District News

2022-2023 Grant Funding Cycle

The Waco ISD Education Foundation and its SurPRIZE Patrol visited 12 Waco ISD campuses prior to the end of school to surprise 32 teachers with the exciting news that their 24 grant applications were approved for funding for the 2022-2023 school year. This year, the foundation is awarding $111,353 back to the district, bringing the total amount of grants funded over the past decade and a half to more than $2 million.

District teachers and staff had the opportunity to apply for funding through the foundation’s Innovative Grants program at the beginning of January. That 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 health sciences, and enhanced literacy programs to outdoor classroom experiences, performing and visual arts, and engaged learning for special populations.

A list of grant recipients can be found below, and photos are available at the following link:

2022-2023 Innovative Grants Photo Album

Leighia Bellmore
South Waco Elementary
"Enhancing Engagement Through Flexible Seating"
$2,608
Named in honor of: Keurig Dr Pepper

Dusti Chase
Bell’s Hill Elementary
"Chillville"
$1,800
Named in honor of: Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, P.C.

Alison Davis
Lake Air Montessori Magnet
"Do You Hear What I Hear"
$4,288
Named in honor of: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

Alison Davis
Lake Air Montessori Magnet
"Spreading Cheer Throughout the Year"
$3,274
Named in honor of: Sally & Johnny Bledsoe

Alison Davis & Renee Garrett
Lake Air Montessori Magnet
"Reading Around the World"
$4,620
Named in honor of: Educators Credit Union

Cristina Dresner & Tori Garcia
Cedar Ridge Elementary
"Manipulating Math: Easy as Pi”
$1,948
Named in honor of: Community Bank & Trust

Tori Garcia
Cedar Ridge Elementary
“Turning a New Page”
$1,624
Named in honor of: First Financial Group of America

David Gerada
University High School
“Giving Voices, Opening Ears”
$8,500
Named in honor of: Keurig Dr Pepper

Hope Gereghty
Waco High School
“Full Court Press”
$8,500
Named in honor of: TFNB Your Bank for Life

Carolyn Green, Nikitha Hartfield, Virginia Beck, Tatum Brown & Lumina Howard
West Avenue Elementary
“We’re Outta Here-Outdoor School”
$8,500
Named in honor of: Lowe’s of Waco

Carolina Gutierrez & Charidy Maroquin
University High School
“SMARTboard…SMARTER Kids”
$4,698
Named in honor of: Central National Bank

Lance Harris
Cesar Chavez Middle School
“Eagle Espresso Cafe”
$4,500
Named in honor of: H-E-B

Nikitha Hartfield, Carolyn Green, Michelle Krug & Talisa Krumnow
West Avenue Elementary
“SLO – Sensory Learning Overload”
$8,500
Named in honor of: Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat

Lindsey Helton & Jo Spark
Alta Vista Elementary
“The Author In Us All”
$8,500
Named in honor of: H & B Packing

Anita Henderson
North Waco / Parents as Teachers
“Building Strong Families Who Are Safe, Healthy, & Ready to Learn”
$2,500
Named in honor of: First National Bank of Central Texas

LaQuan Hughes, Carolyn Green & Nikitha Hartfield
West Avenue Elementary
“Going Gaga for Health & Grades”
$3,500
Named in honor of: Sturdisteel

Lisa Hughes
Tennyson Middle School
“Touch a Screen Touch a Life”
$2,600
Named in honor of: Alliance Bank Central Texas

Cecilia Pena
Bell’s Hill Elementary
“Light Up Kindergarten Math and Phonics!”
$1,488
Named in honor of: Ascension Providence

Cristina Ramirez
Waco High School
“Red Carpet Readers”
$7,173
Named in honor of: Waco Motorsports

Kenneth Rodriguez
Dean Highland Elementary
“Mind to Design in Minutes”
$1,850
Named in honor of: Roger’s O’Brien Construction

Tyler Sage, Scott Stulir & Michelle Nelson
Waco High School
“Updated Instrumental Accessories for Advanced Band Students”
$2,482
Named in honor of: Lowe’s of Waco

Ashley Solorio
Bell’s Hill Elementary
“Communication is Key”
$1,500
Named in honor of: CORE Construction

Melanie Spark
Alta Vista Elementary
“Weaving a musical tale through lyrical learning and literature”
$8,100
Named in honor of: Cargill

Ashley-Elizabeth Vermeulen-Wise
Waco High School
“Vectorworks Computer Lab”
$8,340
Named in honor of: O’Connell Robertson