If teachers can dream it, they can do it — thanks to the Frisco Education Foundation.
Educators who want to make an impact on their campuses were surprised recently as FEF visited campuses to hand out Grants for Great Ideas, an annual celebration and check distribution. Every fall, educators pitch their idea and the money they need, then they wait until November to learn if they’ve won.
On grant day, there’s guaranteed to be happy tears, and more than a few screams of joy.
At Corbell Elementary, nearly $4,000 will go toward STEMscopes fluency stations.
Students at Boals Elementary will see a garden expansion and refresh thanks to a $1,300 grant.
And at Wakeland High, athletes will have access to cutting-edge heat therapy through a $2,300 grant.
Grants will pay for college tours for at-risk juniors and seniors District-wide; 3D pens for Fowler Middle School animation and computer science students; jazz band equipment at Stafford Middle School; and phonics books at Purefoy Elementary.
That’s just a sample of the Grants for Great Ideas awarded this fall by the Frisco Education Foundation. Access a complete list of the winners.
This year, the foundation gave away over $92,000 for special program supplies, learning opportunities and classroom materials. That number represents 60 grants awarded across 34 FISD schools, with 60 educators and 29 co-applicants receiving funds. One District-wide grant was also awarded.
Grants are made possible thanks to Frisco ISD payroll contributions, CoServ, the Frisco Women’s League, the Stacy Simmons Memorial Teacher Grant Endowment and other community partners. Since 1999, 890 grants have been awarded, for a total of more than $1.33 million.
“There’s nothing better than seeing teachers light up when they realize their big ideas are becoming reality,” said Ashley Sine, director of the Frisco Education Foundation and community relations. “These grants are a celebration of creativity and community spirit, a way for all of us to lift up educators and give students experiences that spark curiosity and joy in learning.”
The Frisco Education Foundation is a 510(c)(3) nonprofit. Its mission is to provide financial resources to maximize student potential in FISD through educational programs, student scholarships and grants for innovative educators.
To support foundation initiatives such as Grants for Great Ideas, donate to the Frisco Education Foundation.
Congratulations to all the recipients!
Elementary school grant recipients
Destiny Johnson - Allen Elementary
Elizabeth Uecker - Boals Elementary
Misty Lewin - Bright Academy
Beth Fletcher, Claudia Montiel and Monica Hernandez - Christie Elementary
Beth Fletcher - Christie Elementary
Amanda Glendening - Christie Elementary
Susanna Tarpley - Christie Elementary
Amy Hicks - Corbell Elementary
Kristine Seale, Michelle Chapa and Amy Hicks - Corbell Elementary
Claudia Fuenmayor - Fisher Elementary
Emma Kefford - Fisher Elementary
Victoria Ornelas - Fisher Elementary
Kim Caldwell - Gunstream Elementary
Shaheen Thakrar - Gunstream Elementary
Claudia Carey, Maria Tiffany, Brianna Jones and Susanna Bryant - Hosp Elementary
Jamie Chadwell (2 grants) - Hosp Elementary
Jessica Powers - Hosp Elementary
Savannah Miske and Kaci Riley - Minett Elementary
Bethany Jones - Nichols Elementary
Michele Hunt (2 grants) - Purefoy Elementary
Lindsey Gatchalian, Greta Taylor, Donna Stark, Kacie Cartier and Jill Stout - Robertson Elementary
Reena Spann - Robertson Elementary
Kimberly Near - Shawnee Trail Elementary
Quinn Simmons - Shawnee Trail Elementary
Kelly Straub, Kelly Straub and Amy Christian - Shawnee Trail Elementary
Amanda Alonso - Sonntag Elementary
Middle school grant recipients
Jana Moore - Clark Middle School
Lisa Longenecker - Cobb Middle School
Denise Bethard - Fowler Middle School
Erik Peterson, Justin Wu and Elizabeth Stewart - Fowler Middle School
Latisha Johnson - Hunt Middle School
Whitney Squyres - Lawler Middle School
Leslie Schepers and Lenee Edwards - Nelson Middle School
Denise Tarango and Kori Kinkel - Nelson Middle School
Maria Soto and Maira Allen - Pearson Middle School
Karen Villavicenic - Pioneer Heritage Middle School
Andrew Fowler - Stafford Middle School
Talia Wilson - Stafford Middle School
Raoping Trinh and Julie Enderle - Vandeventer Middle School
High school grant recipients
William Hanna - Centennial High School
Michael Hernandez - Centennial High School
Hope Warner - Centennial High School
Katey De La Cruz - Emerson High School
Kayleigh Hoyt - Emerson High School
Benjamin Loub - Emerson High School
Jennifer Nodes - Lebanon Trail High School
Deana Cowger - Liberty High School
Chelsea Hamilton - Liberty High School
Ashley Luhrs - Memorial High School
Amanda Putman, Christopher Works and Tiffany Bayless Castaneda - Reedy High School
Staci Rogers and Melissa Wright - Reedy High School
Rachel Langford - Wakeland High School
Kaitlyn Norwood, Brian Teed, Rylon Guidry and Kyle Ayoub - Wakeland High School
Districtwide and special programs grants
Julie Barker - Career and Technical Education Center
Lacy Hanlon - Early Childhood School
Kathy Knesek - Early Childhood School
Sonya Elliott - Student Opportunity Center
Heather Mayfield and Elma Montenegro - District-wide
A full list of recipients and their programs can be found online.
- Rachel McReynolds