Printer Friendly Version

Testimonials

Citibank FamilyTech

Parents:
"Citibank Family Tech is a great program that gives the parents the opportunity to learn and be engaged in their children.  Without this program the parents who are low income would not be able to have this wonderful service."

"Thanks for the program.  Without it my son would not have a computer, so thank you so very much."

Teachers:

My fourth grade students love having computers with internet connection at home. For many, this is the first time they have been able to research topics and complete assignments using the internet. It has given parents the opportunity to be more involved in their child's education. The students' growth and knowledge of technology has greatly increased during this school year.
Mrs. Woods, 4th grade teacher, CR Hadley Elementary

My student, Lakenyah Barber has really blossomed this year!  All thanks to the Citibank FamilyTech Program. 

From the beginning of the year she paid close attention to Ms. Vivian Brown, our Teacher Tech Coach, in her computer classes.  First, she began excelling in the FCAT Math skills of Data Analysis and Probability. This happened when she learned how to make a graph on the computer. Next, she was taught how to use PowerPoint and make detailed presentations with pictures. 

She uses her Citibank computer at home to compile facts from the Internet on any subject that catches her interest.  She brings those facts to school and begs to use our classroom computers to fashion them into excellent presentations.  She continues to fill up disk after disk. The Citibank Program has motivated her to strive for success and she has grown both Tech Savvy and in her academic skills. Thanks Citibank!
Madelyn Ferguson, 3rd Grade Teacher, Lorah Park Elementary School

Citibank FamilyTech is a program that has allowed my students to grow using technology. Their abilities to research information and format their work is one that amazes me more and more each year. I have learned that students will try anything that is presented to them and Citibank FamilyTech has allowed them to take huge leaps into the fast-paced world of technology.
Mrs. Acosta, 2nd Grade Teacher, CR Hadley Elementary

I have parents who have become "expert" on the use of the Internet and e-mail.  They really have enjoyed the benefits of being recipients of computers through Citibank. 
Elizabeth Grimes, Parent Trainer, Bunche Park Elementary

Jennifer Williams, Citibank FamilyTech Coordinator and our Technology Coach, has been a wonderful help this year. The boys and girls have learned how to prepare a PowerPoint presentation, along with creating brochures, newsletters and various other activities on the computer. This will prepare them for middle schools and the future. Several parents have commented that they too have learned new skills from their children.

Citibank FamilyTech and DERM have inspired us to become conservationists, and we are now recycling, reusing and reducing so that the world will have natural resources when these children are grown.
Ann Stephenson, 5th grade teacher, CR Hadley Elementary

Students at Bunche Park Elementary: 

The Earobics reading program is great because I love to learn.  When my teacher tells us to bring in the bubble sheet for Earobics I always do.  Earobics is important and it is my favorite kind of homework.  Thank you for the computer.
Georgia

I like the Earobics reading program because it is educational.  The educational games help me with vocabulary.  The games help me learn.  It's a learning and fun activity.  My mom's happy it's not just a video game.  I'm learning so much.  Thanks!
Shem

I like the Earobics reading program because I spend most of my time on computer.  Earobics helps me get better grades and a good report card.  Doing Earobics is so much fun.  I fell really good when I am done.
Shontal

I like Earobics because it helps me with my blends and sounds in reading.  Earobics is important to me because it helps me with school.  At first I did not know how to play it until my dad came and helped.  Now my dad plays the games.  He is always on Earobics. Sometimes I have to tell him to get off and go to sleep.
Khali

Citibank Success Fund

The eighth grade students are definitely better prepared for high school because of the Winning Writers project. They developed the basics of writing that they will need to succeed in the future. We will continue this program next year.
Ettie Anderson, North Miami Middle

We prevented one student from dropping out of school. With all the hands-on activities that the Citibank project, Heavenly Scent Herbs, allowed us to incorporate, the student began enjoying school and decided to remain at least one more year!
Ana Mendez, Specialized Development Center- South


I can't believe we were able to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Scientist have been trying to do that for a long time."
Giovanni, Shenandoah Elementary, The Apple Pie World Tour

"I liked the Egg Drop Device because we got to work like real engineers and make something to protect the egg from breaking."
Natalia, Shenandoah Elementary, The Apple Pie World Tour

As you know, because of the $1200 Citibank Success Fund grant I received, I was able to offer a training and support / study group on Dr. Becky Bailey's Conscious Discipline at my school. I applied for credit for the participants and collected comments and evaluations which were forwarded to the MDCPS Teacher Education Center. TEC just called me and asked me to teach Conscious Discipline for them - open to the county!

Depending on evaluations, it will be put on as a regular course. This was made possible because the grant allowed me to showcase it! If I can ever talk about this in any setting that would help promote the Ed Fund or thank Citibank publicly, I will be delighted to do so. 

Thank you! I will let you know how it goes- how the class is received by the teachers who sign up. 
Katja

Great American Teach-A-Thon

From Teacher Champions Business Participants:

"The one word that describes the teach-a-thon experience for me is vision, followed closely by insight. Going through the whole experience from materials preparation to teaching has given me great vision and insight into what it's like, and what it takes to be a teacher."
James Guilmartin, Assurant

"My sisters are teachers so they have been telling me for years what it's REALLY like to teach. Now I learned 1^st hand how much preparation goes into each & every lesson. There are many "public speaking" tools that go into teaching however you must be able to relate on the students' level rather than usually speaking to your peers. Keeping their attention and making it fun while implementing a great learning experience is quite a challenge! We (team teaching) hope we accomplished our goal that day. We KNOW we had fun and learned what it's like to be a teacher - very rewarding! All the smiles and self satisfaction they achieve are worth every minute of effort we put into it."
Javid Kelly, Orange Clothing

"Learned how challenging and satisfying it can be firsthand.  I learned that being a teacher is a very difficult job.  Although I hear this all the time, I was not aware of the conditions related to space, money, and tools.  I also learned how satisfying it can be by seeing the faces and getting their thanks. "
Raj Rawal, Burger King

"I am a teacher champion and for myself and the rest of our team of Teacher Champions, it was an incredible experience.  The students were totally into our presentation and we really got to make a difference.  Yes, it was an amazing amount of creativity and work to prepare a class and then pull it off- so I can't imagine what it takes for a teacher to do the same on an everyday basis.  It was truly a privilege to participate this year and Whole Foods looks forward to participating again next year or anytime at all."
Bambi Liss-Saltzman, Community Relations, Whole Foods

"I always thought that elementary teachers expended a greater amount of energy than do high-school teachers primarily due to the attention they needed to give to each student. I was surprised to find out the same effort is needed in creating a lesson plan for a high-school math class. I had a wonderful experience planning for and spending the day with the high school students at Southridge High School. I was truly impressed by the students' interest level and willingness to continue learning in furthering their education"
Michelle Griffith, Assurant

From Mentor Teachers Participants (classroom teachers)

"The school I work at is in a poverty zone, and the parents of the children that are in my class cannot afford uniforms which are required to be worn at the school. They are not in a special club, they are required as mandatory attire. I decided the best thing that I could give to all my children would be something that they could not get on their own. I therefore decided to order uniform shirts for all of my students.

The day that the uniforms came in was the day of a special field trip that the entire first grade went on, which was to the Homestead Rodeo. All the children in my class had brand new matching uniforms, and we took pictures of the entire class with the principal of the school, Dr. Nebb.

The children really appreciated the new uniforms, and it was at that point that I knew I made the right decision by using the money raised from the Teach-A-Thon to get these uniforms. I thank you for the opportunity to work with The Education Fund and look forward to doing more work with you in the future."

Thank you,
Emad R. Fahmy
First Grade Teacher
Laura C. Saunders Elementary School

 "I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you what a huge success my day was with my CHAMPIONS.  They really were champions.  Jeff and Paul from Coastal did an outstanding job!  We decided from the beginning that it would be best to do hands-on projects that have been needed to get done for some time in my Agriscience area.  There was either a lack of funds or know-how on my part.  They were able to accomplish everything we talked about.  I kept telling them that I felt like I was part of Extreme Home Makeovers.  They were able to bring in a landscape crew, an electrician, a plumber, an irrigation specialist, and all of the heavy equipment necessary to get the jobs done.  I had an issue with the sink in the greenhouse.  They addressed that.  I have a weather data collection device that I was having to carry outside each day in order to get any weather readings.  It should have been attached to the building 5 years ago.  They took care of that.  We had several areas that needed to be re-landscaped.  They took care of that.  They even arranged for us to get a new irrigation timer to handle all of the new sprinklers that were installed. We started at 8:00AM and didn't stop until 4:00PM.  It was a day that I will never forget!  What a great experience for the students.

Thank you for allowing me to take part in this program again."
Alison Lincoln
Richmond Heights Middle School

"This entire project has been wonderful!   Not only did my class and I get to meet two wonderful and creative people, Javid and Andy from the Orange Clothing Company, we were exposed to a wonderful lesson, and we also received much needed funds for the classroom. I want to compliment you and your organization for being so caring, as well as professional. I hope you will include me in this program for the future. I will try to help in any way that I can. "
Dalia Citron
Ojus Elementary School

IMPACT II

"The IMPACT II adapter program affects my school because it brings resources and ideas to teachers to implement in their classrooms.  It affects my classroom because my students have more hands-on materials.  The program's major strength is the workshop where teachers can learn from each other new ideas in teaching to help them become more creative and effective in their teaching."
Elaine J. Davis-Diaz, Dante B. Fascell Elementary

"It is having a positive impact because all students, alternative education students in particular, always benefit from hands-on creative learning activities.  Those made possible by The Ed Fund have made a difference!    Most teachers are willing to put forth tremendous time and every for their students and this is especially true when they feel supported by the system and the Ed Fund."
Kathleen Pham

"All I can tell you is that I will continue using someone else's ideas and the help from the Ed Fund in carrying out these ideas.  It's a way for us to help our students be a part of greater things that we as teachers can't really afford to pay for."
Alessandra Novoa

"My main objective was to get my students and "myself" more excited about science.  These hands-on experiments certainly accomplished that 100%.  I became so involved with science.  I became science chairperson and science fair chairperson.  This encouraged my class to get even more involved in science and so did the rest of my grade level.  IMPACT II allows teachers to add to their activities and to enrich their classrooms!"
Maggi Gutierrez, Miami Springs Elementary

"The IMPACT II program has allowed wonderful ideas to be shared and used by others.  It has provided the support to implement these wonderful activities.  It has made me see that I am not alone - I can reach out to others.  It has opened doors for my students.  Thank you!  IMPACT II creates a network of teachers and ideas.  Most importantly, it provides us, the teachers, the means to obtain the materials/resources necessary for our students."
Adriana Linares, Arcola Lake Elementary

"I cannot begin to write how this grant has enhanced my Spanish SL program.  Never have I seen so many motivated students in my 4 year teaching career at Pine Villa Elementary like I experienced this year.  Students would enter my portable and would not want to leave.  Everyday we did something new and exciting.  For example, we made butterfly visors, pocketbooks, posters, booklets, butterfly clips and so forth.  We were butterfly crazed for about three straight months.  The next thing I knew, the whole school was incorporating the Hungry Caterpillar into their Science lesson plans.  For example, the Kindergarten teachers shared many coloring activities and videos with me.  As a result, a team of teachers got together and made bilingual poster boards on their unit plans and displayed them for months in the media center."
Jacqueline Torres-Quinones, Pine Villa Elementary

IMPACT II Idea EXPO

Barbara Bailey of Howard Doolin Middle School wrote: "In my 16 years of teaching and attending inservice trainings, I have never taken away so much useful, applicable information as I did today at The Education Fund's Idea EXPO.

I enjoyed the Idea EXPO so much - I learned many things that I am using with great positive results!
Ms. Dibble, North Miami Elementary

Teacher Mini-Grants

The attendance in my classroom shot up to almost 100% every day during the project, Leaping Literacy, in contrast to the 70% attendance I usually have at the beginning of the year.
Rachel Kohrman Ramos, Eneida Hartner Elementary