Directions Credit Union recently announced the recipients of their “Directions Cares for Classrooms” grants. Over one hundred educators applied for the grants for their schools, and sixteen winners were chosen. We are highlighting five local grant recipients who are now putting the grant funds to good use in their classrooms.

Jodi Frysinger
Fort Miami Elementary

Jodi Frysinger is a K-3rd grade intervention specialist at Fort Miami Elementary with Maumee City Schools, where she has been teaching for 28 years. Frisinger received her undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo and her Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University.

Frysinger used her grant money to purchase two Swidget Foot Swings. “The Swidget foot swings are in place under specific students’ desks and they provide easy access to movement while they are able to remain seated and complete their work,” Frisinger explains, adding, “The students love them and use them regularly. Their focus is improved as the foot swings provide an outlet for movement with the added benefit of not distracting others.”

The remaining grant money was used to purchase three Purrbles, a calming device for students. “The Purrbles are very popular and effective,” according to Frisinger. “I give them to students when they have specific needs, as well as when requested, much like a class pet! Purrbles require petting and care to slow the heartbeat and engage in calming sounds. The students are unaware that while they are caring for Purrble, they are actually caring for themselves. Purrble provides a way to calm themselves down and focus on their work. I have even used Purrble to entice a student who was quite upset and refused to leave her classroom.”

Frysinger is a mother of two adult children and one dog, who has been trained to accompany her to school.

Rachel Birt
Monclova Primary

Rachel Birt is an intervention coach for Monclova Primary. She is a nationally board-certified teacher in early and middle childhood, with specialties in literacy, reading and language arts. She is also a Google-certified educator. She has been a teacher for 25 years, and has spent 18 years at Anthony Wayne Schools. Birt received her undergraduate degree from Ohio University, and her graduate degree from Bowling Green State University.

Birt is using her grant money to help students gain reading skills. “Our Directions Credit Union grant will be used to ‘gamify’ Reading Club,” she said. “Students will engage in playing board games that are aligned to the lessons’ objectives in order to practice skills for mastery.”

Birt explained how this might apply to popular board games. “For instance, when using the typical board game Guess Who, players guess which character was chosen by asking questions about the character’s physical appearance. Do they have red hair? Answers are ‘yes’ or ‘no’ only. During a literacy version, the game’s face pieces are replaced with words that fit the week’s spelling pattern. The students will then have a pile of question cards they may ask to eliminate the suspects, such as ‘Does your word have a long vowel sound?’”

Birt expects these games to be an aid to the staff and students alike. “Many of our students have significant gaps in their reading skills. Our Reading Club programs provide engaging lessons that always include a tactile or kinesthetic movement opportunity. These board games will assist our tutors, classroom teachers and myself when teaching, practicing, and mastering our reading decoding and comprehension skills.”

Birt’s husband, Brian, is also an educator. He is currently a professor at Owens Community College. Their son, Brady, is a freshman at Ohio University, and their daughter, Cassidy, attends Perrysburg High School. 

Cynthia Rodriguez
Notre Dame Academy

Cynthia Rodriguez teaches seventh and eighth grade science, as well as a study skills, at Notre Dame Academy. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Toledo, and her graduate degree from BGSU. She has been teaching for 33 years, and has spent eight years at Notre Dame Academy.

Rodriguez will use the grant money to purchase rocket kits for her eighth grade students to build and launch. She plans that those lessons will engage the students in scientific studies. “This grant money will enhance the STEM program at NDA by giving the students the opportunity to explore rocketry and physics,” she said.

Rodriguez has lived in Toledo her entire life. She is also the mother of one son who is currently in medical school at Ohio University.

Jillian Cowell
Waterville Primary School

Jillian Cowell is the school counselor at Waterville Primary School, where she has worked with K-4th grade students for the past ten years. Cowell, a graduate of Central Catholic, received her undergraduate degree in psychology and her master’s degree in school counseling from BGSU.

Cowell used the grant money to purchase keychains for students that feature a yellow lab. 

“The yellow lab is a meaningful symbol at our school, as it represents our school facility dog, Telia! Telia is a five-year-old cross between a labrador retriever and a golden retriever, and has been working in our building with our students each day for the past three years,” Cowell said.

“Telia is hands down the most popular staff member we have, and has an incredibly positive impact on all members of our school community. We knew that using Telia’s image for these keychains would be a perfect tangible reminder to students of the personal acknowledgements and connections we make.”

The keychains are awarded to individual students throughout the year. “Telia keychains can be awarded for anything positive that we notice. It does not need to be a huge deal or a major accomplishment. These personalized connections have helped assure our students that we do notice and appreciate when they are showing their best effort and treating each other with respect and kindness. We are really hopeful that this will encourage our students to continue to make great choices.”

When she’s not in the classroom, Telia resides in Sylvania with Cowell’s family, which includes her husband and two daughters, ages four and two.

Beth Frybarger
Sherman Elementary School

Beth Frybarger is a cross-categorical, self-contained special education teacher with Toledo Public Schools, where she has taught for eight years. She currently works with grades K-2 at Sherman Elementary School.  A graduate of Whitmer High School, Frybarger has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education as well as a masters degree in special education, both from the University of Toledo.

Frybarger used her grant to purchase equipment and supplies for students with autism. “I applied for the grant to purchase PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) along with some other supplies, such as fidgets and other calming devices, to help the growing population of young autistic students who are joining my classroom,” Frybarger said. “For many of my students, this is their first year in an education setting, and they lack the communication skills to communicate their wants, needs and academic skills. It is exciting to see these students when they are able to communicate with their peers and adults and are understood.”

Before working in Toledo, Frybarger traveled the country with her husband, who was serving in the Army. She previously taught in Ypsilanti, MI; Fort Irwin, CA; and Hopkinsville, KY.