EASTERN WAKE COUNTY - Teachers from 11 local schools won grants last week from funds raised through the second annual Capital Bank/East Wake Adult Spelling Bee held in March.

Teachers at all public schools in eastern Wake County had the opportunity to apply for the $750 grants with a letter describing how they would put the funding to use in the classroom.

"All of the letters were great," said Zebulon Middle School Principal Dalphine Perry, who was part of the committee that organized the event. "It was no easy task selecting these recipients."

Brandy Snyder of Carver Elementary School received a grant for hands-on and visual literacy materials and Amy Nichols of Forestville Elementary School received a grant for audio books and play-aways for the media center.

Jacqueline Grant of Hodge Road Elementary School was given a grant for rewards and recognitions for Panther Buddies and Lake Myra Elementary School's Leigh Pittman was awarded a grant to help pay for Nook technology at the school.

Lockhart Elementary School's Karen Liles accepted a grant to go toward classroom libraries and book boxes and Wakelon Elementary School, represented by Dr. Tammie Sexton and Cheryl Henry, received a grant for a field trip to Jamestown.

Elizabeth Johnson and Fran Haley, of Wendell Elementary School, received a grant for database digital subscriptions, and Emily Hepp of Wendell Middle School accepted a grant for software that can be used in the classroom.

Zebulon GT Magnet Middle School's Sherita Atkinson plans to use her grant toward rewards and supplies to support the Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports program and Sebastian Shipp of the East Wake School of Engineering Systems plans to use his grant for parent resources and materials.

The East Wake School of Health Science, represented by Principal Craig Baker, also received a grant to go toward a positive-behavior program.