Spring Branch Education Foundation Announces Fall Grants

$49,746 Awarded to Projects for SBISD students

At its December Board meeting, Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) approved $49,746 in grants to fund diverse education-enhancing projects throughout Spring Branch Independent School District.

Twice each year, the Foundation calls for grant applications, up to $5,000 each, from any of its 46 school campuses. District-wide projects are eligible for larger grants. Both faculty members and volunteers are encouraged to apply.

“Through these grants, the Education Foundation provides students and staff with opportunities for innovative projects,” said Donnie Roseman, a member of the SBEF Board of Directors and chair of the Program and Assessment Committee. “Community members make these grants possible by donating to the Foundation and supporting its fund-raisers.”

The Foundation awarded three district-wide grants:

• Teacher iGrants to Reach T-2-4 – This Innovation Grant-making process will seed creative solutions for individual students or classrooms to improve the learning experience.
• Independent Living Learning Lab – Special Education students, ages 18-21, will use this lab to learn life skills for independent living.
• Superior Lice Removal Combs – These reusable combs will be given to families to help combat the rising incidence of lice resistant to over-the-counter treatments.

Other grants were designated for projects on SBISD campuses:

• Bendwood Elementary – Code, Create, Collaborate: Program On (3CPO) – Updated computers will expand research and learning opportunities for coding.
• Hunters Creek Elementary – Chromebooks for Everyone! – Chromebooks will empower students to communicate with stakeholders as they advocate for a need in the global community.
• Landrum Middle – Calculating Achievement – The eighth grade will receive TI-84 calculators for student use.
• Rummel Creek Elementary – Outdoor Learning Center Garden Instruction – Thanks to an innovative Urban Harvest curriculum, students will learn about the ecological cycle of plants.
• Shadow Oaks Elementary – STEM Tutorials – Technology and engineering will be integrated into the school’s spring tutorial program.
• Spring Branch Elementary – Linguistic Learners Love Literacy – New materials will strengthen student literacy skills in reading and writing.
• Spring Forest Middle – Operation Academic Language Acquisition – Computer-based and teacher/volunteer assistance will help refuge and immigrant students learn to communicate in their new community.
• Spring Shadows Elementary – Library Makerspace – The library will be transformed and teachers will be trained to use makerspace to help students explore, investigate and problem solve.
• Spring Woods High – Increasing Technology to Engage Every Tiger Student – Lunch time Counseling Labs will empower students to complete college applications, FAFSA forms and more as they prepare for T-2-4 success.
• Spring Woods Middle – Hawk’s Nest Intervention – This school-within-a-school program provides a learning environment for students whose social, emotional or behavioral needs require individual skill building.
• Treasure Forest Elementary – Building Excellent Schools Weekend Warriors – This professional development experience allows participants to visit with and learn from high performing public schools and some of the country’s best educators.

“We encourage PTAs, principals and teachers to apply for these grants,” says Cece Thompson, SBEF executive director. “The due date for our spring call for grants is March 2, 2017. Recipients will be announced in May.”

Community members who wish to support a specific program at a designated campus can make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation and earmark it for that school. Call 713.251.2381 or visit sbef@springbranchisd.com for more information.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. In 2015, dewey & associates ranked SBEF 17th in the nation among K-12 education foundations and number one in its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $10 million to the district. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.