It was a misty, gloomy day on Friday, April 4 with the threat of incoming severe weather. But inside seven MPISD campuses, members of the Goin’ Gold Band, the Tiger Doll officers, Tiger Cheer, and members of the MPISD Education Foundation brought sunshine and smiles awarding $45,938.71 in educator grants to 40 teachers. The MPISD Education Foundation has awarded over $700,000 in grants to MPISD educators since its inception ten years ago.

Spring grant recipients and their funded projects are:

E.C. Brice Elementary School ($13,896.84): Lorena Alvarado, Hannah Zambrano, and Harlie Robertson for interactive classroom smart boards, Jessica Soc for a charging station for 6 classrooms, Kayla Molina, Sonia Garcia, and Ruth Sustaita for white erase tables and tech switch keys, Chelsea Loftin for books and games for therapy, Leslie Caamal and Amber Ring for flexible seating, Claudia Sanchez Hernandez for hands-on literacy materials, and Jamie King for VEX IQ robotics competition systems and equipment.

Frances Corprew Elementary School ($2,245.94): Kirby Merritt for a smart tv, rolling cart, music CD’s, books, bell sets and glockenspiels, Mariana Barboza for art drawer organizers, a cart, and drying rack, Sarai Ramirez for a laptop cart, world globes, life cycle sets, puzzles and visual timers, and Jessica Simmons for hands-on materials, models and experiments.

Vivian Fowler Elementary School ($11,441.00): Manuela Ramirez Sarabia and Marquita Jones for iPads, Apple Pencil Pros, and smart TVs, Christi Moss for flexible seating, Patty Moreno for swivel chairs and wobble stools, and Eunise Obregon, Cendy Zuniga, and Gabriela Vargas for interactive smart boards.

Annie Sims Elementary ($6,805.00): Sandra Avilez for science manipulatives and models, books, and headsets, Charey McClendon for flexible learning aids, Jordan Hollingsworth for iPad keyboards, Crissie Blackstone and Marisa Banda for iPad Pros, Apple Pencils, iPad keyboards, and cases, and Kelly Silman for microscopes, lap desks, an art projector, and a brain model.

P.E. Wallace Middle School ($7,197.54): Katherine Brown for text-to-speech pen readers, Chrishina Maull for lap desks and flexible seating, Nathan Rider for a 3D printer and filaments, Emilee Traughber for mobile standing desks and flexible seating, Elda Hernandez for flexible seating, Nathaly Flores for laptop desks and flexible seating, Sonia Ibanez for a document camera, power tower and chargers, and Matthew Armstrong for an Apple TV, iPad, Apple Pencil, and wall mount.

Mount Pleasant Junior High School ($2,324.59): Blanca Hernandez for a pottery wheel, drying rack, and clay, and Tara Flores for VEX IQ Competition 2nd generation robotics kits.

Mount Pleasant High School ($1,959.91): Rhiannon Vose for a 7 quart stand mixer and blenders for culinary class.

Anyone interested in donating funds to the MPISD Foundation should contact Mariela Crockett at 903-575-2000. Additionally, the Foundation will be participating in East Texas Giving day on April 29. Donations can be made at https://www.easttexasgivingday.org/organization/mpisdfoundation anytime from now until midnight on that day.