The Education Foundation of Odessa has awarded $81,146.81 to Ector County ISD teachers for the 2021-2022 school year through its innovative grant program.
“While the past year and a half has not been ideal, we are grateful to be in a position to continue awarding funds to our teachers in Ector County ISD. The Education Foundation Board of Directors is looking forward to visiting these projects in action during the 2021-2022 school year,” Education Foundation Director Celeste Potter said in a news release.
Each year, teachers, principals, and administrators from across the district submit proposals to the Education Foundation.
A committee made up of Foundation board members reviews each grant and comes to a consensus on which projects to fund. Grants are evaluated on their innovation, creativity, student need being addressed, sustainability and content. This year, the committee reviewed 28 proposals and was able to fund 22 of those requests. Since the Foundation’s inception, and including this year, the Education Foundation has awarded more than $2.7 million to fund innovative and creative projects in the classroom for ECISD students, the release said.
Spring 2021 grant recipients
Blackshear Elementary Teacher(s): Lelia Ramirez, It’s a Snap! Math Centers -$2,065.80; Norma Galindo, Keep Calm and Learn the Math -$1,491.69.
Blanton Elementary Teacher(s): Misty Morgan, Elizabeth Shorey, Amy Anderson, Moving Bodies Moves Minds -$6,640.
Buice Elementary Teacher(s): Johnna Rosson, Book Tasting: Grab a Bite to Read -$460.27.
Carver Early Education Center Teacher(s): Paula Paquette 1-2-3 Year Old Learning is for Me! -$4,000. Together We Make a Beautiful Garden -$500.
Lamar Early Education Center Teacher(s): Yleanna Gallegos, Train Like a PreK Warrior -$2,948.
Reagan Elementary Teacher(s): Anese Forsyth and Ashley Herrington Here Comes the Sun -$15,000.
Travis Elementary Teacher(s): Amanda Vesely, Caterpillar Town Shopping -$1,817.09.
Zavala Elementary Teacher(s): Erin Reddell, Whitney Carter, Senyda Huertas, The Heart of Art -$1,373; Erin Reddell, Seynda Huertas, That’s News to Me! -$1,765.
Bonham Middle School Teacher(s): Alex Pettigrew, Hector Izaguirre, Brian Barrientes, Jaxon Straw, Musical Chairs: 36 Years in the Making -$3,460.
Crockett Middle School Teacher(s): Juliette Farris, Holocaust and Human Rights Educator Conference -$1,383.12.
New Tech Odessa Teacher(s): Jesus Valeriano, Phoenix Fire Ceramics Room -$2,375.28.
Odessa High School Teacher(s): Michael Allen Kennedy Printmaking: The Next Level of Learning -$2,000; Seth Bedford, New Violins and Violas -$5,000.
Permian High School Teacher(s): Josette Zeigler, Life in 3D -$3,410.02; Luis Trejo Fuentes Shaping the Future: Clay in the Classroom -$3,672.91.
Teen Parent Center –OHS and PHS Teacher(s): Hortencia Del Bosque, Babies & Book Bundles: An Early Literacy Jumpstart -$5,000.
Curriculum & Instruction Teacher(s): Jaime Miller, Reading is a Tasty Treat -$5,000.
Curriculum & Instruction –Early Childhood Department Teacher(s): Angela Dominguez, ECISD Little Engineers –Educating the Future -$9,632.50.
Special Education Department Teacher(s): Mahira Salinas, Alisha Slider, Amanda Padilla, Siria Dutchover, Sarah Patton, Eva Franks, Maria Zubiate, Natalie Thomas Writing, is FUNdamental -$2,152.13.
