GRANTS AWARDED — The Jefferson County Educational Service Center presented Best Practice Grants to three Buckeye Local School District teachers during the Nov. 18 school board meeting. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Ron Sismondo, JCESC director of curriculum and professional development, left, and Cameron Best. Stephanie Crust and Crysta Christian also received grants. -- Contributed

TILTONSVILLE — Educators in the Buckeye Local School District have gained a windfall to help them increase learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.

Cameron Best, Crysta Christian and Stephanie Crust and each received a $700 Best Practice Grant from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center to implement programs intended to expand students’ minds in the realm of agriculture education, science and social emotional learning. Ron Sismondo, JCESC director of curriculum and professional development, presented the funds during the regular school board session on Nov. 18 at Buckeye South Elementary School.

Best, who serves as an ag education instructor at Buckeye Local Junior-Senior High School, will use his allocation for his “Ag/FFA Hybrid Corn Plot” project to select and plant different varieties of corn near the high school and harvest the crop, gaining hands-on experience in the process.

“Buckeye Local ag students will be divided into groups where they choose a variety of corn to plant in the lot next to our high school. The students will monitor and learn through all stages of preparation, planting, growth and harvest. In the Fall of 2025, they will compare data records and determine what variety of corn best fits our region,” Best said.

He added the students have already learned how to take soil samples and determine how to use the results to properly fertilize in preparation for planting, and then they will research the corn varieties and take part in all aspects of planting from plowing and tilling the soil to harvesting the vegetable. They will relay their findings and conclusions to the public for local farmers and agriculture enthusiasts to incorporate in further operations. Finally, the pupils will learn how to market their product and all aspects of agribusiness operations.

Best said it was his first Best Practice Grant and he was thrilled to receive the award and benefit more than 21 students in his program.

“I am beyond grateful for being selected as one of the recipients of the Best Practice Award and for the JCESC’s support of Buckeye Local Schools and in specific our new ag program.”

Christian, who teaches third-grade science and social studies at Buckeye South Elementary, was awarded for her project, “Hands-on Science.” The project integrates hands-on science investigations and experiments that align with third-grade learning standards.

“This grant will allow me to purchase high-quality materials to supplement my curriculum, giving students opportunities to engage in hands-on investigations and experiments to deepen their understanding of concepts. Materials will be used to align with the standards and follow our curriculum while integrating the nature of science in the classroom,” she added, saying about 46 science students will be served.

Christian is another previous Best Practice Grant recipient and said it has helped her expand her students’ minds.

“I am grateful and thrilled to receive a Best Practice Grant. This grant will bring science to life for my students. They are enthusiastic learners and love to explore and experiment. High-quality science materials will allow for more engagement and deeper understanding of the science standards and concepts. My students are excited to have the tools they need to behave and learn like scientists.”

Crust, who serves as gifted intervention specialist at BLHS, plans to bolster her students’ imaginations through her project, “Creative Minds: Enhancing Gifted Education through Art and Social Emotional Learning.”

The initiative integrates art with social emotional learning to support gifted students in developing emotional intelligence and teamwork skills by having them participate in interactive art activities and collaborative projects. The plan also aligns with Ohio’s Learning Standards, encouraging creativity while fostering essential social skills. Crust said this approach helps students grow both socially and emotionally through engaging, hands-on experiences.

“The goal is to develop emotional intelligence, teamwork and problem-solving skills through engaging art activities. Students will participate in projects like creating emotion collages to express feelings, making mood portraits that reflect their emotions and illustrating decision-making scenarios through scenario paintings. They will also engage in digital art projects and virtual exhibitions and may collaborate on community murals. The plan is to display student artwork in the school, as well. Overall, this initiative aims to enhance emotional intelligence and creativity.”

Crust noted that she has received Best Practice Grants in the past and she was grateful to obtain the funding.

“I’m extremely excited to partner with local artists who will provide their expertise and mentorship to the students,” she said. “I am appreciative of local artist Abbey Wilson, Buckeye Local alumna and a former teacher in our district and the high school volleyball coach, for her input for the proposal and her willingness to come into the school and share her artistic abilities with our students.”

JCESC Superintendent Chuck Kokiko was equally enthusiastic about the broad vision the educators have brought forth with their project ideas.

“The JCESC has supported efforts of our classroom teachers to bring forth insightful, innovative projects to fuel the students’ minds and improve upon their education, and the Best Practice Grants enable them to put those ideas into practice,” Kokiko added. “Every year, our district teachers continue to find unique methods for their classroom. We appreciate their hard work and are pleased to provide these opportunities and promote such creativity.”

Buckeye Local Schools have earned nearly 50 Best Practice Grants over the past 17 years to enhance learning experiences and others included the Edison Local, Harrison Hills City, Indian Creek Local, Southern Local, Steubenville City and Toronto City school districts as well as the Utica Shale Academy.