The Lindale Independent School District (LISD) Education Foundation went on Grant Patrol on March 4 across all campuses. They awarded $40,263.57 in grants to teachers for new and innovative tools to use in classrooms.
“The Lindale ISD Education Foundation is proud to announce the following recipients of this year’s Education Foundation grants,” Glenn Davis, President of the Lindale ISD Education Foundation, said. “The outstanding teachers of Lindale ISD work tirelessly to enrich our children’s education everyday.”
The Lindale ISD Education Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization that provides funds for classroom projects and programs not funded or under-funded by the district’s operating budget. The foundation is supported through donations from individuals, businesses and corporations.
“Our board members and volunteers work extremely hard throughout the year to raise enough funds to be able to give like we do,” Courtney Sanguinetti, Executive Director of the Lindale ISD Education Foundation, said. “To see it all pay off with the excitement of the students and teachers is definitely our reward.”
The grants were given to teachers as surprises by the Lindale High School Star Steppers, cheerleaders, and mascot as well as donors, administrators, and volunteers as they paraded through the hallways of the campuses.
“I love that the Star Steppers and other organizations are a part of the grant patrol,” Keri Pierce, sponsor for the Lindale High School Star Steppers, said. “I think it adds to the fun to have students be a part.”
Grant applications are submitted to the foundation by LISD teachers and aides for projects or programs. Projects selected for funding are rated on a number of criteria including the innovation of the project.
“With the awarding of these grants, LISD teachers will enhance our childrens’ future,” Davis said. “I praise and give thanks to the community, businesses and individual donors that join us in this vital endeavor for our children’s future.”
The Education Foundation began awarding grants in November 2009. Since the first grant cycle, the Foundation has awarded $505,373.71 to LISD classrooms for hundreds of projects.
“We are so thankful for our donors and the Lindale community who make all of this possible,” said Sanguinetti. “These students deserve a chance to excel beyond the classroom and the projects funded by the Education Foundation help to do just that. Our teachers’ dedication to our kids and school district is what makes LISD one of the best.”
The Let’s Get Physical with Sensors grant was $4,536.63 given to Duane Walton and Veronica Nussbaum that will be used to purchase physics carts, sensors, and tracks that are compatible with student iPads for physics classes. This technology allows instant collection, manipulation, and sharing of data during experiments including creating graphs displaying the results.
“I am grateful to be a grant recipient,” Nussbaum, a 10th grade chemistry and 11th grade physics teacher, said. “There are low-tech options for physics labs however, they do not provide the students with the best educational experience possible. Receiving this grant from the Education Foundation allows Lindale students to have a competitive advantage over their peers. They will be using the exact same equipment found in universities and in the field. While others are being introduced to the technology, our students will be comfortable and proficient. Confidence and competence are the real gifts the Education Foundation is providing with these grants.”
The Launching into a Better Way to Golf grant was $2,073.99 given to Derek Dukes and Justin Mason that will be used to provide golf students with a mobile launch monitor and golf simulator that will provide data and different playing scenarios to help further increase the success of the golf program.
“I was the one who applied for a launch monitor for our Girls’ and Boys’ Golf Programs,” Dukes, 9th-12th grade girls basketball and boys golf coach, said. “We are all excited to receive this grant. I speak for myself and the members of both programs when I say we cannot wait for this item to arrive.”
The Growing Our Future grant was $4,186.00 to Kathyn Hrudman, Cole Geesling, Casey Jones, and Tayler Manley to teach students the necessary skills to grow their own food by creating a sustainable food source. Students will be receiving a hydroponics system, vertical farming system, and a composting bin and worm farm to provide nutrient-dense soil for plants to grow.
“Receiving a grant from the education foundation is a blessing,” Jones, 10th-12th grade teacher for Advanced Animal Science, Veterinary Medical Applications, Small Animal Management, Equine Science, and Livestock Production, said. “Receiving a grant for our department is going to enable our students to gain knowledge and skills that will enable them to obtain a job in the career field of their choice.”
The Empowering Creativity and Vocational Skills: 3D Printing grant was $948.97 to Kelley Dickerson and Casey Wynne to provide 9th-12th grade CBI and Vocational classrooms with a 3D printer for students to support their development and provide real-world experiences.
“I felt like it was the best day ever to receive the grant,” Dickerson, 9th-12th grade Living Skills, General Employability, and Career Prep teacher, said. “So thankful for the generous gift. It was like winning the teacher’s lottery.”
The Zooming in on Science grant was $1,090.00 to Stephanie Dilley to increase kindergarten students’ level of comprehension and mastery of science, science tools, and science vocabulary by providing microscopes.
“I am so excited about receiving this grant, and it really is for the entire school,” Kindergarten teacher Dilley said. “We have sixteen Kindergarten classes that are going to benefit from this grant, so it is a win for everyone. These hands-on experiences will make abstract concepts concrete, while fostering critical thinking, observation, and vocabulary skills that lay the groundwork for future scientific learning in later grades.”
The STEM is Snap grant was $1,175.76 to Susan LeJeune to allow 4th grade science students to explore electricity with SNAP circuits, providing an engaging and hands-on way for students to explore electricity and electronics.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Education Foundation for their selection and for the opportunity that this grant will provide for our 4th grade scientists,” LeJeune, 4th grade science teacher, said. “It is an absolute blessing to teach in a community that values and supports public education. There isn’t a teacher or staff member that wouldn’t move the moon and stars for our Eagles, but unfortunately, the financial resources available to support our students aren’t always as large as our hearts. Through the selfless generosity of the Lindale ISD Education Foundation, we are able to put innovative and critical educational resources directly into the hands of our students.”
The Great Things Come in Small Batches grant was $5,859.00 to Neda Morrow and Tommy Mallory to allow students the opportunity to gain real world experience in the printing industry’s newest technologies. With a white toner printer, heat presses, and cutting machines, students will be able to design projects produced in the high school print shop.
“I am very excited to receive a grant from the Education Foundation,” Morrow, Principles of Audio/Video, Eaglevision Media, and print shop teacher as well as designer for the LISD’s websites, said. “I have such respect for the work they do to better the lives of students and teachers at LISD. They are truly a service-oriented group dedicated to helping students achieve greatness.”
The Go Direct: Gathering Data to Enhance Science Labs grant was $4,855.00 to Leah Vent, Brett Maddox, and Emily Hines to provide 8th grade science students with pH sensors, motion detectors, force plates, and temperature probes that collect data for a variety of labs throughout the year.
“I am ecstatic about receiving the grant from the education foundation,” Maddox, 8th grade science teacher and coach, said. “This is going to allow our staff to provide our students and future students with the opportunities to learn in new ways that they deserve. This grant is going to put our department in a place where we are set up for success for many years to come.”
The Weather Safety for Lindale ISD was $3,900.00 to Ryan Wilhelm to provide the district with applications that provide real-time, localized weather updates, enabling users to make informed decisions. The integration of this technology would allow the school district to optimize their operations from lightning delays, to road conditions on winter days.
“I am excited to have received a grant from the education foundation,” Wihelm, athletic trainer for 7th-12th grade, said. “It is special to have a foundation who values our teachers and students. I know that these funds will help the education and well being of our student body.”
Other grants were the $2,544.10 grant Moving Minds: Growing Through Gross Motor Play to Tonya Parker, and the $9,094.12 Inclusive Playground Initiative to Casey Wynne.
“This is the best time of the year for the Lindale Education Foundation,” Sanguinetti said. “We are so thankful for the teachers who applied for these new learning tools and we are excited to see them in action.”
