Sixth-grade teacher Anne DeSimone has been awarded a professional grant from MESTRACT (Mid East Suffolk Teacher Center) for her project, “Reading Your Way to a Culturally Responsive Classroom.”

The $3,000 grant will be used to support a Collegial Circle where 10 middle school teachers will meet to discuss ways to incorporate novels that include diverse cultural experiences for students. The goal is to facilitate the formation of book groups connected to the theme of diversity and create lesson suggestions to support teachers’ use of the novels.

“Ann is an enthusiastic, inspired teacher who is passionate with regard to teaching literacy and exposing students to culturally expansive literature,” said Principal Kevin Vann.