News Release

June 21, 2002

PNM Foundation Awards $120,000 to Innovative Teachers

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: The nonprofit, shareholder-funded PNM Foundation has announced the award of $120,152 to provide teachers throughout New Mexico with more tools for creative teaching.

“The PNM Classroom Innovation Grants went to 53 teachers, but the real winners are the students who will benefit from innovative approaches to classroom instruction,” said Diane Harrison Ogawa, executive director of the PNM Foundation. “This is the first year the grants were made on a statewide basis, and we were so impressed with the quality of the 333 applications we received.”

Applications for the grants were due in March, with the awards being announced in May, giving teachers the summer for preparing their programs. Among the ideas funded are:

Through My Eyes, intergenerational writing and photography project, proposed by Jennifer Chavez-Miller of Jemez Valley High School. This four-week project for ninth-graders focuses on writing and communication skills. It consists of teen-agers and adults in their lives (parents, family members, teachers) documenting how they experience the world through photography and writing. Students will learn about photography, will practice writing and computer skills, and will learn about the experiences and insights of another generation.

Fine Arts of New Mexico: A Living Tradition, proposed by Robert Nelson of Turquoise Trail Elementary School in Santa Fe. This yearlong, school-wide fine arts project will emphasize New Mexico’s history as home to scores of gifted artists. Drawing, painting and printmaking are the major components of the program, against the backdrop of New Mexico’s natural beauty. The project will also include museum and gallery visits and artwork critiques.

COMET: Cloudcroft Observes Many Exciting Things, proposed by Jean Davis of Cloudcroft Municipal Schools in Cloudcroft. A new observatory will house the district's telescope and will allow all classes, kindergarten through high school, to study star maps and astronomy on campus. Every nine weeks a "star party" will be hosted by Project COMET with students acting as PNM Foundation Observatory tour guides.

PNM BioTech Laboratory: Biotechnology Project, proposed by John R. Irwin and Cheryl Grau of Texico High School. This three-year student project will help inform the community through student projects that biotechnology is a diverse science that includes food production and waste disposal. Students will learn lab techniques for testing milk quality, DNA electrophoresis, genetic engineering and cloning.

Conducting a controlled archaeological dig proposed by Bernita Smith-Payne of P.R. Leyba Middle School in Carlsbad. This project will give seventh graders a chance to learn and apply archaeological concepts and methods such as digging, screening, cataloging, photographing, recording and examining their finds, at least some of which will be placed by teachers.

Ticket to Travel, proposed by Anna Marie Sedillo of Dolores Gonzales Elementary School in Albuquerque. Themed suitcases filled with books, games, puzzles and videos will allow students to learn at home. Each student will write journal entries about how the suitcase was used at home, who used it, what they learned and how much fun they had. Pictures taken with disposable cameras and the writings will be displayed in the hallway.

Real-Life Science: UV Around the World, proposed by Sharon L. Franz of Grant Middle School in Albuquerque. Students will combine satellite-based global positioning technology with ultraviolet radiation measurements to monitor and analyze UV exposure as functions of elevation, time of day, weather and seasons. This project includes a field trip, a Web site and e-mail communication with other students to compare data.

The PNM Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1983 to improve the community and quality of life in New Mexico. The Foundation is a separate nonprofit tax-exempt corporation, and was originally endowed by a gift from earnings by shareholders of PNM. No customer funds are part of the endowment. For more information, please contact the PNM Foundation at (505) 241-2675.