Empowering Students for Success

The Jarrell Education Foundation: Innovation, Impact, and Investment in Cougar Students' Futures

THE JARRELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION (JEF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities in Jarrell ISD. The foundation focuses on fostering innovation and excellence by providing resources and funding that go beyond the traditional school budget. JEF partners with the community, local businesses, and educators to support programs and initiatives that directly impact student learning and achievement. Through fundraising and community engagement, JEF awards grants to teachers and staff, allowing them to implement creative and impactful projects that enrich the classroom experience. These grants target a wide range of needs, from technology and curriculum enhancements to extracurricular programs and student development initiatives. Ultimately, the foundation’s mission is to ensure students in Jarrell ISD have access to high-quality educational tools and experiences, aimed at helping them reach their full potential.

During the 2023/2024 school year, the foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $33,000. These grants will collectively impact 12,542 students across the district, supporting innovative classroom projects and enriching student experiences.

SUPERINTENDENT DR. TONI HICKS adds, "Jarrell ISD is grateful to the Education Foundation's support and generous contributions to advance the education of our students and staff. Their unwavering commitment has provided additional resources in our classrooms, engaging learning opportunities for students, and meaningful professional development for staff. The partnership with JEF is a great example of how working together as One Community creates positive outcomes.”

ESPORTS

Mike Griffiths was awarded a $2,000 grant to continue building a dedicated Esports program. His plan builds on Alison Marlone’s foundational grant, In it to Win it: Building the Future of JISD eSports. Her 2023 grant provided equipment and gaming systems, allowing students to compete at a higher level as the esports program grows. This initial investment sparked interest and laid the groundwork for expanding esports across the district. Mike’s initiative will strengthen Esports, offering students new opportunities to develop valuable skills that extend beyond the gaming arena.

Mike identified the need to further develop the program after facing challenges the previous year. Efforts to launch an Esports club were hampered by limitations on school computers, as the technology department implemented stricter controls to accommodate the district’s rapid growth. Recognizing the value esports could bring to students, he proposed shifting to dedicated gaming consoles – a solution that bypassed technical restrictions and provided a more engaging experience.

With the new grant, Mike added Nintendo Switch consoles and popular games, which quickly revitalized the program. The Esports club now flourishes, regularly drawing over 30 students to meetings. The addition of dedicated equipment has allowed the club to foster teamwork, strategy development, and digital literacy, creating a space where students who might not typically participate in traditional extracurriculars can thrive.

Despite the club’s success, the need for additional resources remains. Currently, Griffiths borrows projectors and screens from the library and even brings his own TV to support gaming sessions. To sustain and grow the program, future grants will focus on acquiring permanent screens, expanding the game library, and updating controllers and consoles.

Although the grants were awarded in May 2024 and programs have been or will be launched during the current school year, teachers have expressed excitement about the positive impact these projects will bring. The funding allows educators to introduce innovative tools and programs that would otherwise be unavailable through traditional budgets, ultimately fostering creativity, critical thinking, and new learning experiences for students.

JOHNNY CAN SPELL

Amie Von Stosch’s $630 grant for the Johnny Can Spell program was inspired by her previous teaching experience, where she saw significant student growth using the system. The program helps students recognize letter sounds and phonograms, improving their ability to decode and spell words. Amie says, “Johnny Can Spell helps the students identify sounds the letters make as well as phonograms such as ck, sh, and ough. Those are just a few of the examples. For instance, it helps the students know that the letter A makes three different sounds. So, when students are sounding out a word, they are able to try different sounds to see which one makes more sense for the word.” She reports early implementation in lower grades has already received positive feedback from teachers and students, prompting plans to expand the program to more grades in the future. This initiative aims to strengthen literacy skills and boost overall reading proficiency across the school.

MYINTENT PROJECT

Mike Bickham’s MyIntent Project (above) focuses on fostering student empowerment and goal-setting. The grant provides bracelets with a meaningful word stamped on the emblem to serve as a daily reminder of their intention. It fosters personal growth and connection by inspiring individuals to live with purpose and share their stories.

The Jarrell Education Foundation is gearing up for the 2025 Cougar Clay Shoot, a fun and exciting way to raise $50,000. This event blends friendly competition with community spirit, offering a day of games, camaraderie, and giving back.

The committee chose a clay shoot to bring something new to the community, mindful of not overlapping with other local fundraisers. It’s an event that stands out, providing businesses and individuals with a fresh way to get involved.

Foundation president Sarah McLellan is thrilled that Mike Michaux generously donated the facilities at Solana Ranch for the shoot. With her own experience in clay shoots at the YMCA and Austin Rodeo Shootout, Sarah knows firsthand how enjoyable these events can be. “It’s a great fit for Jarrell and will draw more interest from the community,” she says. “We’re grateful to Solana Ranch for their support.”

COUGAR CLAY SHOOT • FRIDAY, MARCH 7 AT SOLANA RANCH

5750 Solana Ranch Road, Salado

20 teams of 5 players will shoot from 10 stations. Scan the code to register.

100 total birds — prizes for the top 3 teams.

Games and mulligan tokens available for purchase.

Sponsorships are still available $500 to $3,000.