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Ottawa Area ISD awarded $40,000 in grant aid

Hope College Students Day of Service
Posted at 3:36 PM, Feb 17, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-17 15:36:10-05

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Ottawa Area ISD was awarded $40,000 in grants for equity and inclusion the Communty Foundation of the holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ) reports.

Pam Schwallier, Ph.D., Regional English Learner Consultant for OAISD, Stacey Sills, M.Ed., Health and Prevention Consultant for OAISD and Mihyun Han, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Education for Hope College made up the team of grant writers responsible for the three grants securing financial support.

“These grants benefit all students by providing access to high-quality training for teachers and send a clear message that our schools and community welcome, value, and support our culturally and linguistically diverse families and children,” Dr. Schwallier said.

The three grants will fund Bilingual Tutoring, welcome kits for immigrant families enrolling their kids in OAISD K-12 schools, and equity literacy teacher training.

"As educators, we should be conscious of racial inequities and make our classrooms and schools a safe place for all students,” Sills said. “These grants focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion thereby building positive and authentic cross-racial relationships among all of our students and staff."

“The grants will also help our community organizations adopt inclusive, equitable practices that advance the ultimate goal of improving the life outcomes of all students,” Mihyun Han, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Education for Hope College said.