Wilmington Educational Foundation Announces 2023 Joanne Benton Educator Exploration Grant Recipients

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington School Committee recently accepted a $5,372 donation from the Wilmington Education Foundation (WEF) in the form of three Joanne Benton Educator Exploration Grants awarded to four local educators.

The grant, named in memory of late Wilmington School Superintendent Joanne Benton, enables educators to bring their explorations to the classroom.  The grant allows teachers the opportunity to travel and experience the subjects they are teaching to the classroom in a hands-on environment.  Teachers then bring what they have learned to the classroom, engaging children and enhancing their learning experience.

The 2023 WEF Educator Exploration grant recipients include:

• Amy Meagher, a Grade 5 Social Studies Teacher at the West Intermediate, who received $2,500 to visit the Historic Triangle in Virginia.
• Teressa Pietro and Joanne Veliz, World Language Teachers at Wilmington High School, who received $1,330 to visit a Linguistics Museum in Washington, DC.
• Mary Beth Valuk, the Mathematics Curriculum Team Leader for Wilmington High School and Wilmington High School, who received $1,542.35 to attend a Math Conference.

Established in 1999, the Wilmington Educational Foundation (WEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to supporting innovation and excellence in the Wilmington public school system. WEF’s goal is to enhance and increase educational opportunities for all Wilmington students by providing funds for innovative programs that are not otherwise funded through the school budget.