SOAR Magazine - Fall 2022

FOUNDATION MARKS 25 YEARS OF SUPPORTING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS

BY KEITH TAYLOR, WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 25 TH YEAR that the Foundation For Allen Schools has been raising funds to pay for educational grants, student scholarships and teacher support and recognition. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $3.2 million in the future of Allen ISD.

But that money represents more than a figure on a balance sheet. It also represents the hard work and ambition of outstanding Allen High School seniors seeking an opportunity for higher education and the innovation and creativity of Allen ISD teachers in expanding educational opportunities for all students.

“Through our educational grants, we are enhancing and expanding what students learn and can do in the classrooms across the district. Through our teacher tuition reimbursement, teacher recognition and Mentor Teacher stipends, we are supporting the quality of our educators and adding to their resources; and with our student scholarship awards, we are helping our Allen Eagles move forward with their educational goals,” said Foundation Director Regina Taylor who is entering her 23rd year of leading the Foundation.

In the past year alone, the Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in educational grants and other educational activities “For the current school year, the Foundation awarded 126 Educational Grants totaling $249,255. In addition, we are fully funding the Mentor Teacher stipends at just under $70,000 and we provided the district $15,000 for teacher tuition

reimbursement,” Taylor said. “Last, but certainly not least, we awarded 178 scholarships to the AHS Class of 2022 which totaled $182,450. All together that is in excess of $500,000.”

Teachers and students both can attest to the significance of the donations of the Foundation.

“This grant is incredibly special because it will affect each kindergartener and first grader in the district with integrated lessons made possible by the generosity of the Foundation For Allen Schools,” said Katie Snider, Allen ISD’s math coordinator for elementary schools. “These books connect reading, math, social studies, and science for more than 3,000 students. And since they are physical books in the classroom, they will benefit students for years to come.”

The $50,000 “Math by the Book” grant is the largest the Foundation has ever funded and was awarded in the 2022-2023 school year.

“I think it is very bold to invest that amount of money, but we absolutely know it is the right thing for the Foundation to do,” Taylor said. “Our district identified an important challenge for some of our youngest learners. We hope this grant will make a significant difference and perhaps impact their understanding - and dare we say ‘love’ of math – for their entire school career.”

The second largest grant, also awarded for the 2022-2023 school year, is focused on Algebra development at Lowery Freshman

Center. Sponsored by Secondary Math Coordinator Pam Delao, the grant for “Desmos Algebra” will focus on helping ninth graders who don’t feel confident about Algebra to find new ways to develop this important math skill. The grant totals $19,000 and more than 900 students will be involved.

Students, as well as teachers, can attest to the impact of the Foundation’s mission. For example, Lauren Boone graduated from Allen High School in 2015 and received a Foundationfunded scholarship to help her attend the University of Texas – Dallas. She later received her Master’s Degree from Texas Tech and now works as speech pathologist for Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.

“College is very expensive and the scholarship I received from the Foundation For Allen Schools was absolutely helpful in paying for my tuition and books,” Boone said. “It helped launch a career I love.” She works with helping special needs children below the age of two develop feeding and speech skills.

Recalling the process for interviewing for the scholarship, Lauren said she was nervous.

“But, I was confident in what I wanted to do and I presented myself as a strong person who knew her direction,” Boone said.

“More than $3 million dollars has been invested back into Allen ISD by the Foundation,” she said. “That’s a big number, and we are very proud of it!

“What makes me happy about it is that our donors in general are not giving huge amounts of money, but they honor us with every single gift no matter the amount. We challenge ourselves every day to be good stewards of those funds.”

Simpson said donors come from everywhere across the community – businesses, civic clubs, individuals, and families - and the Allen ISD employee donors who give to the Foundation.

Besides all of the hard work to support teachers and students, the Foundation also celebrates the community with two big events.

“Our Party with a Purpose Gala on Nov. 5, 2022, and the Allen Eagle Run on Feb. 25, 2023, are designed to appeal to two different audiences,” Simpson said. “The fall party is just that – a gala celebration in the evening for adults. The Allen Eagle Run offers our Allen families a very fun and health-focused activity that they can enjoy together – and is also an excellent 5K course for serious runners.”

To find out more about the events, visit AllenISD.org/Foundation