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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – When one thinks of teachers, many different aspects of the job come to mind – mentoring, inspiring, guiding.
Now, add grant writing to that list.
At a time when schools are facing historic cutbacks and a dearth of resources, educators are having to become more creative in order to get their students what they need.
That's what is happening at Upper Lake High School, where senior math class teacher and Math Department Chair Teresa Dunne netted $10,050 to help her students' education.
Dunne applied for and received a $10,050 “Pathways to Financial Success” grant sponsored by Discover. The award was made to the school in the last week of August.
Discover has made available $10 million in grants to schools like Upper Lake High through the grant program.
The program’s goal is to ensure that young people receive the financial education they need to make informed decisions about money and have a brighter financial future.
Dunne said she plans to use the grant to purchase curriculum related to the “Stock Market Game,” along with laptops and printers, and pay for scholarships for job shadowing opportunities.
The educational game will teach students enrolled in the senior math course about resume building, personal finance and budgeting, banking, real estate, mortgage and escrow, investing, business ownership and business management, according to Dunne.
Dunne said she found out about the grant thanks to Pat Iaccino, Upper Lake High's principal and superintendent. He's been forwarding links to grant applications to all of the teachers.
She said Iaccino is great at helping teachers find avenues to try to address the lack of financial resources.
Dunne, who took over the senior math class after another teacher retired, said the grant addressed many of the concerns she had for her students, including those who are not going to college but who nevertheless need financial literacy skills to survive.
The school also had a need for new educational materials, she said.
“Our textbook is 20 years old and there's no money for curriculum – there's no money for anything,” she said.
The new coursework will allow students to spend half a school year working on the Stock Market Game. Activities will include breaking into teams and learning how stocks work.
The eight laptops Dunne will purchase – at a total cost of $4,000 – will be used to access free online educational materials, she said.
The goal is for students to gain the financial vocabulary they're lacking so they won't be disenfranchised from what's going on in the world, she said.
Another $3,000 will be used for job shadowing mini scholarships and $1,500 for 36 “Financial Algebra” textbooks, Dunne said.
Dunne herself is an example of resilience in a financially uncertain world.
She had worked as a director of production for the Gap International and at age 40 decided to become a math teacher to meet the need in Sonoma County. She took a 90 percent pay cut and after four years found herself laid off due to educational cutbacks.
But Dunne found new opportunity in Lake County, and is championing the effort to get her students what they need.
“Their education is taking a hit and I think that's wrong,” she said.
Dunne will invite members of the business community in and around Upper Lake to come in and speak with her students about a variety of topics related to finance and to offer them job shadowing opportunities.
To find out more about this program and how you can be a part of it, contact Dunne at
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The South Lake County Fire Protection District is welcoming 16 new volunteer firefighters into its ranks.
All of the recruits started the process to become firefighters last fall and have dedicated hundreds of hours to training.
The district reported that this was the largest academy class for South Lake County Fire in the past 10 years.
The new volunteer firefighters were officially welcomed on Aug. 21 with a badge pinning ceremony that was held at the Middletown fire station.
They received their badges from Division Chief Jim Wright, Volunteer Association President Bill Klebe and District Director Jim Abell.
The new firefighters include Pete McGee, Aodhan O’Ferrell, Todd Fenk, Nick Shandel, Corey Hense, Matt McCabe, Matt Breland, Aaron Rill, Robert Taylor, Frank Amante, Aaron Brisbi, Byran Atkins, Josh Dixon, Steve Franklin, Brandon Juntz and Erik Vogel.
All of the volunteers have jobs, families, and other responsibilities besides unselfishly serving their community day and night 365 days a year. They are a necessary and valuable part of the department.
Anyone interested in becoming a paid call firefighter may contact South Lake County Fire Protection District at 707-987-3089, Extension 5, or come into the main station located at 21095 Highway 175, Middletown.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) remind motorists during “Watch Out for Wildlife (WOW) Awareness Week” (Sept. 16-22) to remain alert while driving to improve safety for travelers and wildlife alike.
“Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week” is Sunday, Sept. 16, through Saturday, Sept. 22.
“It’s important that motorists, when driving through areas frequented by deer, elk and other animals, do all they can to protect themselves as well as some of California’s greatest natural resources – our wildlife,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.
In California alone, the California Highway Patrol reported more than 1,800 wildlife-vehicle collisions in 2010. Approximately $1 billion in property damage is also caused by these incidents.
The Defenders of Wildlife, a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting native animals and plants, reports more than 200 people are killed in collisions with deer, elk and other wildlife each year with an estimated 1.5 million animals hit annually.
The WOW Awareness Week campaign is supported by Caltrans, DFG, the Defenders of Wildlife, and the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). Caltrans and its partners work together to plan for the conservation of natural resources while providing safe and effective transportation.
“It’s a sad fact that, despite the collaborative effort of many organizations, we still lose quite a few animals on our roads every year,” said Craig Stowers, DFG’s Deer Program Coordinator. “Many of these incidents could be avoided by simply altering our driving behavior, and being aware of when animals will be most active and being prepared in the event one is encountered. Programs such as Caltrans’ WOW are important reminders that hopefully will decrease that loss and better protect California’s motorists from these unfortunate incidents.”
Caltrans, DFG and the Defenders of Wildlife offer a few tips for motorists:
- Be alert when driving.
- If you see an animal cross the road, know that another may be following.
- Don’t litter. It could entice animals to venture onto the road.
For more information on Watch Out for Wildlife, along with additional tips on avoiding collisions with wild animals, go to www.defenders.org .
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The work of a film director with local roots will be shown in a special screening this weekend at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre.
“California Indian,” written and directed by filmmaker Tim Ramos, will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the theater, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
Ramos was raised at Big Valley Rancheria. The film was shot around Lake County.
This is an encore presentation to celebrate the film’s Aug. 21 DVD release by distributor Vanguard Cinema.
All seats for the showing are $10.
Visit the Soper-Reese online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .