"It was a very big surprise," Haas said.

Haas has been a kindergarten teacher at Cherry Chase Elementary School for the past four years. Out of six mini-grant proposals submitted to the Sunnyvale School District Education Foundation Board, Haas's innovative idea, to enhance the kindergarten physical education program with more fun and creative games, won first place.

"We're very excited," said Principal Erika Tukeman. "Joy is definitely a leader in her grade level."

Haas said she and the other three kindergarten teachers have had discussions and meetings in the past about making the program more fun for their students. But she said a local kindergarten conference that she attended in 2001 prompted her to take the initiative and implement her ideas. She adds that she further developed these ideas to come up with her plan.

Whereas the conference focused on children's basic functions at the kindergarten level, Haas expanded those to apply to physical education.

Hass said that by giving children more creative options outside the classroom, teachers can engage children's minds even while they are playing. But children need to learn some of those basic functions before they can apply them.

"While playing jump rope, some children don't really know how to turn the rope," she explained.

By using California kindergarten standards, Haas hopes to build on different activities inside the classroom so as to effectively apply them outside. For example, the purchase of sidewalk chalk will enable her children to combine both their writing and creative skills outside the classroom. Children will be able to develop their skills as they play, she said.

Currently Cherry Chase has a large blacktop area by the playground with alphabets, hopscotch and four squares painted on it. Haas's proposal includes reorganizing the blacktop area and adding more games and fun activities to it so children have more to choose from during the 30-minute daily physical education period. The reorganization and additional games will spark students' imagination, creativity and thinking skills while playing, she said.

"It will definitely reduce behavior concerns," she said.

Haas's proposal to enhance the kindergarten program both inside and outside the classroom received unanimous approval from the foundation board.

"Her proposal really stood out," said Yolanda Risch, a member of the board's mini-grant committee. "The board was looking for something innovative with long-term benefits."

The board has been awarding mini-grants, anywhere from $100 to $1,000, for the past four years. Out of six mini-grant proposals, Haas' PE/playground enrichment project won first place. The other proposals were "Reading through Music," "Reading Fluency Intervention," "Digital Images Enhancement," "Digital Open House" and "Books and Tapes to Go." The foundation board awarded Haas her prize money at a dinner event on Sept. 26.

Anxious to make her dream a reality, Haas would like to get the process started as quickly as possible. However, her plans might have to wait a few months.

"Before we can incorporate her ideas, we have to wait for the district to complete all its renovations," Tukeman said.

The district's plan is to resurface the blacktop, so it doesn't make sense to make any changes right now, Haas said.

Receiving the mini-grant for her school was a surprise, and Haas said she had no idea she would receive a personal award as well.

"I spend a lot for my students," she said. "So I'll probably use up half of my $500 buying things for my class."

However, a weekend getaway wouldn't hurt, and Haas is thinking of taking her husband to Napa for a vacation.

She said it's very encouraging for teachers to receive recognition like she did and hopes to develop her skills enough to become a mentor teacher someday. A few years afterwards, Haas hopes to be a school administrator or principal.