Originally published on 4/26/22
On April 25, the Alvin ISD Education Foundation Winners Wagon surprised 158 teachers on 30 different campuses to award the Foundation’s Innovative Teaching Grants. Students joined in the celebration as staff members at each campus received their giant checks.
A total of $105,909 was awarded for grants to teachers and staff at Passmore Elementary, Alvin High School, RISE Academy, Bill Hasse Elementary, Walt Disney Elementary, Stevenson Primary, Nelson Elementary, Harby Jr. High, Alvin Elementary, Alvin Jr. High, Manvel High School, Hood-Case Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, Fairview Jr. High, Jackie Caffey Jr. High, Bel Sanchez Elementary, Don Jeter Elementary, Manvel Jr. High, E. C. Mason Elementary, Pomona Elementary, Dr. Red Duke Elementary, Shadow Creek High School, Shirley Brothers Elementary, Dr. Ronald McNair Jr. High, Glenn York Elementary, Wilder Elementary, Mary Marek Elementary, Nolan Ryan Jr. High, and Alvin ISD FSP Department.
Foundation board members, Alvin ISD officials, school board members, parents, and community partners rode on school buses from school to school to surprise recipients and award the grants. The Foundation was also assisted by Alvin High School, Manvel High School and Shadow Creek High School band students, cheerleaders, and mascots.
“The students brought the spirit and the fun to the Winners Wagon and they let everyone know that the Winners Wagon is back and something exciting was happening,” said Carol Nelson, Alvin ISD Superintendent.
“It is exciting to surprise these teachers and provide extra money to implement innovative ideas in their classrooms. It is due to the community support for the Alvin ISD Education Foundation Turtle Race that we are able to award grants each year,” said Sheila Olson, Education Foundation executive director.
Staff members will use the grant money to implement various initiatives that support student achievement and success at their schools.
Grant recipients from Passmore Elementary include Lauren Summa, Sandra Whalen, Sueyen Vela, Madeleine Fitch, Megan Goodman, Mary Stilwll, Cathy Boyle, and Melissa Paladinor.
Grant recipients from Alvin High School are Levi Duncan, Shawn Simonson, Jamie Baldwin, Rebecca Vanhorne, Ann-Marie Jernigan, Mary Stimson, Tiffany Marchand, Michelle Deleon, Carolyn Kimble, Laura Hoffman, Cynthia Bunch, John Yokum, Karin Little, Lacie Lejeune, Billie Estrada, Eli Lipshutz, Christi Strange, Christina Moore, Donna Pauley, Jennifer Hammond, and Tauna Leonardi. The RISE Academy grant recipient was Kristy Key.
Alvin ISD Adaptive Physical Education recipients were Lista Morris, Guadalupe Flores, Samantha Genzer, Austin Wilson and Joy Williams and Darren Stilwell, visually impaired instructor received a grant. Hasse Elementary had two recipients including Danielle Fitte and Ana Dominguez. Kim Durkin was a grant recipient from Walt Disney Elementary.
Stevenson Primary recipients were Bonnie Murray and Laura Lamm.
Nelson Elementary had three grant recipients including Jacob Chavvaria, Kate Hebert and Danica Garza.
Grant recipients at Harby Jr. High were Zoey Henderson, Mary Catherine Whitlock and Brittany Tiller. Alvin Elementary grant recipients were Colleen Landgrebe, Clara Rooth, Raquel Vargus and Jacqueline Butteris. The grant recipients at Alvin Jr. High were Kelly Gonzalez, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Michelle White. Manvel High School grant recipients were Jacob Smith, Pennie Yancy, Stacey Davis, Richard Wulf, Cahterine Blake, Sarah Bell Tamica Baldwin and Alonzo Silvabong. The grant recipients at Hood Case Elementary were Elizabeth Gonzales, Heather Sewell and Arely Medina. Mark Twin Elementary grant recipients were Jeri McGhee, Jose Maldonado, Michelle Shoulders, Denise Stanton and Michelle Martinez. Nine staff members at Fairview Jr. High received grants including Levi Duncan, Eric Gonzales, Carolee Osborne, Winnie Chau-Garcia, Kelly Hayslett, Evelyn Garcia, Brigitte Bick, Jon Yancy and Jaclyn Troxell-Krupa. Jackie Caffey Jr. High grant recipients were Kendra Simms, Teasha Brown, Jill Mowles, Sydney Baker, Wendye Durio, Casey Kimball, Classie Wilson, Michael Morales, Priscilla Roberts and Kaitlyn Bourg. Bel Sanchez Elementary recipients were Janneth Martinez, Adriana Sanchez Cantu, Rosa Rives, Brandi Gadberry, Amie Borden, Destine Bell, Giset King, Jazzlyn Young and Lupita Fuentes. The Winners Wagon surprised six teachers at Don Jeter Elementary with grants and the recipients were Neely Schurtz, Janet Molina, Stephanie Wilds, Lindsay Sanchez, Itziar Iriberri and Dr. Erika Aziegbe. The grant recipients at Manvel Jr. High were Robert Borden, Jennifer Morris, Holly Knight, Jenny Morgan, Sammie Gardner, Yvette Skeen and Elaine Guikema. E. C. Mason Elementary grant recipients were Karla James, Kelly Chatham and Ashley Harper. Karen Brown was the grant recipient at Pomona Elementary and Meredith Mooney was the grant recipient at Dr. James Red Duke Elementary.
Shadow Creek High School had nine grants funded and the grant recipients were Cheri Buggs, Jenna Duff, Kristen Vollman, Nikhil Kaji, Madeline Lacemu, Lauren Heckler, Kimberly Simon, Staci Perry, Shannon Oliver, Raziyya Kahtoon, Christopher Sheldon, Briana Banks, Shannon Oliver, Jennifer Jing, Najma Maredia, Ben Macmillan, Sarah Vander Wiele and Monica Dean.
Cecilia Garza, Lauren Kocian, Carla Manning, Jacqueline Jones and Amy Nixon from Shirley Brothers Elementary received grants this year. Doris Perry, Veronica Foreman, Elizabeth Urban, Lindsay Brown, Brandi Kiekel and Jide Bell from Dr. Ronald McNair Jr. High also received grants. Amanda Cottle from York Elementary received a grant. Wilder Elementary staff members receiving grants are Monica Herrera, Torey McCord, Katherine Paolini, and Angela Olivarez. From Marek Elementary Rommie Lynne Gillie, Anita Phipps and Kanika Bass all received grants. Nolan Ryan Jr. High grant recipient was Felysha Tamez. Four grants were awarded to staff at the soon to open Iowa Colony High School; the recipients were Danielle Cunningham, Jennifer Smith, Maria Carlo and Tenille Pakoejoe.
“We are so proud of all our grant recipients this year and can’t wait to see their grants in action,” said Melba Ervin, president of the Alvin ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors, “After having to present virtual for the past two years, we are excited to be back on campuses celebrating our amazing teachers.”
This year, the INEOS ICAN Foundation awarded the Foundation a grant for $7,100 that was designated for Innovative Teaching Grants that focused on STEM. This allowed eight additional grants to be funded and the Foundation appreciates this partnership.
For information on how you can support Alvin ISD students and staff through the Education Foundation, contact Sheila Olson or Melinda Purcell at 281-331-2586.