Spring ISD Grant Express Awards Nearly $16,000 to Bring New Learning Opportunities to Students at Seven Schools
For students across Spring ISD, some of the most meaningful lessons happen when they get to experience something beyond their everyday classroom routine. Whether it's visiting a college campus for the first time, discovering a new career path or exploring science in an unexpected way, those experiences can help students see possibilities they may never have considered.
Thanks to the Spring ISD Education Foundation's 2026 Grant Express, teachers at seven schools now have $15,948 in new funding to make those opportunities possible, supporting everything from college and career readiness to music, literacy, sports and hands-on STEAM education.
On November 6, Foundation representatives and Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar visited schools to surprise educators with grant awards, celebrating the creative ideas teachers developed to help their students learn, grow and prepare for the future.
Helping Spring ISD Students See What's Possible After Graduation
At Momentum High School, English teacher Roxane Farrar is using her grant to give students in the Achieving Success Alternative Program (ASAP) something especially valuable: a chance to see what life after high school could look like.
Her project will take students to Lone Star College, Universal Technical Institute and Tulsa Welding School, introducing them to college programs, technical training and career opportunities that could shape their next steps.
For students who may be uncertain about their plans after graduation, seeing these options firsthand can make a difference.
“Our campus motto this year is ‘Destination Graduation,’” Farrar said. “This grant helps us take that mission one step further by showing students what awaits them after they earn their diplomas.”
Momentum High School Principal Ayesha Ahmad Burriss said the funding will help students connect what they're working toward in school with the opportunities available afterward.
“Now we have the funds to be able to go visit these places, and our kids can go and explore and see all the things that exist outside of Momentum,” Ahmad Burriss said. “This opens up opportunities and makes it very real for our students.”
From Elementary Music Classes to a Mobile STEAM Museum
The grants are also supporting creative learning experiences for Spring ISD's younger students.
At Eickenroth Elementary School, music teacher Julie Croce-Gonzalez received funding to expand opportunities for students to explore their creativity through the arts.
Principal Takelia Carter praised Croce-Gonzalez for continually finding ways to make music education meaningful and accessible.
“Ms. Croce-Gonzalez consistently creates pathways for our students to be creative and connect to the world through the arts,” Carter said. “She deserves recognition like this today and every day.”
At Twin Creeks Middle School, structure behavior specialist Chrystal Luna is taking a particularly thoughtful approach to using her grant. Rather than deciding what students need on her own, she plans to ask them.
Luna will survey students in her department to better understand which supplies and resources would be most helpful, then use the grant funding to address those needs.
Meanwhile, students at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School will benefit from a mobile STEAM museum, bringing interactive experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics directly to campus.
The traveling museum will provide opportunities for students to engage with subjects through hands-on exploration, adding another dimension to what they learn in the classroom.
Other funded projects across Spring ISD will help put more books into students' hands, encourage reading and provide additional support for music and sports programs.
While the projects differ from campus to campus, each begins with an educator recognizing an opportunity to make learning more meaningful for students.
Spring ISD Education Foundation Continues Investing in Teachers and Students
The annual Grant Express is one of the ways the Spring ISD Education Foundation helps turn teachers' ideas into experiences that might otherwise be difficult to fund.
Rather than limiting innovation to resources already available on campus, the Foundation provides educators with opportunities to propose projects that address their students' needs and interests.
For Spring ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Sandra Harper Scott, seeing those ideas receive support is one of the most rewarding parts of the program.
“Today is a combination of all the things that make education great, where the kids get to experience hands-on learning and be able to transition into the next phases of their lives.”
The November 6 celebrations also gave district leaders an opportunity to recognize the teachers behind the projects.
Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar, who joined Foundation representatives in surprising grant recipients, shared his appreciation for the educators who continually look for ways to do more for their students.
“My heart is full every single day because we absolutely have the best educators in the country. Our teachers write these grants for what they want to do for their children, and the Education Foundation comes back and they pay it forward, giving our teachers grant opportunities that they can use specifically for them.”
The 2026 awards add to a long history of educational support throughout the district. Since its inception, the Spring ISD Education Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in teacher grants, helping educators introduce new programs, classroom resources and learning experiences.
The Foundation also provides scholarships for graduating seniors and supports initiatives benefiting schools and departments throughout Spring ISD.
How the Spring Community Can Support Future Student Opportunities
For Spring-area families, local businesses and community members interested in supporting public education, the Spring ISD Education Foundation offers a way to invest directly in opportunities for students.
Through donations and community support, the nonprofit helps fund educational initiatives that extend beyond traditional classroom resources, while also providing scholarships to students preparing for their next chapter.
Those interested in learning more about the Foundation, its educator grant programs or ways to contribute can visit springisdfoundation.org.
For the teachers surprised during this year's Grant Express, the awards represent more than a financial contribution. They offer an opportunity to bring ideas they've developed for their students into the classroom, onto college campuses and into experiences that could influence their futures.
And for the students who will benefit, an opportunity to explore something new today could help them discover what they want to pursue tomorrow.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more Spring ISD news, student achievements, education initiatives and stories celebrating the teachers and community members helping local students succeed.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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