District News
![Matthew McMahon at Crestview Elementary accepts his grant for Just Keep Playing]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1720175480/wacoisdorg/innbupujj6ygmgterije/CrestviewElem.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1720175480/wacoisdorg/innbupujj6ygmgterije/CrestviewElem.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1720175480/wacoisdorg/innbupujj6ygmgterije/CrestviewElem.jpg","width":799}])
Waco Education Foundation awards a record $154,995 in innovative grants
System User
2023-2024 Grant Funding Cycle
The Waco Education Foundation and its SurPRIZE Patrol visited 20 Waco ISD campuses on Thursday and Friday. The group surprised 46 teachers with the exciting news that their 31 grant applications were approved for funding for the 2023-2024 school year. This year, the foundation is awarding a record $154,995 back to the district, bringing the total amount of grants funded over the past decade and a half to more than $2.15 million.
District teachers and staff had the opportunity to apply for funding through the foundation’s Innovative Grants program at the beginning of December. The program annually awards approximately $100,000 in grant funding in the four focus areas of early childhood development, enhanced programming for advanced students, extended education for staff, and emphasis on student performance.
This year’s grant projects span a wide array of topics and areas from STEM and science clubs, and performing and visual arts to outdoor classroom experiences, virtual reality lessons and field trips, and coding and robotics for GT students.
A list of grant recipients can be found below, and photos are available at the following link:
2023-2024 Innovative Grants Photo Album
Laramie Aars
Hillcrest PDS / J.H. Hines Elementary
“Coding and Robotics for GT Students”
$9,026
Named in honor of: Cargill
Sherry Bagby & Jeannie Jenkins
Mountainview Elementary
“Engage! Excite! EXCEL!”
$4,192
Named in honor of: Sturdisteel
Jessica Bancale & Matthew McMahon
Crestview Elementary
“Just Keep Playing
$8,497
Named in honor of: Keurig Dr Pepper
Alison Davis & Megan Barragan
Lake Air Montessori Magnet
“Nature and Nurture Montessori Education in the Great Outdoors”
$8,500
Named in honor of: Lowe’s of Waco
Shenequa Douglas & Stephanie Wessling
Tennyson Middle School
“Heroes & Athletes Initiative”
$5,000
Named in honor of: CORE Construction
Cristina Dresner
Alta Vista Elementary
“Brincando Bridges: Becoming Brilliantly Biliterate”
$2,000
Named in honor of: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg, and Allen, P.C.
Ron Fox & Teresa Nors
University High School
“Road Trip!”
$8,455
Named in honor of: Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat
Tori Garcia
Cedar Ridge Elementary
“Little Library Big Impact”
$1,500
Named in honor of: First Financial Group of America
Janel Gleason
Kendrick Elementary
“Science Club”
$3,077
Named in honor of: Sally and Johnny Bledsoe
Bonnie Holmstrom & Sally Peavy
Cesar Chavez Middle School
“Updated Ceramics Facilities”
$8,500
Named in honor of: Waco Motorsports
Shawn Knuckles, Joel Colosimo & Amy Garrison
Tennyson Middle School / Waco High School
“Rah, Rah, Ree Let Us Print Your Tee”
$9,994
Named in honor of: H-E-B
Kevin Lenker & Spencer Childers
Carver-Indian Spring Middle School
“Just In Case”
$5,500
Named in honor of: CORE Construction
Cheryl McIlwain
West Avenue Elementary
“A World of Rhythm”
$4,000
Named in honor of: Community Bank & Trust
Cathy Montemayor & Nelly Perez
Provident Heights Elementary
“Classroom Transformations Fuel Student Motivation”
$2,200
Named in honor of: Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, P.C.
Caroline Nadel
Cedar Ridge Elementary
“Core Words Board for Playground”
$1,639
Named in honor of: Waco Motorsports
Teresa Nors
University High School
“Marking Time”
$802
Named in honor of: Keurig Dr Pepper
Sharon Orcutt & Zonya Zuniga
GWAMA (Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy)
“Propel Girls in STEM”
$8,000
Named in honor of: O’Connell Robertson
Michael Osborne & Reannon Ruark
University High School
“Let’s Get Smokin’”
$4,500
Named in honor of: H-E-B
Sally Peavy & Bonnie Holmstrom
Cesar Chavez Middle School
“Mat Cutter Grant”
$3,350
Named in honor of: Bird Kultgen Ford
Matt Rambo & Jocelyn West
GWAHCA (Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy)
“Modern Tools for Modern Times in Healthcare”
$2,808
Named in honor of: Ascension Providence
Barbara Redenius
South Waco Elementary
“Light Up Our Learning”
$2,033
Named in honor of: Lochridge-Priest
Myrna Rivas
Provident Heights Elementary
“cr-Osmo-tive Play”
$3,500
Named in honor of: Alliance Bank Central Texas
Rachel Skopik & Dara Burleson
Parkdale Elementary
“Maker’s Space – Let’s tinker, explore, design, and create!”
$3,500
Named in honor of: First National Bank of Central Texas
Joleigh Slough & Becky Aldridge
Dean Highland Elementary
“James Lewis Memorial Garden”
$8,500
Named in honor of: Lowe’s of Waco
Melanie Spark & Katie Forbis
Alta Vista Elementary & Provident Heights Elementary
“D.R.U.M: Diversity, Relevance and Unity through Music”
$4,711
Named in honor of: Educators Credit Union
Diane Sriram
Brook Avenue Elementary
“Sowing the Seed – Teaching in the Garden”
$5,286
Named in honor of: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
Elizabeth Updegrove
Hillcrest PDS & Special Education
“Flexible Seats, Flexible Speech”
$4,527
Named in honor of: Central National Bank
Matthew Vaadi & Larry Carpenter
Cesar Chavez Middle School
“Composer In-Residence”
$5,000
Named in honor of: TFNB Your Bank for Life
Sarah Weatherly
Hillcrest PDS
“Ceramics Studio”
$7,000
Named in honor of: H & B Packing Co., Inc.
Allison White & Lynzie Willett
Lake Air Montessori Magnet
“Talk ASL to Me”
$3,198
Named in honor of: ATMOS Energy
Traci Winter
Waco High School
“Let’s Get Fired Up”
$6,200
Named in honor of: Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company, LLC