Kyle Hunt, robotics team coach at Happy Valley High School, is the latest Northeast Community Credit 
Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.
Hunt is using the grant to purchase necessary robotic parts to help the team build a robot for upcoming competitions. Teams spend two weeks designing robots and have a construction period of two months to complete their build before the competition. Each year, a new challenge is given to robotics teams to complete.
“Our program is in need to funding to purchase materials and parts for our robots in order to ensure we remain competitive despite the increased difficulty and mechanical demands of this year’s challenge,” Hunt said. “For many, this is the first time in an intellectual environment that empowers them to showcase their skills and abilities in ways they never thought possible. After participating in robotics, students often express an interest in STEM-related career areas and go on to pursue 4-year degrees.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.
Holly Mottern, first-grade teacher at Happy Valley Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community 
Credit Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.
Mottern is using the grant to purchase a large classroom rug for her students to gather on during lessons and read aloud story times.
“A classroom rug allows children to gather and gain a sense of community within our room,” Mottern said. “Students will be able to enjoy read alouds along with whole group interactive lessons rather than having to remain at their desks for long periods of time.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.
Lisa McGinnis, counselor at Unaka High School, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union
Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.
McGinnis used the grant to purchase an industrial fan to use in the Unaka High School gymnasium during class time and extra-curricular activities. The gym does not have air conditioning and the windows cannot be opened because birds, bugs and other wildlife will enter the building.
“During the day when classes are going on, the only fresh air that could come in would be from opening the main doors into our hallway,” McGinnis said. “However, due to security, these doors must remain closed at all times when students are present. With no air movement, the gym has unbearable temperatures for students. No student wants to be in a class that causes sweat to drop from their heads and to begin their day with a bad feeling about themselves.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.
Anna Densford, kindergarten teacher at Doe Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit
Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.
Densford used the grant to purchase supplies for the school’s kindergarten graduation program. Each family will be given a graduation ticket and a commemorative photo of their child and each student will be given a T-shirt.
“This will create a positive experience that will celebrate their hard work throughout the school year,” Densford said. “It is a reward for all of our students during this extremely difficult school year.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.