Lamar Educational Awards Foundation Presents $345K in Classroom Grants to Teachers
This week, and just in time for the holidays, the District’s Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) awarded $345,237.91 to 350 teachers during this school year’s “Grant Express,” which will fund more than 100 classroom innovation grants.
On December 5, LEAF hosted the “Grant Express” for the 2023-2024 school year where 73 representatives loaded buses and traveled throughout the District to surprise teachers in their classrooms with giant checks. Representatives included foundation partners, district administrators, Lamar CISD Board of Trustees, and LEAF Board Members.
“Everything we do is for the kids. My wife is the PE instructor at another campus, and we both applied this year. We both won, which means the kids won,” grant recipient Brian Stuckey and PE Coach at Long Elementary School said. He will use the funds to purchase neon gym games such as bowling and mini golf.
During the application process, almost 300 different projects were submitted for consideration, and then thoroughly reviewed and scored by the foundation committee members and volunteers. Awarded projects included activities such as exploring artificial intelligence in healthcare, riding bikes while reading, and simultaneously teaching literacy and robotic programming. Teachers will use these grants to elevate the learning experience for all students within Lamar CISD.
“This is our second teacher grant distribution for 2023,” LEAF Executive Director Kameela Lewis said. “I am ecstatic to announce this fiscal year, we have distributed more than $550,000 in grants that help bring ideas to life and spark student connections. We can’t do this alone. The generosity of our foundation partners makes this all possible.”
LEAF is grateful to many special guests who joined the event including representatives from Brazos Valley Credit Union, First Financial Group of America, PBK, Rice & Gardner, Stantec, and Russo’s New York Pizzeria – Greatwood. If you are interested in supporting the mission of LEAF, you can make a tax-deductible donation and become a Friend of the Foundation by emailing LEAF@LCISD.org.
Source: Lamar CISD
