2024 Darrell Saucier Innovative Classroom Grant Winners

(October 21, 2024) – HCSD is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024-25 Darrell Saucier Innovative Classroom Grants! Mr. Michael Mucha of West Harrison High and Ms. Johnette Garcia of West Wortham Elementary & Middle School will each receive $1,000 to support their original classroom projects.
 
Johnette Garcia - Washed Out Watershed Project 
Washed Out Watershed is a hands-on project-based watershed model to graphically explain to students the importance of various point and nonpoint pollution sources. The grant will fund an EnviroScape Nonpoint Source Watershed Model, Lamotte Watershed Virtual Tour, and supplies to enhance student learning and increase awareness of the importance of the conservation of natural resources and pollution prevention and control. The project will show students how everything poured onto our land will eventually reach our drinking water and coastal waterways. The goal is to help students understand the underlying dangers of pollution and runoff from their watersheds.
 
Michael Mucha – Estes Rocket Project
The Estes Rocket Project focuses on rockets in motion, from the most basic concepts to launching model rockets. It involves studies in Newton’s Laws using an outline of rocket motion from Estes Rockets. The project includes physical and earth sciences, physics, math, and history lessons. The purpose is to create a learning environment and long-term activity that encourages students to explore beyond concepts and formulas and actively engage them with STEM activities that include hands-on constructions while using the scientific method as a guide to improve their understanding of ways to problem solve. The $1,000 grant will go toward purchasing at least 50 rocket packs and other supplies for students to conduct Egg Drop experiments, rocket construction, test flights, and rocket recovery.
 The Darrell Saucier Innovative Classroom Grant was established in June of 2019 to ensure outstanding Harrison County School District teachers and teacher assistants have access to funds to help engage students for many years. The awards were made possible by Mr. Darrell Saucier, who passed away in 2019 and named the Harrison County School District as the beneficiary of his savings account. Mr. Saucier’s gift of $642,884.84 was the largest donation in HCSD’s 63-year history. 

Congratulations to Ms. Garcia and Mr. Mucha! We can’t wait to see their innovative classroom projects come to life for students!