Grafton Kiwanian "pays it forward"

Attorney Chad Green Establishes Grant for York County School Teachers

by William C. Monroe, Grafton Kiwanis Club & York Foundation for Public Education

Imagine a young boy struggling to master reading. Although this is not unusual for boys, it is a problem to be overcome. Fortunately for the boy, he had a dedicated reading teacher with skills that were up to the challenge. Years later the boy, Chad Green, now an attorney and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Grafton, Virginia, wanted to "pay it forward," but how? Fortunately for him, the York Foundation for Public Education (YFPE) had a program in place to "pay it forward."

Beginning this year and continuing every spring, the YFPE will award the Chad Green Reading for Merit Innovative Grant in honor of Katherine Snead. Ms. Snead was the reading teacher who was able to make the break through that led to Chad Green's successful college and law school experience.

Ms. Myra Ingram, a Kindergarten teacher from Yorktown Elementary School was the recipient of the first grant. When Peggy Myatt and the YFPE Prize Patrol went to Ms. Ingram's classroom to present the Grant, she gave an explanation of the award and how it was funded. She asked the class if they knew what "perpetual" meant. Immediately, all their hands went up. The selected pupil explained that "it means forever and you can't do anything about it."

The YFPE provides grants to teachers for innovative teaching ideas not currently funded by the School Division. The grant funded by Mr. Green will be self-sustaining in five years. For more information about YFPE contact Peggy Myatt, 757 898 0300.

Chad Green, right, Myra Ingram, left, and Ms. Ingram's reading students are all smiles following the presentation of the Chad Green Reading for Merit Innovative Grant. The class had been celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday.