Faculty members at Fauquier High School (FHS) are gaining new opportunities after being selected to receive professional development grants through the Fauquier Education Foundation.

This year, a total of $22,151 has been awarded to 14 teachers and one principal across Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS1). These grants aim to give staff funding to use for professional development opportunities, something that, for educators in specialized fields, can be expensive. While FCPS1 requires teachers to complete yearly professional development hours, funding for conferences, workshops and training programs is not freely given.

Counselor Mikaela Stinson will use the grant to attend the Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) conference, an event that many counselors across the state regularly attend to stay updated on current practices. She said she was so happy when she learned that she’d been selected and felt that the selection committee recognized the important role that counselors play in supporting students.

“This profession is very dynamic,” Stinson said. “Staying up to date with practices, resources and current trends is a necessity.”

With fellow counselor Johanna Scott, Stinson plans to attend sessions oriented on interventions and strategies that directly benefit students. After the conference, the two plan to share resources with the school counseling department and other counselors throughout the county.

FHS’ Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science and Oceanography teacher, Jonathan Kraut, applied for the grant because of his long standing involvement with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. During his time involved, he has brought hundreds of students to Chesapeake Bay field experiences and wants to expand beyond his current knowledge through taking teacher workshops offered by the foundation.

“I’m very involved with the Chesapeake Bay and the Foundation,” Kraut said. “But they are expensive and I’m a teacher in Fauquier County, so I needed help.”