The College Station ISD Education Foundation delivered a big surprise to district teachers on Tuesday, November 18, awarding more than $350,000 in classroom grants during its annual Grant Patrol. This year’s awards push the Foundation’s total giving to over $3 million in teaching grants since its founding in 1999.
This year, 94 innovative grants will bring fresh ideas to classrooms across College Station ISD—enhancing programs in fine arts, STEM, literacy, health, special education, and career and technical education. Funded projects range from robotics and theater equipment to character education, fashion design, agricultural mechanics, and entrepreneurship. In total, these grants will impact more than 14,000 students and 2,000 educators across 19 CSISD campuses.
“The Innovative Grant Program aims to inspire and reward creative instructional approaches in the classroom that enhance the educational experience for students,” said Gerry Brown, Board President of the Education Foundation. “Grant Patrol is an exciting day to surprise teachers and support their creative teaching efforts.”
Grant Patrol is a districtwide event featuring Education Foundation directors, staff, donors, cheerleaders, mascots, and drumlines who travel by school bus to deliver grant awards to every campus. Each winning teacher is surprised in their classroom with a grant check and a celebratory visit from the Grant Patrol team.
“The Education Foundation has generously supported the district for over 25 years,” said CSISD Superintendent Dr. Tim Harkrider. “Their financial partnership encourages our staff and supports our strategic improvement plan by empowering leading-edge initiatives in our schools.”
“Our hearts are full seeing how our community unites to support the education of every student in CSISD,” said Teresa Benden, Executive Director of the CSISD Education Foundation. “This generosity truly makes a difference in classrooms across the district.”
Since its inception, the CSISD Education Foundation has awarded 983 grants totaling $3.1 million to support innovative teaching across the district. These grants are made possible through the generosity of local businesses, community members, and district staff who contribute through annual donations and special events.
This year’s top Pillar Sponsors are Amarillo National Bank, BMW of College Station, St. Joseph Health, Van Stavern Small Animal Hospital, and VLK Architects. CSISD staff members have pledged more than $200,000 through the district’s employee giving campaign this year.
Each fall, the Education Foundation invites district teachers and staff to apply for grants to fund impactful teaching projects not covered by tax dollars. Awardees are selected by a committee of board members and district curriculum staff.
