EDUCAT ION • T R A DES • LE A R NING
GEORGETOWN ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
by Elle Bent
Funding for Reading, Rendering, and Virtual Reality
T The Georgetown ISD Education Foundation celebrated its sixth year of funding in April by awarding $34,125 in collaborative grants. The purpose of the grant program is to fund innovative and creative educational projects that align with the district’s Learner Profile and impact student learning.
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J UN E 2022
eachers in the Georgetown Independent School District roll up their sleeves twice a year to brainstorm engaging projects and creative solutions for their students. They then present these ideas to the Georgetown ISD Education Foundation for funding. “It never ceases to amaze me what the teachers in our schools do on a daily basis and the type of innovative thinking and stretching that goes into helping our students be prepared for the future,” says Greg Bowden, founder and chair of the foundation.
THE FOUNDATION The GISD foundation awards grants to teachers and schools in two annual cycles, with each providing financial support for innovative opportunities. In the fall cycle, individual teachers submit proposals for classroom, school, or training programs, while the spring cycle funds larger, collaborative efforts.
“We’re blessed at the education foundation to be able to provide grants twice each year,” Greg said. Last fall, nearly $9,000 was awarded to 20 teachers across 11 campuses in GISD. Grant projects focused on supporting student needs, incorporating new technology, and funding creative art and science projects. In April, the foundation chose 13 projects across nine campuses and awarded $34,125 in collaborative grants. “The spring cycle means large grants for groups of teachers, whether that’s a team of language arts or science teachers,” Greg added. “Those dollar amounts reach as much as $5,000.”
2022 AWARDS All of the district's elementary librarians collectively received $2,600 for green screens and stop motion animation, which will help them connect elementary students better to the curriculum and literature.
