Our Mission in Action
At the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation, every dollar, volunteer hour, and grant is dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for students and educators in our community. These metrics and stories show the tangible impact of your support.
Mr. Rushton's presentation brought what we have been learning in class to life for my students. Several exclaimed it was the best day of their lives. I know this is an experience they will truly remember forever, and I am so appreciative of the opportunity to bring it to them!
We would like to thank the Foundation for their extreme generosity in helping our team keep this program going year after year to honor our hometown heroes. It was a day of honor, stories, laughter and emotion. Our students hosted over 40 veterans along with more than 30 additional guests.
Teacher Venture Grants
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$28,450
2023-2024
$26,923
2024-2025
$8,000
2025-2026
Updated Oct. 2025
Paint the Plow
PennDOT District 3 announced the winner of the 2024 Paint the Plow safety outreach contest for Bradford County, an annual initiative that invites high school students to design snowplow blades promoting safe winter driving. Under the guidance of art teacher Shauna Case, Wyalusing Valley High School students discussed winter driving safety and created designs that could be chosen to decorate a retired plow. The theme, “Use your reason when it’s freezin’,” encouraged students to remind drivers to stay alert and maintain safe distances on icy roads.
Wyalusing Valley sophomore RaeLea Harvey of New Albany created the winning design, which was selected as the Bradford County winner and painted on the plow blade by RaeLea and her classmates. The artwork features a bright yellow snowplow clearing a roadway as a red pickup truck follows safely behind—a creative depiction of the contest’s safety message. The Wyalusing Area Education Foundation provided funding for the project, making it possible to purchase the paints and sealant needed to complete the piece. The finished plow will remain on display year-round at PennDOT’s Bradford County Maintenance Office in Towanda.
Hometown Heroes
The Wyalusing School District’s annual “Hometown Heroes” Veterans Day Celebration is a cherished tradition led by the sixth-grade class to honor and thank local veterans for their service. The program teaches students the importance of respect, patriotism, and gratitude toward those who have sacrificed for their freedoms while fostering pride in our military, the flag, and the United States of America. Nearly 300 students are involved in the preparation and production of the event. Students learn what it means to be a veteran and why Veterans Day is celebrated. They fill out forms with the names and addresses of veterans they know or are related to, and teachers send formal invitations inviting these heroes to a special celebration held in the elementary school cafeteria. The event includes light refreshments and desserts prepared by cafeteria staff, with support from the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation, which provided $1,000 to help fund decorations, gifts, and refreshments.
The Veterans Day reception begins with a local veteran leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner. The Wyalusing Historical Museum sets up an exhibit featuring memorabilia from local veterans, and second- and fourth-grade students contribute handmade crafts. Kindergarteners perform patriotic songs, while sixth-graders display 3D projects depicting Washington, D.C. monuments and memorials. During the program, students introduce their guests, sharing details about their branch of service and special honors. Selected “Proud to Be an American” essays are read aloud, and the sixth-grade class announces the students chosen to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during their upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Each veteran receives a gift and a copy of their student’s essay as a token of appreciation, concluding the heartfelt celebration with cake, ice cream, and fruit cups served to all in attendance.
Animal Classification with PT Reptiles
Wyalusing Valley Elementary School’s third-grade students had an unforgettable learning experience thanks to a live animal presentation from PT Reptiles. Presenter Mr. Peter Rushton visited the school, bringing several fascinating animals including a ball python, piebald python, Burmese python, Taiwan beauty rat snake, blue-tongued skink, American alligator, and two tortoises. Each student had the opportunity to safely hold one of the animals—an opportunity that even teacher Mrs. Delp and Superintendent Mr. Otis eagerly joined in. The presentation captivated the students’ curiosity and excitement, turning classroom lessons into a real-world adventure.
The visit from PT Reptiles was perfectly timed to conclude the third grade’s animal classification unit, which took place in September and October. Seeing and interacting with live reptiles provided immediate engagement and a hands-on learning experience that deepened understanding and improved retention of key science concepts. This memorable educational opportunity was made possible through funding provided by the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation, whose support continues to enhance student learning experiences across the district.