San Angelo School Foundation Awards Grants to 112 Teachers

SAN ANGELO, TX - Yesterday evening, 112 San Angelo ISD teachers from 22 campuses were awarded grants. The San Angelo Schools Foundation’s Grants to Teacher Awards Ceremony was held at the ASU LeGrand Alumni Center, 1620 University Ave.

The total amount of grant money awarded yesterday totaled $40,048.44.

The award ceremony began with SAISD Superintendent Dr. Carl Dethloff congratulating the teachers.

“Today, we want to highlight you, the recipients of these great grant awards,” he said.

Next, Dethloff announced the school foundation officers, Debbi Meds, chief operating officer, Chris Gallban, president, Crystin Darby, president elect, Amy McGowan, treasurer, Kristin Lasiter, secretary, and Jamie Highsmith, SAISD liaison.

Highsmith said, “The [grant amount] is a super great thing for our school district. All of our teachers are hard working. They have come up with things that go beyond what is provided for them. The school foundation has deemed it fit to give the school district money for these teachers to get what they need to.”

Earlier in the fall, many teachers all over the district applied to receive grants from the School Foundation. Unfortunately, only 112 could be awarded this year.

On a better note, Highsmith noted that “our students from Kindergarten through 12th grade are going to benefit in different ways, depending on who their teachers are and what grant that teacher got.”

Highsmith continued to explain that this grant opportunity “brings their passion to life. It lets them have a chance to bring something to the students. It really brings to life what they are talking about and wanting the students to understand.”

Crystin Darby took the podium and announced the school campuses that had teachers receiving grants. But first she gave a little background about the School Foundation.

“The San Angelo School Foundation has been in existence since 1986. Today, we have raised and given out $384,000 for teacher grants. Our first year to give out funds was 1989, and we gave a total of $9,000. Last year was our biggest year where we gave out $29,000. From that point, we have raised $10,000 more this year, for a total of $40,000. Hopefully, this amount will continue to increase with our board's efforts and support from our community.”

An all campus grant totaling $1,000 was also awarded yesterday. That grant went to San Jacinto Elementary School.

Schools and number of teachers awarded grants include:

• Alta Loma: 1
• Austin: 3
• Bonham: 1
• Bowie: 2
• Carver: 1
• Central Freshman Campus: 1
• Central: 16
• Crockett: 5
• Fort Concho: 2
• Glenmore: 2
• Glenn:6
• Goliad: 8
• Holiman: 8
• Lakeview: 1
• Lamar: 11
• Lee: 21
• Lincoln: 2
• McGill: 1
• PAYS: 1
• Reagan: 1
• San Jacinto: 9
• Santa Rita: 9