Waco ISD's Education Foundation Prize Patrol handed out $95,870 in classroom grants Friday to teachers for innovative learning projects that cannot be funded through the standard school district budget.
Those funds were spread out among 19 grants over 10 campuses in the Waco school district. Teachers submit grant applications and a committee chooses which ones get funded with a maximum grant amount of $7,500.
Some of the winners this year included:
- An Aquaponic Food Factory that uses fish waste to fertilize plants by circulating the water from a fish tank to floating garden beds (Lake Air Montessori)
- The Bakery Shop - a business managed by students in the Functional Academics classrooms (Bell's Hill Elementary)
- Designing Lions - a costume and makeup lab to be used for WHS theater productions
- Shuffling Into Math - math games to help students master facts and develop higher thinking skills (Crestview Elementary)
- Sumdog Superstars - An intervention & motivation program designed for second graders to achieve mastery in reading, writing and math
- Reach for the Stars - Private and group instruction to students who want to audition for the All-Region Orchestra and learn higher-level solos for UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest (University HS)
The grants were named after local businesses and individuals who sponsored fundraisers, and representatives had the opportunity to take part in the check presentations in classrooms. Those grant sponsors included KXXV News Channel 25, Waco Motorsports, DuPuy Oxygen, Jackie & Rondy Gray, Dudley Haas, Sanderson Farms, Goldstar Transit, Sturdisteel, Waco Coca-Cola, Ratliff Ready-Mix, H&B Packing, Cargill, Central National Bank, Educators Credit Union, Baylor University, Allen Samuels Fiat and HEB.
Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Bonnie Cain helped award those checks to winning teachers and classrooms.
Those funds came from a staff drive, donations, and fundraising events like the HEB Celebrity Cookoff, which raised a record amount of money for the ninth time in 10 years in February.
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