GISD Education Foundation

In November, the Gainesville ISD Education Foundation Board prize patrol circulated the GISD campuses spreading holiday cheer by surprising the 2022-2023 Innovative Teaching Grant recipients.

The Education Foundation Board of Directors works throughout the year to generate funds and distribute resources to enrich, maintain and expand programs needed to meet the district’s stated mission of excellence and to enhance education in GISD. This year, 25 grants were awarded for a combined total of $37,905.68.

Edison Elementary received six grants totaling $9,888.19. Pre-K students will get to enjoy a field trip to the Frank Buck Zoo and various dramatic play materials for all six classrooms. Kindergarten will go on a field trip to the Crayola Experience and math manipulatives will be utilized in the kindergarten classrooms. The entire campus was able to attend a concert by Stephen Fite. The district as a whole will benefit from the relaxation techniques provided by a grant for staff yoga training.

Chalmers Elementary was awarded five grants totaling $9,524.80. Second grade will get to enjoy a field trip to Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch, third grade a trip to Frank Buck Zoo and supplies to dissect owl pellets, and fourth grade will get to take a field trip to Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland. There will be a field trip to the Crayola Experience specifically for the life skills special education students and also a trip for the Gifted & Talented students to AT&T Stadium.

Gainesville Intermediate was awarded two grants amounting to $2,527.83. The music department received a grant for music software to assist students with music timing. Fifth-grade teachers received a grant to assist both ELAR and social studies with purchasing a collection of novels focused on US History events.

Junior High was awarded $3,874.70 and four grants. Life skills received a grant for an iPad with software to assist in interactive learning. Literature guides and “Flocabulary” will help engage students in a 7th grade ELAR classroom, and 7th and 8th grade will all benefit from a grant to give them an immersive, hands-on experience with dissection in the science classroom.

Gainesville High School was awarded the most this year, with eight grants totaling $12,090.16. Culinary students will benefit from supplies to assist in baking and cookie-making in the classroom. The life skills class will receive decibel readers and timers to help monitor noise and help

with time in the classroom. Visual arts received a grant for printmaking tools and supplies. AATV technology will build, program, and code mBot robots. The agriculture department received a grant to purchase a small greenhouse so they can grow their own flora and fauna. Physics and engineering received a grant for rocketry altimeters and in-flight cameras for their model rocket project. The accounting class will be able to purchase their own heat press to make shirts and other items on campus to sell in their campus store. Health sciences received a grant for an EKG simulator with training and curriculum.

“These grants serve as a bridge to close the gap between what the district is able to provide financially and what the teachers can imagine for their classrooms and students. We are blessed to have

very creative teachers who come up with innovative means to provide extraordinary learning experiences for their students. Foundation steps in to help with the funding so their creativity can be put into practice.”

Since 2004, the GISD Education Foundation has awarded $456,224.15 in Innovative Teaching grants to the district. “Because of the continued support of our foundation, our teachers and staff are able to take teaching and learning well beyond the state standards while making it fun for ALL students,” GISD Superintendent Dr. Stewart said. The Education Foundation, relies on community and business donations to allow for the continued support to GISD. For more information on the Education Foundation grants or to make a donation, please visit www.gainesvilleisd.org/foundation.