In light of National Teacher Appreciation Week, Dear Elementary technology teacher Brittany Vest was recently awarded a $360 grant from Western Governors University (WGU) Midwest Regional Manager Daniel Avegalio. Vest submitted her application at the beginning of April and admitted after filling out the application, the website page refreshed, nearly causing her to give up and not re-submit it. “I’m so happy I did,” she said. In the classroom, Vest uses skills students develop in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as computer science, to complete projects. The teacher believes STEM fosters creativity, builds resilience and strengthens problem-solving skills. “I submitted it for my STEM project, zip lines for first graders and houses for kindergarteners. They won’t be limited by the materials next year,” said Vest. To assist the students, Vest used popular fairy tales and nursery rhymes for each of her STEM projects. The classes listened to the stories and…