Teachers' grant expands special ed resources at Glen Ellyn library

Megan Webster and Ellen Hill, special education teachers at Glenbard South High School, were awarded a $1,000 grant from the Illinois Education Association in support of expanding the Glen Ellyn Public Library's section of high-interest/low-level reading materials and raising awareness of the resources.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 2 and 3, Webster and Hill hosted "Book Talks" at the Glen Ellyn Public Library, an event in which students presented book reviews of some of the new books purchased through the grant. The event is part of the teachers' initiative to expand library resources for young adults with developmental disabilities.

The grant is intended to assist the Glen Ellyn Public Library in expanding its high-interest/low-level reading materials, reading and reviewing the books, and hosting community book talks to raise awareness of the resources.

"Megan and Ellen's request for funds to make books available to students with varying reading abilities and to enhance local library resources for the community is a perfect representation of how educators are working to make a difference for the better," IEA President-Elect Kathi Griffin said.

The grant was through the IEA's Schools and Community Outreach by Educators grant program. The SCORE grant program has awarded more than $275,000 over the last four years to eligible IEA members who requested funding for public service initiatives. Webster and Hill are members of the Glenbard Education Association, an affiliate of the IEA.