Chapter Advisors

Chapter Advisor Grant Winners

NEHS was very happy to award a range of grants to Chapter Advisors in the Spring Awards Cycle. These grants included the new Chapter Advisor Enrichment Grant and Professional Support Grants.

Chapter Advisor Enrichment Grant

Cresta McGowan

The Chapter Advisor Enrichment Grant supports opportunities for NEHS Chapter Advisors to elevate their teaching practice by taking part in literary activities related to texts and authors they will teach during the following academic year via a self-designed academic/research experience. It aims to improve the quality of English Language Arts experiences students receive within high school classrooms by encouraging teachers to use their own personal experiences and reflections in teaching dynamics.

The winner of the first Chapter Advisor Enrichment Grant was Cresta McGowan from The Middle College at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN.

Cresta will be using NEHS funding to embark on a transformative journey to Boston, Concord, and Salem, MA, this summer as part of the Approaching Walden professional development initiative. The NEHS funds allocated to her will be instrumental in providing her with experiences that she will be able to share with her students through her creation of an immersive virtual tour tailored to their needs. This virtual experience will seamlessly intertwine historical landmarks and literary insights, offering a dynamic exploration of Transcendentalism, The Crucible, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories. As a result of Cresta’s study in Boston, Concord, and Salem, students will gain not only a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical contexts underpinning key literary works but also invaluable lessons in resilience and resourcefulness.

Professional Support Grants

NEHS Professional Support Grants were awarded to Tara Ann Carter from Milken Community School, CA, and Diana Meza from PrepaTec Chihuahua, Mexico, to support the continued development of their teaching practice.

Tara Ann Carter was awarded $350 to support cultural research that will underpin a new journalism class and Diana Meza received $300 to provide teaching resources that will support ESL students across the campus.

(Left to right): Tara Ann Carter and Diana Meza.

NEHS is happy to receive applications for Professional Support Grants that will support teachers in the following ways:

  • Registration to a local, state, or national conference or convention focused either on the English language arts or other issue of importance to the Advisor’s work as an educator
  • Fees for educational courses, seminars, speakers, or presentations related to some aspect of the English language arts or other issue of importance to the Advisor’s work as an educator
  • Professional, pedagogical texts selected to enhance teaching skills or a set of texts to be used within English department at the Advisor’s school
  • Pedagogical resources (including, but not limited to, posters, bulletin board materials, identity/heritage month celebration materials) which will promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the Advisor’s classroom

More from NEHSXpress: June 13, 2024

Chapter Spotlight: Spring 2024 Winners
NCTE-NEHS ELA Innovation Award Winners
NEHS National Pet Month Photo Contest Winners
More Pride, Less Prejudice