Kate Jarrard is Chatham’s new Coordinator for Grant Funded Programing and Accountability, an administrative position the District created this fall to address an increasing workload associated with the procurement of educational grants. Ms. Jarrard now manages all state, federal, and private grants the District applies for and receives, and provides accountability oversight to ensure the school programs theses funds support are effective and enhance opportunities for students.
Formerly, Ms. Jarrard was Chatham’s orchestra teacher at the high school and middle school. For the time being, she is continuing to teach orchestra class while the District hires her replacement.
“Working from a systems approach has always been of interest to me. I love being in the classroom and wanted to have an impact on a large number of students as well,” she said.
Along with being certified as a school district and school building leader, Ms. Jarrard has grant writing and administrative experience with the District, including having assisted Chatham with our most recent title grant audit, and serving as interim assistant principal at MED this past spring.
Federal and state grants provide financial assistance to schools to improve conditions for student learning and ensure all children, including those from low-income households and English language learners, have access to a high-quality education. Among other things, grants provide Chatham with supplemental funding to support effective instruction, offer high-quality professional development, increase the use of technology to enhance academic achievement and digital literacy, develop individualized learning platforms, ensure data privacy and security, and address issues such diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, recent acts of Congress such as the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act have made funding available to schools over the next few years to tackle challenges posed by the pandemic. Together, this has greatly increased the amount of administrative oversight currently needed to ensure our school continues to utilize its grants as effectively as possible.
In response, the District created Coordinator for Grant-Funded Programing and Accountability as a three-year administrative position ending in August, 2024. It is provided for through funding from the ARP.
Please join Chatham Central School District in welcoming Ms. Jarrard to her new role here in Chatham!