In March of 2007, the Darlington Parents Association awarded Faculty Development Grants to 13 deserving faculty members. Grants ranged up to $2,000.
Each year, teaching faculty who have made a commitment to return to Darlington in the fall are invited to apply for Faculty Development Grants funded by the School’s Parents Association. This program is designed to enhance faculty effectiveness in the classroom, in campus activities and in the community; to encourage faculty to plan creatively for their own continuing professional development; to provide an incentive to aid in the retention of excellent faculty; and to involve department chairs in enhancing the faculty members’ enthusiasm in their particular area of education and involvement.
Several faculty members will use their grants to attend educational seminars in preparation for the 2007-08 school year.
Melinda Holmes, Upper School librarian, will attend a workshop titled “Planning Libraries in the 21st Century” at The Taft School in Watertown, Conn., in late July. “In order to better equip the computer needs of library patrons presently and to prepare for new technologies, the McCallie-Kennedy Library needs to be redesigned,” said Holmes. “I believe I will greatly benefit from the total immersion that this week-long workshop will afford me. Not only will I gain instructional and textbook knowledge, but I will also make contacts and have the opportunity to visit other libraries where technology has been successfully integrated.”
Libbie Zimmer, director of the Learning Center, will attend a workshop titled “Power and Influence: The Effective Female Leader” July 15-18 in Philadelphia. “I think a lot of leadership is intrinsic, but there are many important things that can be taught. At this session, I hope to learn skills that will help me move the Learning Center program forward,” said Zimmer. “At Darlington, our parents are keenly aware of the need for professional development. It’s a win-win. By supporting our teachers, they are improving the quality of their child’s education.”
Zimmer’s Learning Center staffers Jean Bonnyman and Keith Trotter will use their grants to visit Boston’s Landmark School in September. “Landmark is the leader for working with students who have language-based differences; they have been working with these kids since the early 1970’s,” said Bonnyman. “I know Keith and I will learn all kinds of techniques and systems, plus tools we can use with our students in the Learning Center. I already use their system for note-taking, and I will be using their notebook system for our students this fall.”
Others like James Hutchins use their Faculty Grants to further their education. Hutchins, dean of studies at the Middle School, has used his grants to aid in paying tuition for his coursework at the University of Alabama, where he is finishing up his Doctorate in Educational Administration.
“Darlington is a community of learners,” said Hutchins. “If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. Every member of an organization should continue to develop his or her craft. If you don’t, you can rest assure another organization is not far behind. As a beneficiary of their generosity, I would like to thank the Parents Association for helping my dream come true. Without this financial assistance, I don’t know whether it would have been possible.”
Other faculty members who received DPA Faculty Development Grants for use this year include Eva Marie Burns (’79), William Camp, Clara Hoellerbauer, Gwen Gibbes, Jamie Jackson, Kila McCann and Sally Muschamp.
Grants must be for projects beginning on or after May 1 of the granting year and completed by May 1 of the following year. The maximum award available is $2,000, paying up to 50 percent of any required tuition and the cost of travel, boarding expense, supplies, etc. within reason.
“Having been an active member of the Parents Association, and serving as the faculty grant coordinator with Denise Tillman, I know that Darlington parents are a tremendous resource for Darlington School,” said Bonnyman. “Both the School and its students stand to gain a great deal from this generous effort. Personally, I think Faculty Grants are the most important thing the Parents Association does, and I am grateful to be on the other end of it this year.”
All applications should be turned into Lynda Miller, executive assistant to the assistant headmaster and director of Upper School, before spring break of the granting year. All grants, including those for graduate study requiring several summers, will be evaluated each year. Applicants will be notified by late March of the DPA Grant Committee’s decision.
The Parents Association strives to enhance student life and supports faculty, staff and administrative efforts to assure Darlington students the best education possible. The association sponsors a variety of School functions, including the Back-to-School Bash, Pigskin Picnic, Upper and Middle School Christmas dances, Appreciation Week, Junior-Senior Prom and Used Book Sale. All Darlington families are invited to join.
