By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch A big surprise for Elissa Dornan could become an even bigger thrill for the Graham school where she teaches. Rocky Ridge Elementary School is the last school in Washington that's still in the running for a $100,000 grant from the nationwide Farmers Insurance Thank a Million Teachers Dream Big contest. That news was sprung on Dornan, who applied for the grant, during a student assembly at the school Sept. 11. Rocky Ridge is one of 15 finalists nationally and is now competing only on a regional level with two other schools GÇô one in Idaho and the other in Montana GÇô for one of the five $100,000 grants that will be determined by public voting. The six-figure awards are part of $1 million in grants that Farmers Insurance is handing out this year, including $500,000 in amounts of $2,500. Representatives of Farmers Insurance and Bethel School District officials were at Rocky Ridge to surprise Dornan with word that her grant application could reel in one of the biggest prizes. Dornan's grant proposal is to boost technology in students' learning at Rocky Ridge by purchasing 150 iPads for classroom use. "We are all about increasing access to technology for our students,GÇ¥ Dornan said. She wiped away tears of happiness at the assembly while her proposal was being praised by Randy Rice, national manager of education programs for Farmers Insurance. "What's so special about it,GÇ¥ Rice said, "is it's not about her. It goes beyond her to the entire school and really to the community.GÇ¥ Dornan noted that iPads would be a boon to the approximately 70 percent "of our students living in poverty and having very limited access to technology. It opens conversations for our students and for our parents, but it also provides opportunities for our teachers to learn and grow, as well. Just the excitement of having these tools can generate a lot of opportunities for our students to collaborate, to work on critical thinking and communicating, and do all the things we want our 21stcentury students to be doing.GÇ¥ The next step to possibly making Dornan's goal a reality is online voting that will determine which of the grant finalists wins. The voting starts in October at www.thankamillionteachers. com/vote-for-a-proposal and continues into November. Dale Kelley, a local Farmers agent who sponsored Dornan's grant proposal, vowed "to get out the voteGÇ¥ for Rocky Ridge. State Sen. Randi Becker and Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman attended the Rocky Ridge assembly, and Wyman urged the students to vote. "I'm excited that we can help your school win this competition. Good luck, Rocky Ridge,GÇ¥ Wyman said. The Thank A Million Teachers program was launched earlier this year, inviting the public nationally to thank teachers, present and past, for their positive impact on students and communities. Teachers were then invited to participate in the Dream Big Challenge by submitting proposals for a chance to win one of the $100,000 grants for their school and community.
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