Battle Creek Central High School Ceramics Teacher, Erin Romel will be partnering with local communities and with her students to raise money to give back to the community. The State Farm Grant funds awarded to Mrs. Romel will be used to purchase three potter's wheels for the ceramics studio. Mrs. Romel will then be teaching students to make professional pottery on the potter's wheel, resulting in high-quality items to sell and raise money for the local Food Bank, and other charities to give back to the community for years to come.
To allow students opportunities to participate in providing solutions for community issues, the BCPS art department has been hosting an Empty Bowls fundraiser for the past 28 years in conjunction with the South Michigan Food Bank. Empty Bowls allows students and community members to create bowls which are then sold at a charity event open to the community. All proceeds are donated to the South Michigan Food Bank.
Teachers in Michigan were asked to share their innovative teaching ideas in January for an opportunity to be selected for a State Farm ® Teacher Assist grant. In less than 44 hours, teachers across the state submitted 200 submissions for the program, demonstrating the need in the state for support. Out of the 200 submissions, 40 were selected. Congratulations to Mrs. Romel for being selected as one of 40 Michigan teachers to receive the $2,500 grant to create or support their existing classroom projects.
