis said.

When the parade of Foundation members and business sponsors walked into Lisa Parker's class at Helena High School, she jumped into the air.

Parker and her 44 "Jobs for Montana Graduates" students will use the $3,000 to give the copula courtyard at the school a makeover.

"It never gets used because it's gross, so no one ever wanted to go in there," Parker said.

Students from other courses will be involved in the project, too.

Welding students are making containers for garbage cans. Students in the construction classes are making benches, and art students are designing a mural.

The area will be transformed to a place where students and staff can eat, study or relax, Parker said.

HEF awards grants to teachers twice a year, designed to finance projects or merchandise that goes beyond what the Helena School District would fund.

Lisa Cordingley, Helena Education Foundation executive director, said the Great Ideas Grant is an important part of what the foundation does.

"It's a tangible measure of the value the community places on the work (teachers) do," she said.

The grants are also a symbol of how the community values public education, Cordingley added.

"All you have to do is see them when we bring them the checks to see it's a really important thing we do for teachers," she said. "Whatever job it is you do, if there was a way for everyone to feel the way teachers feel when we come with grant awards, the difference in the community would be immeasurable."

Great teachers

In addition to Great Ideas Grants, the Helena Education Foundation also notified six Helena teachers that they will be honored at this year's Great Conversations event as a part of "Let's Talk about Great Teachers."

Dr. Tim Ballweber is sponsoring it as another way to recognize staff members who show exceptional commitment to their work and embody the ideals of HEF.

Award winners

This year's recipients are

• Pam Campbell, Bryant School;

• J.J. Lamb, Warren Elementary;

• Tom Mazanec, CRA;

• Amanda Curtis, HMS;

• Char Lawrence, CHS and

• Don Pogreba, HHS.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com