Jean Holtz, chairperson of the Freehold Borough Education Foundation (FBEF), announced $6,312 in grant awards to teachers in the district for the 2010-2011 school year. Holtz named the recipients at the Freehold Borough Board of Education meeting on Monday, Jan. 24 at the Park Avenue Complex.

Suzanne Peltzman, a fifth grade Gifted & Talented program teacher, received $750 for her “M3-Mentoring Mathematical Minds” proposal.

“As you probably know, Ms. Pletzman has a proven track record for helping her students excel beyond the normal curriculum,” Holtz said.

Park Avenue Elementary and Freehold Intermediate School guidance counselor Kelly Korz received $750 for “Healing Children Through Sand Play.” The program is similar to art therapy and helps children with emotional problems, according to Holtz.

Pre-K teacher Lauren Filipek received $750 for her “I Can Only Imagine” proposal. The grant will help pay for outdoor educational equipment, which will be used to support the curriculum, said Holtz.

Park Avenue Elementary first grade teachers Meghan Reistrom and Christine Stewart received $1,500 for their “Listening Center “ proposal.  The grant will help them create a learning environment to facilitate reading and learning, according to Holtz.

Music teacher Eric Gross requested $750 to purchase instruments for students who do not have them, but FBEF fully funded the program with $2,562, Holtz said.

FBEF is a nonprofit organization that operates independent of the school board.

“Most of our funds are not raised by parents. We try to raise money from businesses,” Holtz said. “Our goal is to get money by nontraditional resources.”

For more information on FBEF, visit http://www.fbef.org.