College Station, TX -- The College Station ISD Education Foundation today awarded 45 innovative teaching grants totaling $172,471 during its annual Grant Patrol. This year’s grants fund projects that help combat COVID challenges as well as ongoing educational needs such as: technology initiatives, fine arts activities, outdoor education areas, innovative reading resources and exciting programs for students with special needs. Grants will benefit over 13,000 students at every campus in CSISD.
“The Innovative Grant Program has a mission to inspire and reward creative instructional approaches in the classroom that enhance the educational experience for students,” shared Jody Ford, board president of the Education Foundation. “Grant Patrol is an exciting day to surprise teachers and support their creative teaching efforts.”
This year, Grant Patrol consists only of Education Foundation board members and donors due to COVID restrictions. Each winning teacher is surprised with a check and cheering presenters to mark the occasion. With visitor restrictions in place this year, the celebrations will be slightly scaled back and will happen outside each campus.
“The College Station ISD Education Foundation has generously supported the district for over 20 years,” said CSISD Superintendent Mike Martindale. “Their financial partnership encourages over 2,000 teachers and staff by empowering leading-edge initiatives in our schools.”
The CSISD Education Foundation has awarded 616 teacher grants totaling $1.65 million since its inception in 1999. Generous businesses and community members make these grants possible through annual donations and fundraising events. This year’s Pillar Sponsors are Caldwell Country and CHI St. Joseph Health, and the Founder Sponsors are Culpepper Realty, H-E-B and Rife Law Firm. The CSISD staff also has supported the Education Foundation by pledging over $144,000 through the employee giving campaign this year.
“There’s never been a more critical time for the Education Foundation to step up to support the needs of our teachers and students,” said Education Foundation Director Teresa Benden. “We are humbled and grateful that our entire community has come together to support the education of local kids.”
The Education Foundation accepts grant applications annually in the fall from district teachers and staff for the development and implementation of innovative teaching programs within the classroom. Grants are awarded for programs which are not otherwise funded by tax dollars. Grants are selected by a committee comprised of board members and curriculum/instruction staff.
A more complete list of the grants awarded will be emailed to you immediately following Grant Patrol. For more information, please contact Teresa Benden 979-964-5615 or tbenden@csisd.org, or visit our website Visit givetokids.csisd.org.
