St. James Music Teacher is First Elementary Teacher to be Awarded Mini-Grant
By Michael Ganci – Syntax NY
Christa Braunreuther, music teacher at St. James Elementary School in the Smithtown Central School District, was the recipient of a $1,000 grant from The Friends of Smithtown Music.
According to Elena Gruber, president of The Friends of Smithtown Music, the organization presented its mini-grant opportunity at the district’s September Superintendent’s Conference Day and received several teacher applications. The Friends of Smithtown Music was looking to provide a grant to a program with the greatest sustainability, and Braunreuther’s application for a classroom set of ukuleles and teaching materials for elementary students was the ideal opportunity. This is the first time the grant has been awarded to an elementary school teacher.
Braunreuther plans to implement the program as an introductory string opportunity for her fourth- and fifth-grade classes, noting that their small fingers are the perfect size for learning the instrument.
Along with the annual grant to further support music education in the district, The Friends of Smithtown Music annually awards scholarships to graduating seniors.