Sheila Clark, Hopes to Make DC Dream Trip for Steger Students

Sheila Clark is a 5th grade teacher at Columbia Central Jr. High School in Steger, Illinois. She is pouring herself into what would be a dream trip for 8th grade students to Washington, DC.

As an educator, she realizes the importance of such a trip and how it makes things real for the subjects the students study.  A well rounded education not only consists of learning what is in books, but also by living experiences that put impressions on children. These impressions are as individual as the students themselves. Each takes something different from an experience they all may share together.

This trip will expand the understanding of the world they live in and the operations of the government, in a way no book could quite convey. Please take time to vote for Sheila Clark.

HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

VOTE TODAY!

www.sd194.org

GOOD WORK & GOOD LUCK!
Sheila Clark

Contest sponsored by Farmers Insurance Agency. Co-sponsored by Jeff Sopko Farmers Agent is Steger, Illinois, serving the south suburbs.

News Alert: Realtors & Lenders Team Up to Offer Farmers Smart Plan Home

Attention:  Realtors & Lenders
Homeowner's can save money with your help. Introducing a new approach to home insurance, the Farmers Smart Plan Home. As a professional in the real estate and lending industry, you want to provide the very best experience for our customers. To help make it easier for you clients to select the insurance policy they want for their home, Farmers Smart Plan Home offers three straightforward, customizable coverage packages with important benefits like declining deductibles, a claim free discount and claim forgiveness.

Some features about our product that make it different

• A 15% discount when premium is paid in full, whether by a customer or mortgage company
• Very competitive rates, especially for new homes
• A product that is flexible to provide coverage options for your clients

The benefits of working with Farmers

• Fast, dependable service
• Competitive rates and a variety of discounts
• Wide-ranging coverage options for your customers
• A streamlined process to help customers easily get coverage when purchasing their new home.

Service and discounts for your customers

As an agent from one of the largest personal lines property and casualty insurance groups, I'd like to help you service your customers by providing industry leading products and first-rate service for your customers. Farmers insurance provides coverage options to help customers with their insurance needs and helps customers to select insurance coverage based on their situation. I can also offer occupational discounts for Health Care Professionals, Educators, Scientific and Technical.

Having a dedicated agent available to answer questions for your clients makes the process much easier. Call me today and let's discuss how your customers can benefit and your business can benefit in the process.

Jeff Sopko

Farmers Insurance Agency

3333 Chicago Road

Steger, IL 60475

708.754-1221

Realtor benefits are yours when you partner with Farmers Insurance. With the Savings for realtors you can offer more to those seeking a new home.

Dream Big Teacher Challenge Win $100,000

Charmie McKinney & Kim Scheutrow Receiving Awards

Presented by Jeff Sopko, Farmers Insurance Agent

     Proposals are now being accepted for the Dream Big Teacher Challenge. A contest sponsored by Farmers Insurance that brings to light the importance teachers have in the  lives of their students and in their communities. Teachers in grades Kindergarten through twelve grade are eligible.  Those teachers who have been awarded $2,500 grants for their schools can submit proposals competing with teachers all across the nation.  Submissions must be in by the end of June.

     Encourage any teachers you know to submit their proposals.  In the Steger Community area, teachers were awarded over $40,000 in grant money to bring excellent programs to the community schools.

     Join the community spirit and get involved. This has been an amazing program bringing new programs to engage the students and accelerate learning.

     Farmers Insurance Agency is the proud sponsor of this contest thanking teachers for their hard work. 

Amber Schaaf Finds Key to Success. Wins Contest!

Amber Schaaf is a Teacher at Parkview School in Steger, Illinois. She has identified ways that students learn best.  Putting her ideas into action she entered the Thank America’s Teachers contest sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

We Are Proud To Announce Amber Schaaf

 Contestant Winner of

 $2,500 for her READING IS KEY Program.

                                                                                                                              

She will now be creating a Literary Focused Environment that will include letter and word recognition games that improve reading foundations as well as social interaction. She will use manipulatives that tie in to high interest stories making them come alive and fostering a love for reading. Mixing activity to reinforce reading skills will give the students the key to opening up the treasures to be discovered  in books.

CONGRATULATIONS AMBER SCHAAF AND THANK YOU 

FOR DISCOVERING TREASURE!

Melissa Lorenzatti Builds Dream For Her Students. Wins Contest!

Melissa Lorenzatti is a Teacher at Parkview Elementary School in Steger, Illinois. A contest sponsored by Farmers Insurance called Thank America’s Teachers has rewarded her creativity in the form of a grant. She submitted her program for Building Creative Kids that ties into her desire to pour creativity into her students.

We Are Proud To Announce That Melissa Lorenzatti’s

 Grant Proposal Won

 $2,500 for her BUILDING CREATIVE KIDS Program.

She is bringing to her school district an inventive curriculum that will blend children’s love of Legos with hands on learning projects.  This novel program combines interactive based skills in art, science, technology, mathematics and problem solving. In addition, students will increase skills in computer technology as they accomplish various lessons on computer software. 

CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA LORENZATTI AND THANK YOU FOR SHOOTING HIGH!

Kerri Husarik Plants Seeds That Win Dollars!

Planting the Seeds of Knowledge was the creative grant proposal submitted by Kerri Husarik in the 2015 Thank America’s Teachers Contest.  She is a teacher at Parkview Elementary School in Steger, Illinois.  This Contest was sponsored by FarmersInsurance.

We Are Proud To Announce Kerri Husarik

Has been awarded a $2,500 Grant

for her PLANT THE SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE Program.

Her program award will be used to purchase manipulative educational tools and other learning games. She will be implementing a reading program that incorporates hands on experience that will bring her students to a deeper level of learning. 

Embracing a quote she heard “Teachers Plant the Seeds That Will Last a Lifetime.” She will be living the quote that motivated her program idea and her lucky students are sure to sprout into leaders later in life.

CONGRATULATIONS KERRI HUSARIK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK!

Steger Teacher Kristel Burgan ROCKS IT! Wins Contest!

Kristel Burgan is a teacher at Columbia Central Jr. High School in Steger, Illinois. Recently she combined her love of teaching with exercise and fun. She compiled a grant proposal for the 2015 Thank America’s Teachers Contest sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

We Are Proud To Announce That Kristel Burgan

 has won a

 $2,500 grant for her CLIMBING TO FITNESS Program.

Her efforts will bring a rock climbing wall to Columbia Central Jr. High School.  Her students will now have the fun and experience of building a healthy body through the challenge of rock climbing. Her designed program accommodates students of varying abilities.  With additional supplies to engage her students with skill games and increasing expertise, this is sure to be a favorite at her school.

CONGRATULATIONS KRISTEL BURGAN AND THANK YOU FOR A FINE JOB!

Thank America's Teachers-Feature K. Burgan's Proposal

The Farmers Insurance Company Sponsored  Thank America's Teachers would like to highlight K. Burgan's proposal.  She is a  teacher at Columbia Central Jr. High School with many areas of expertise.

CLIMBING TO FITNESS

Her proposal would bring to her students a fun and adventurous fitness experience. She would use the grant funds to purchase and install a rock climbing wall in the gymnasium.  She enjoys watching her students work hard on their fitness and this would give them variety and a new challenge to improve their fitness.

Different from other activities, rock climbing builds upper body strength and balance in a new and exciting way. This challenge accommodates everyone's abilities helping them with coordination, balance, and muscle strength while giving them a motivation of reaching new goals.

Creative additions are to be incorporated to vary the climbing experience and provide students with a way to increase their  problem solving skills.  By adding hula hoops and noodles the kids will be encouraged to greater feats and utilize a cross curriculum that exercises their problem solving skills in math.  All safety equipment is included with the rock wall.

VOTE FOR K. BURGAN'S PROPOSAL AT

Thank America's Teachers

You Can Vote Once a Day Until the End of March.

Please Vote and Get Others to Vote With You.

Thank America's Teachers-Showcase M. Lorenzatti's Proposal

The Farmer Insurance Company Sponsored Thank America's Teacher would like to Showcase M. Lorenzatti's Proposal.  She has been  a Teacher for ten years at Parkview Elementary School in Steger, Illinois.  Her passion for teaching began when she started helping her nephew with his homework.  Teaching has brought a level of  compassion in her that increases year by year.  

BUILDING CREATIVE KIDS

M. Lorenzatti recognizes that art is very closely related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  In this He/she plans to use the grant money to purchase a LEGO Education Curriculum.  Having used legos on a small level to aid in student learning, Ms/Mr Lorenzatti is aware of the exciting potential this could add to the classroom.  
   The kit includes hands-on manipulatives and software which link this fun activity to STEM.  LEGOs are very popular with students in general and to tap into the hands-on architecture link and creative thinking process will add to their love of learning.
    "I love this tool because it will motivate them to think outside the box, thus preparing them for this competitive world of innovative thinking.

PLEASE VOTE FOR M. LORENZATTI'S 

PROPOSAL AT

Thankamericasteachers.com

     You can vote once a day until the end of Marchl Please Vote and Get others to Vote with You.  

Thank America's Teachers-Showcase A. Schaaf Proposal

The Farmer Insurance Company Sponsored Thank America's Teacher would like to spotlight A. Schaaf' Teacher at Parkview Elementary School in Steger, Illinois.  As a dedicated teachers, she has been with the district for 12 years and at Parkview for 5 years.  

Wanting to help children learn is what led her to pursue becoming a teacher.  As she gained experience as a teacher it increased her passion for learning.  A passion she aspires to pass on to her young students.  Her proposal would bring alive creativity in her students.

READING IS KEY

Ms. Schaaf plans to use the Thank America's Teacher grant to invest in creating a Literary Focus Environment. Her purchases will include high interest books to peak children's interest. Letter and word recognition games that challenge students and allow social interaction.  Flash cards and manipulatives (such as letter tiles and rubber stamps) to provide a hands on experience for practicing words and reading structure. Posters and teaching resources that encourage and reinforce skills.  She also plans to purchase special book bags for students to foster a personal interest in books.

In addition, she would set up listening centers and writing resources to show how  the learning and reading experience enriches a person for a lifetime. She looks forward to providing her students with the keys to become successful readers.

PLEASE VOTE FOR A. SCHAAF'S PROPOSAL AT

Thank America's Teachers

You Can Vote Once a Day Until the End of the Month.

Please Vote and Get Others to Vote With You