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Projects for the 2025-2026 year were decided at our October 2025 meeting. They are described below. We are very excited to have two brand new local projects to focus on this year. We also continue to collect for World Fellowship twice a year.
World Fellowship
World Fellowship is an international yearly project, and our chapter collects money twice a year that is sent to International DKG. World Fellowship provides scholarships for women who are pursuing educational opportunities. This year we collected $262.00 and sent cards to Iowa World Fellowship recipients with gift cards and communication to support their studies.
Project: Professional Development for Paraprofessionals as Substitute Teachers
After hearing concerns from the Ames School district regarding lack of substitute teachers at the preschool level, we developed a project to develop a path for current educational associates (paraprofessionals) to take training to obtain the substitute authorization. This authorization allows them to earn the same money a substitue would earn but also allows them to take over the class when the regular teacher is gone. Through this project, we have accomplished our DKG mission statement, which reads “The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.” We voted to pay for four paraprofessionals to receive this training with the intended goal of paying for seven paraprofessionals when more money is donated to our chapter. This is a six-win situation:
The preschool students can easily transition to the familiarity of the paraprofessional leading the class.
The paraprofessional makes more money.
The regular teacher can feel more confident in knowing that the students are adjusting easily to the “substitute” and that the day’s activities can be handled professionally.
The principal can enjoy knowing that a substitute teacher does not need to be called in and that the paraprofessional will be responsible and knowledgeable in working with the students.
The school district can save money by not having both a substitute teacher and a paraprofessional present.
Our chapter is helping paraprofessionals gain15 hours of professional development.
We are also voted to submit a state grant application for Educational Excellence ($100) to help toward this project.
UPDATE!! Our project for Northwood preschool paraprofessionals has been a huge success! By the end of the summer we will have FOUR women certified to be substitutes for classrooms!! One woman has already joined our chapter, and we are hoping a few more of them will this fall after completing the coursework and paperwork required by the Iowa Department of Education.
Development of a $1,000 Scholarship for an Ames High Senior Female Majoring in Education
The Scholarship Committee developed the application form for the first $1,000 Kathy Conner Scholarship this spring. Current Ames High School senior girls planning to to major in education are eligible to apply.
Besides the application form, there are four questions to answer and submit as an essay. The scholarship will be awarded at the end of the recipient's sophomore year of college to ensure that they have continued their interest in education as a major.
Application deadline is April 30, 2026. An announcement of the first recipent will be updated in early May.
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