Marshall Education Foundation has major local impact

story by Nicholas Osborn

photos by MIchael Cavazos

What started in 2011 with a small group giving away a few thousand dollars has grown into one of the most prominent foundations in the East Texas community supporting the Marshall school district with tens of thousands of dollars every year.

The Marshall Education Foundation has given away almost $500,000 since their inception, and the group is only just getting started in their mission to make Marshall the premiere place to be for any student, teacher or staff in education. This has led the volunteer-only foundation to impact every corner of education in Marshall by bringing the community together under a single common goal.

“I love Marshall,” said Marshall Education Foundation’s District Liaison Jessica Scott. “The town would not thrive without the school, and I think a lot of people forget that.”

The Marshall Education Foundation provides grants to teachers and districts to help with education for students that goes outside the box. The funds are raised through community support by a 100 percent volunteer team in a wide range of events that are designed to offer sustainable support with maximum impact. One of the most important educational benefits the foundation seeks to provide both students and teachers comes down to one thing – opportunities.

The opportunities given to students by the Marshall Education Foundation can range from trips to new places to allnew classroom materials that all aim to heighten the educational experience. Whether it is giving the students students a chance to go to fun and unique places like the indoor skydiving facility iFLY in Frisco to providing the chance to become a published author while still in school, the foundation seeks to correlate each of the opportunities given with the education process for a more impactful experience.

The team behind the Marshall Education Foundation’s Board of Directors is made up of the current President Christy Godwin, District Liaison Jessica Scott, Treasurer Sarah Palmer and Secretary Kristin Skinner. Together, this team helped to provide more than $75,000 in educational grants to Marshall classrooms in the year 2022.

“I grew up with two teacher parents, so teachers have a special place in my heart. I remember watching them spend their own money so that they could have certain things for their classroom and working on things until 9 p.m. at night so their lessons would be ready for the next day,” said Godwin. “So, being able to fill that need even a little bit really warms my heart a whole lot.”

The Marshall Education Foundation has typically operated within two annual periods of grant application periods, in the fall and in the spring. This allows teachers in the district to apply for a grant with no requirements on the application. The requests are then reviewed by a committee who receives the applications in a blind format and then decides if the request for a grant can be fully funded or partially funded.

Grants from the Marshall Education Foundation can be given to teachers in the district for new experiences that wouldn’t otherwise be available through state funding. In the past, this has included digital globes, sensory learning devices, trips to the zoo, newscast equipment, outdoor garden spaces, escape rooms and even drones. However, the grants are also used for student support in both emotional and physical needs as well. Requests for a care closet to help with hygiene and clothing and a coffee shop set-up to help with interpersonal skills have all contributed to the long-term impact of the foundation.

“I think seeing some requests for grants come through is both equally heartbreaking and rewarding at the same time, to know that our teachers see a need and they don’t just ignore it,” said Scott. “They make a request to try and help fill that gap.”

The Marshall Education Foundation has worked diligently to broaden the definition of academic development for students in the district by allowing a more expansive approach to education, allowing teachers and staff of the district to provide more learning opportunities and support systems for each student.

“We’re hoping that our work is making a lifelong impact,” said Godwin.