It was a rainy, gloomy day outside on Friday, March 22. But you wouldn’t know it inside five MPISD campuses when members of the Goin’ Gold band, the Tiger Doll officers, Tiger Cheer, and members of the MPISD Education Foundation arrived to award $39,737.75 in educator grants to 32 teachers. The MPISD Education Foundation has awarded $600,771 in grants to MPISD educators since its inception nine years ago.

Spring grant recipients and their funded projects are:

E.C. Brice Elementary School ($16,701.14): Sonia Garcia, Kayla Molina, and Ruth Sustaita for flexible seating for their classrooms, Candy Taylor, Kendel Thompson, and Donna Neal for classroom Smart Boards, Jana Moore for student stress and anxiety items, Frances Hooks for magnetic chalkboard paper and dry erase labels, McKenzie Harvey and Jessica Soc for magnetic foam reading tiles, Amy Miklos for a laminator, and Kristina Broadway for flexible seating and materials for an escape room.

Frances Corprew Elementary School ($1,794.32): Whitley Hamilton for activities and games for classroom centers and Ashley Sterrett for microphones, stands, and risers.

Vivian Fowler Elementary School ($10,068.21): David Forest for a climbing wall, Sisi Aguilar for robotics competition kits, Patsie DeSantiago for a multi-device charging station and charging cables, Claudia Klump for a wired mouse, headphones, a laser TV pointer, and a USB wall charger, Patty Moreno for an iPad Pro and an Apple pencil, and Dulce Dominguez for a smart TV, wall mount, sound bar, and Apple TV.

P.E. Wallace Middle School ($7,435.08): Raquel Garcia for flexible seating and classroom supplies, LaSonya McDaniel for laptops, Billie Barnes for math manipulatives, Tara Flores for robotics competition kits, Taylor Johnson for weight room equipment,

Nathaly Flores for science materials, Madison Paige Burns for a gardening kit, and Diane Swiger for drape curtains.

Mount Pleasant Junior High School ($3,739): Jamie Carr for materials to teach work skills and independent living, Christi Lowry for a Smart Board, and Ashley Smith for cyber acoustic headphones with mics.

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 30 and donations can be made at https://www.easttexasgivingday.org/mpisdfoundation on that day.

Photos:

1: The MPISD Spring Grant Patrol

2: Fowler teacher David Forest receives a grant for a rock climbing wall from Foundation member Brad Lowry

3: Foundation member Dr. Husnain Shahid presents a grant to MPJH teaher Ashley Smith

4: Corprew teacher Whitley Hamilton accepts a grant from Foundation member Martin Acuna

5: Foundation member Sam Parker awards Brice teacher Frances Hooks a grant for magnetic chalkboard paper and dry erase labels

6: Foundation member Esther Smith presents a grant to Wallace teacher Nathaly Flores