KATY MAGAZINE
May 15, 2019
By Jennifer Miko
The Katy ISD Education Foundation has been recognizing teachers throughout the district for their dedication to introducing enriching programs to their home campus. This year, Katy ISD teachers have been awarded $333,370 in "Inspiring Imagination Grants."
Inspiring Teachers' Imaginations
The Katy ISD Education Foundation's tagline reads: "Inspiring Imaginations across Katy ISD; Together, we're building a solid foundation." The foundation "serves as a catalyst for extraordinary teachers to create extraordinary classroom experiences for their students." In its first seven years, the Katy ISD Education Foundation presented more than $1.6 million dollars in grants.
The Katy ISD Education Foundation inspires teachers to create a classroom where every dream is a possibility, where extraordinary behaviors are the norm. Through the grants that these teachers have earned, they can continue to inspire their students' imagination, and encourage creativity that can positively impact the community.
Here is just a sample of some amazing Katy ISD teachers and their awarded grant projects:
JENKS ELEMENTARY
Lead Teacher: Kashif Aleem
Team Members: Mary White, Michael Kier, Jeannette Rodricks, and Kim Westmoreland
Rhythmic Rumbles with Rhythmical Movement
$4,314.70
KATY HIGH SCHOOL
Lead Teacher: Rhonda Burrough
Team Member: Kelly Knight
Pocket Prairie Plants
$2,490
TAYS JUNIOR HIGH
Lead Teacher: Stephen Bennett
Team Members: Christine Holt, Katrina Cerk, Elias Reyes, William Huff, Amy Suhrer
and Shanna Morgan
Exploring Soft Robotics
$5,000
HAYES ELEMENTARY
Lead Teacher: Allyson Patterson
Team Members: Sarah Nelson, Brittney Brown and Sara Hernandez
Wild Weather
$4,208
TOMPKINS HIGH SCHOOL
Lead Teacher: Michelle Tuttle
Team Members: Mona Clark, Kristel Green and Karla White
Mental Health Support for High School Students
$5,000
WOLMAN ELEMENTARY
Lead Teacher: Kristy Grubbs
Team Members: Jennifer Studdard, Tasneem Abousteit, Sarah Russell, Christina Garrett, Catherine Justilian, Micah Prochnow and Patricia Wagner
READ TO ME Project
Up to $5,000
MORTON RANCH HIGH SCHOOL
Lead Teacher: Sarah Gonzalez
Team Members:James Duncan, Sarah Palmer, Marina Ealy,
Sarah Thomas and Ed McFarland
Step Into History
$5,000
KATY JUNIOR HIGH
Lead Teacher: Lesley Craig-Unkefer
Team Members: Laura Phillips and Barbara Kerr
Friendship Grows Project
$4,357
MAYDE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
Lead Teacher: Patricia Wangler
Team Members: Cynthia Mulkey, Amanda Leonhardt, Mary Dawson
Gucci Reads (Good Books)
$5,000
WINBORN ELEMENTARY
Lead Teacher: Christen Jones
Team Members: Marianne Wise and Kendra Sherman
Full STEAM Ahead: Creating Sound Stories
$4,564
MCMEANS JUNIOR HIGH
Lead Teacher: Kristine Moline
Team Members: Dana Hoover, Steven Bell and Caitlin Steger
Here Comes The Sun
$4,780
Supporting New Classroom Experiences
The foundation invites people to imagine a classroom that swaps exercise balls for desk chairs and is populated by 16-year-old scientists in safety goggles and lab coats. They challenge parents to imagine a classroom where dirt, mulch and broccoli replace concrete, carpet and worksheets and lessons combine entrepreneurship and environmentalism.
The Katy ISD Education Foundation unites people and companies with big hearts and a big belief in Katy ISD teachers and students to provide unprecedented opportunities for both. To join us in helping extraordinary teachers create extraordinary classroom experiences visit their website.