Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation
Hello, friends! On behalf of Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation, I want to extend a special thank you to our donors and community partners. Without local businesses, parents, alumni, neighbors, and amazing Whitehouse ISD employees, we would not exist. In 2019-20, WISDEF funded $100,000 in District initiatives; it’s the most we’d ever funded in one year, and it was incredible. So we set a goal to raise enough to give away another $100,000 for 2020-21. Although we didn’t know what lay ahead, we stayed the course and our donors came through in a big way. We couldn’t be more elated to write that same check!
GINGER CARDWELL Board President, Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation
Over the last 7 years WISDEF has funded a HALF MILLION DOLLARS in grants for all campuses and all grades from a wide range of academic areas including math, science, history, reading, technology and fine arts. We have also funded grants outside of academics for projects including leadership development, personal health/wellness and city planning/management. Last year, our Board of Directors adopted a new mission statement, and we invite you to hold us to it. Our mission is to connect our community to support, promote, and inspire educators by funding imaginative and creative opportunities in Whitehouse ISD. We do this by raising funds throughout the year, setting a budget based on the funds raised, and awarding funds in the following school year. In addition to our Fall Grant Cycle, we are excited to announce that Wildcat Den will return this spring! Above all, Whitehouse ISD employees go above and beyond to improve the learning experience for Whitehouse ISD students. Please join me and the Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation board in supporting these educators and the students they serve. Go Wildcats!
Let’s Watch!
Let’s P lay!
Celebration of Innovation: A (Virtual) Lucky 7 will be streamed on multiple sites.
Online Auction
The week of the event, you’ll receive an email
Our online auction opens Saturday, February 13!
and see posts on social media
Register to bid at 32auctions.com/wisdef before
with instructions for viewing.
the event and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a Bahama Bucks party pack.
And as much as we love spending hours with you when we’re in person,
We have so many fun items, including a
this event will be under an hour.
Yeti cooler and tumblers, $250 to MPA Fireworks, a Kona Ice party pack, 3 months of flowers from Whitehouse Flowers and so much more.
Luck of the Draw Look for our gift card packs at 32auctions.com/ wisdef. For $100, you can win your money back in gift cards to area restaurants & shops.
A (Virtual) Luck y 7 PLANNING COMMITTEE
What we are able to accomplish as an Education Foundation simply would not be possible without the dedicated support of donors, partners and volunteers. This is an engaged community at its best. And for that, we are immensely
thankful.
Maegan Schneider, VP Events
Kelley Clarida, VP Marketing
Kristina Wait, Administrative Director
Allison Carr
Shelli Peters
Susan Soward
Kelly Doherty
Anne Phillips
Traci Wagner
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO Tim Frost, Video Editing
UT Tyler Program Printing
Texas State of Mind Coffee
WHS Vet Med Program
Little Caesar’s Pizza (King Gentry Pizza)
The Salon Professional Academy
WHS Cyber Squad
Kona Ice
Kiepersol
Nick Moss
WHS Cyber Squad
Fulmer’s Candy
Trent Kelly
Hollytree Country Club
Bahama Bucks
Alicia Sowell
Discovery Science Place
MPA Fireworks
The Rec
Whitehouse Flowers
Montez Creekside
Moss Flowers
Melissa Thibodeaux
Waterpark at the Villages
Replublic Services
Whitehouse Family Dentistry
Embroidery Design Tyler
THE GENESIS GROUP
INNOVATORS OF THE YEAR Hydroponic Farming $825.44 Cristy Lindsey
Higgins Elementary School
What We Funded: OPCOM Tabletop Hydroponic Grow Box, Adjustable LED lights, 100 hydroponic sponges for planting additional seeds, variety pack of vegetable seeds What It Does:
Students will acquire a love for gardening as they learn in a fun, hands-on way about structures and functions of plants. There’s also a hope that students will be willing to try fresh foods that they haven’t tried before because they had a hand in growing the food. Why It Matters: The purchase of a hydroponic farming system will make a difference in the education of WISD students by equipping them with necessary tools to grow their own food without the constraints of outdoor weather, watering, and space issues.
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THE GENESIS GROUP
INNOVATORS OF THE YEAR What Does My Brain Need? Move & Groove Sensory Lab $5,000.00 Joanne Saul, Bethanie Cody, Beverly Veilleux, Will Smith, Mallory Moore, Traci Taylor, Lannette Burlingame
Higgins Elementary School
What We Funded: Balance beam, spinner, hula hoops, cones, exercise mats, therapy balls, crawl tunnel, hopscotch carpet, bouncing board, sensory table, swing, sensory floor tiles and more
What It Does: This equipment provides students with special needs with personalized sensory input—helps these children calm and focus themselves so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others. Why It Matters: We want to ensure that we provide support and opportunities for our students with special needs to be successful. How successful our students are at understanding the world around them at each stage of development depends upon highly effective sensory experiences which will ultimately help our students reach their full developmental potential.
THE GENESIS GROUP
2021 INNOVATORS OF THE YEAR Co:Writer: A Window to Writing Opportunities $2,790.92 Katy Ybarra, Dena Mitchell, Amy Culpepper, Judy Yates, Cindy Swinney, Samantha Crow, Jana Parrish, Donna Emmons, Cheryl Cobayashi
District-Wide, Dyslexia
What We Funded: Co:Writer Universal (for Google Chrome and iOS) uses grammar-smart and vocabulary-smart word prediction, translation support, and speech recognition to help unstick ideas and get them to flow in writing. What It Does: Co:Writer is a differentiated assistive technology that can mean the difference between struggle and success. Co:Writer is the next-generation writing tool for that helps educators address a wide range of writing abilities from dyslexia and dysgraphia to English language learners.
Why It Matters: Co:Writer is an innovative opportunity that will equip students to apply their unique gifts and abilities to open the window to a world of writing possibilities. This difference making application will allow all Whitehouse ISD students the freedom to enhance their writing abilities. This tool will help all students freely express in writing their ideas and understanding of the content they are learning.
2021 GRANTS BROWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Liquid Tiles for All Subjects $779.96
Ashley Balkey, Kendra Nash These liquid tiles can be sued for learning numbers, letters, shapes, as well as for brain breaks and indoor recess. Kindergarten World Explorers $824.85
Megan Jones, Hayden Martin, Laura Scroggins, Karen Gandy, Allison Gilmour Orboot Augmented Reality Interactive Globes work with iPads to help students understand the world and make the connections to different cultures, environments and history. Hand2Mind: Daily Math Fluency Kits $1,189.90
Lindsey Schminkey, Trina Seelman, Elizabeth Dennis, Misty McCoy, Anna Chandler, Christine Workman, Melissa Tellez, Rhonda Proffer, Julie Miller, Amy Avants These math kits will allow students to build number sense for a better understanding of the 'why' for math. Weather Station $1,471.02
Trina Seelman
Students will use a weather vane, barometer, thermometer, and rain gauge to observe, collect, and record data in their science journals.
OSMOtastic Learning $504.00
Megan Jones
OSMO kits are coming to Kindergarten with new OSMO activities! Studens will be able to incorporate technology and hands-on learning at the same time with games like Pizza Co and Math Wizard. Mo’ Money, Mo’ Word Problems $1,004.41
Olivia Johnson, Sabrina Stewart, Kaitlyn Hernandez, Alicia Collier
First grade math centers are getting an upgrade so that word problems aren’t as big of a problem! These manipulatives will help students find new and creative ways to solve word problems. OSMO: Outstanding Students Mastering Obstacles $636.00
Ashley Balkey
These OSMO kits include lots to make learning fun and interactive. They include: tangram puzzles, number and word tiles, a drawing board, coding kit, sticks and rings to build letters. Closing the Gap with Vocabulary Visuals $486.13
Mallory McConnell
As students walk the hallways, they’ll find vocabulary picture cards for math, reading and science. This takes learning from the classroom to the hallway.
Brightening Our Future Through Play! $5,000
Megan Jones, Hayden Martin, Ashley Balkey, Abbey Kelley, Lindsey Schminkey
The Brown Farm is getting an upgrade! There will be a Chutes & Ladders Game, an alphabet snake and a 1-100 multiplication grid to play on during recess and maybe during class!
CAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “Breaking Out” of Traditional Learning $1,999.00
Laurie Rozell, Ashley Whitman
By solving clues and riddles with Breakout EDU boxes, students use higher order thinking skills and develop the portion of the brain that helps with creative problem solving. Learners also become effective communicators as they work together in a team to "breakout.” “STEAM”ing Up the Makerspace $4,068.02
Laurie Rozell, Danica Bielss, Megan Strickland The Makerspace is getting STEAMed up with 3D pens, Code and Go Mouse Robots, Squishy Circuits and Dough Kits and lots of Ozobot robots! These tools help students think out of the box and build confidence in taking risks to solve problems.
CAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (CONTINUED)
Shining a Light on Learning $2,213.19
STANTON-SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Sensational Science Table $688.39
This table that shines light from the bottom will make learning fun. Students will learn letters, numbers and writing while using the light table.
The Magic of Microscopes! $4,299.00
Terri Cassels, Jayanna Williams
This science table allows Pre-K to create a garden, a butterfly house, ladybug habitat, and lots more. It can also convert to a sand and water center. Learning in a Virtual World $3,464.00
Danica Bielss, Laurie Blain
These VR headsets allow students to be transported to far away oceans and countries, inside the human vascular system or to an era that is otherwise lost in a history book. Easy Assessments with ESGI $225.00
Sarah Mills
ESGI is an iPad-based assessment program that allows teachers to assess learning much faster and get back to teaching.
HIGGINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hydroponic Farming $825.94
Cristy Lindsey
This hydroponic system uses water and sponges to grow plants instead of soil. Students learn how to plant, grow and harvest tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and more! They also learn about plant structures and functions.
Ashley Poeschl, Becky Ulmen
What Does My Brain Need? Move & Groove Sensory Lab $5,000.00
Joanne Saul, Bethanie Cody, Beverly Veilleux, Will Smith, Mallory Moore, Traci Taylor, Lannette Burlingame
Angie Downs, Merritt Stewart, Tara James, Donetta Tramble Smart Microscopes can go anywhere and get a closer look at anything! Students can make discoveries about any object the class is studying and can take pictures or a video with sound to explain thinking. Crate-ing Confidence $1,727.34
A sensory motor lab addresses sensory processing needs for students in Special Education. This grant provides a balance beam, spinner, hula hoops, therapy balls, bean bags, crawl tunnel, hopscotch carpet, bouncing board, sensory table, swing and more!
Wendie Turner
The World Needs Science $1,754.95
Family is the Foundation $933.57
We know kids are curious! Young scientists will be able to investigate and explore the world around them with microscopes and balances.
These take-home bags partner siblings in an effort to close inequality gaps and strengthen family relationships. Older siblings will learn how to engage with younger siblings at home to reinforce learning reading and math.
Alice Marin
Students have the opportunity to join AfterSchool STEM Time where they’ll use creativity and problem-solving to build a project from a Kiwi Crate, such as a Robot Crawler, Drawbot or Mechanical Claw.
Michelle Hand, Laura Rackley
Train the Brain...We’ve Got the Beat $1,079.17
Kandi Tamez
Bal-A-Vis-X is a way to motivate and teach focus and self-confidence with exercises that use sandbags, racquetballs and a balance board to incorporate full body movement which results in sensory-motor-cognitive integration.
HOLLOWAY 6TH GRADE SCHOOL Step Into the Penalty Box $4,000.00
Holly Drain
The Penalty Box is a fitness product and workout program you can take anywhere, This is a unique and fun way to raise your heart rate while staying socially distanced from one another.
WHITEHOUSE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
WHITEHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT-WIDE
The Glowforge: Opening New Levels of Creativity $3,490.00
Face-to-Face Math = Virtual Math $1,794.48
Give Our Students A Voice $3,053.72
Wireless microphones will allow teachers to record crisp audio at their laptop from every point in the classroom. Document cameras will allow teachers to record lessons by connecting the cameras to the computer, focusing on documents and teaching materials quickly and clearly.
With the use of speech to text capabilities, students will be able to put their thoughts down on paper without worrying about the mechanics of our language or their handwriting. These headphones will allow them to access this accommodation, and write freely and expressively, drawing on their experiences like the rest of the students in their class.
Nick Goodson, William Ripley, Brent Jimmerson, Astrid Marcano
The Glowforge is a beginner-friendly, lowcost, laser cutter and engraver that allows the creation and manufacturing of just about anything, including plaques and acrylic awards. The Little Document Camera That Could $550.00
Lara Rodriguez, Breanna Lary, Christie Johnson, Maegan Kirby
OKIOCAMS are small, portable cameras that provide high quality recording and playback. When students are absent or struggling in math class, they will easily be able to review high quality videos to keep them on track. Printin’ Wildcats $5,000.00
Reagan Sheffield
From struggling learners to high achievers, every art student can learn printmaking with this equipment. This printmaking machine will be an awesome resource for students to tap into their artistic and entrepreneurial sides and learn how to value their art.
Traci Mayo, Shelley Beaumont, Daphne Bolay, Cooper Brenton, Shelby Brooks, Jared Roscoe Madeline Du Preez, Carolyn Kindle, Wendy Knight, Leah Landry, Travis Granberry
Wildcat CS Innovative Solutions $1,424.54
Garrett Jones
WildcatCS students will gain real world experience with mobile app development and will be able to design apps that provide innovative solutions to the needs of students and teachers of Whitehouse ISD and possibly even the great Whitehouse community. A Breath of Fresh Air $3,192.54
Reagan Sheffield
This grant provides an outdoor classwork area that would allow our students to take a much needed mask break. The classwork area will be located in the grassy area right outside the back of the building. The assembly of the benches and desks will be done by engineering students, along with Key Club members with assistance from the Rose City Kiwanis.
Amy Culpepper, Judy Yates, Jana Parrish, Cindy Swinney, Smantha Crow, Katy Ybarra, Cheryl Cobayashi, Donna Emmons, Amy Culpepper
Co:Writer: A Window to Writing Opportunities $2,790.92
Katy Ybarra, Dena Mitchell, Amy Culpepper, Judy Yates, Samantha Crow, Cindy Swinney, Jana Parrish, Cheryl Cobayashi
Co:Writer is a differentiated assistive technology that uses grammar and vocabulary-smart word prediction, language translation, and speech recognition to help students write out their thoughts without the restriction of their disability.
Wildcat Den has been a dream for about three years. Because of our generous donors, we were able to allocate funds for an inaugural Wildcat Den in July 2020. What's different about Wildcat Den?
• An abbreviated written application • An in-person presentation • A panel of judges with a Q&A after the presentation (think Shark Tank) • A decision for funding by the end of the evening Wildcat Den 2021 is off and running.
Applications opened in January and will be presented on March 27, 2021. More details will be shared via email.
Treat Yo’ Shelves $14,475.00
Wendie Turner, Laurie Rozell, Wendy Lindsey, Brianna Hulhouser, Kelci Meadows Stanton-Smith, Cain, Higgins, Brown , Holloway Faculty & staff look for students who exhibit traits that embody the Whitehouse ISD Portrait of a Graduate: responsible citizen, creative problem solver, effective communicator, self-directed learner, humble collaborator, adaptable, empathetic, and confident. These students are awarded a token to use in the machine to select a take-home book. Farm-to-Table Gardening, $5,925.00
Charity Etchelecu, Casey Treat, Joe Farmer, Samantha Longino, Jay Northcutt, Amanda Twedt
Whitehouse High School The "Farm to Table" project is a joint project between the agriculture science department and the culinary program at WHS. The potential of the project is exponential as it grows to impact other campuses and groups within the community. Funds will be used to purchase 17 large concrete raised bed gardens that can grow food and flowers.
Boosting Learning with Rocketbooks $2,130.36 Brianna Hulhouser, Katy Ybarra, Josh Dickerson, Tiffany McFadden, Natalie Rogers Holloway 6th Grade School Through the use of Rocketbooks, Beacons and Thinkboards, students are able to bridge the gap between home and school. From anywhere, students and parents can utilize teacher information, classroom collaboration, and student work, giving them the ability to revisit classroom content in order to anchor information into long-term memory.
Take Home Book Bags are STEAMing Up $898.15
Elizabeth Dennis Brown Elementary
Reading at home can make a huge difference for students. The funds allow five teachers to give 110 second graders one Take Home STEAM Book Bag each week to share with everyone in their household to learn together and create life-long readers. These book bags also provide a STEAM challenge for families to complete as a hands-on collaboration project.
Gardening with Pre-K $628.10
Ashley Balkey, Kendra Nash
Brown Elementary The grant provides raised gardening beds and the materials to plant . Pre-K students have the opportunity to plant vegetables and flowers in these beds to learn about life cycles, community service, basic needs, and to help with their physical development.
Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation
For their passion, dedication & consistency, Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation honors The Genesis Group with the inaugural Torchbearer Award.
OUR PARTNERS PATHFINDER The Genesis Group Whitehouse ISD Employee Giving
INITIATOR Azalea Orthopedics Cooperative Teachers Credit Union Drs. Lisa Kraus & Frank Cabell Betsy & Brian Feiden Jasper Ventures Northwestern Mutual Trane Technologies R2 Restaurants / Taco Bell
PIONEER Austin Bank Harris Craig Architects Jackson Construction Drs. Derek & Li-Yu Mitchell
INNOVATOR Bonnie & Tab Beall Brookshire Grocery Company Holly & Brian Conaway Pam & Ted Crabtree Butch Hall Hibbs-Hallmark & Co. Insurance
Iron Hill Little Caesars / Allison & Clinton Carr Jane & Patrick Moran Willa & Jim Nipp Oncor Anne & Jason Phillips Regions Bank Reuland & Barnhart Orthodontics Mr. & Mrs. Randall Robinson Laura & Scott Severt Maegan & Paul Schneider Southside Bank Dr. & Mrs. Shawn Thomas The Suzy & Rob Trimble Foundation Kim & Eddie Updike Leah & James Wansley
LEADER Bobbie & Phil Burks Ginger Cardwell Kelley & Allen Clarida Tammy & Joseph Conflitti Henry & Peters Julie & Howard Garb Karin Hopkins Lake Tyler Marina Micheal Lavender & Co. Nix Landscape Supply Betty & Larry Lough
Christa & Chris Moran* Sally Morton* Shelli & Richard Peters Lisa & Ron Schwartz* Stacey & Chris Sigwald Valerie Smith Remedy Intelligent Staffing Texas Best Pizza (Little Caesars) Amanda & Blake Watson Whitehouse Family Dentistry
MENTOR Ameri-Tex Anonymous Sharla & Billy Anderson Sandra & Cliff Boucher Ginger & Jeremy Brandt Melissa & Zack Briscoe Cooley Cosmetic Dentistry Julie & Adam Cook* Betsy & Jeremy Cyr Sarah & Scott Dillingham Elizabeth Groce* Griffith Law Office Georgia & Tony Harris Nanette & Steve Hutto Moss Concrete Stacey Noble*
*Whitehouse ISD employee
OUR PARTNERS MENTOR (continued) Tracy & Shawn Onley Cheyenne & John Payne Gena & Roy Morrison Open Arms Christian Church Suzanne Rice* State Farm Insurance, Chuck Osborn Traci & Sammy Wagner WP & Co. Sharyn Womble*
WILDCAT Pamela Adams* Shara Barry* Danica Bielss* Debra Black* Leslie Black Somer Bockover* Daphne Bolay* Crystal Brown* Monet Brown* Meredith & William Bryans Penny & Kevin Burdette Lannette Burlingame* Lisa Castle* Randee & Randy Cheatham Rebecca Clements* Colleen & Adam Colby Alica Collier*
Deborah Craigen* Melynda Cundieff* Maria & Joe Davenport Tim Dazey* Kelly Doherty Amy Drott* Jennifer & Chad Eckles Amanda Enright* Charity Etchelecu* Tammy Florey* Kara & John Fulmer Josh Garred* Jennifer Glaspie* Nick Goodson* Meredith Graves* Jennifer & Jason Grigsby Karla Haney* Anna Hodges* Tanya Hurst* Forrest Kaiser Michelle Kunkel* Tammy Larsen* Karen & James Lively Samantha Longino* Teresa Marion* Rachel & JJ Massey Bridgit & Miles McCrary Becky & AR Minkel John Nichols*
Jay Northcutt* Tara & Jeff Odell Nancy & John Ory Rickey Pearce* Ginger Pippin* William Ripley* Lorendia Roberston* Laurie Rozell* Johnnie Sheffield* Mary Skinner* Susan & Ryan Soward Christi & Jeff Sowell Robin Smith* Steve Smith* Joanna Stamps* Megan Strickland* Ernest Tilley* Erica Toole* Amanda Twedt* Kelley Vannatta* Kristina & Jeremy Wait Joetta Weaver* Patricia Whitesides* Leigh & Chase Wilson Katy Ybarra* Jaculyn Zigtema*
*Whitehouse ISD employee
OUR TEAM Our board of directors is comprised of a group of hardworking and dedicated volunteers, including WISD parents, community members and business owners. Each board member is assigned to at least one team: development, finance & governance, grants or marketing. In addition to monthly board meetings, each team meets monthly.
2020-21 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ginger Cardwell, President James Wansley, Past President Pam Crabtree, Development Maegan Schneider, Events Scott Dillingham, Grants Laura Severt, Finance & Governance Kelley Clarida, Marketing Anne Phillips, Secretary Cliff Boucher Ginger Brandt Zack Briscoe Allison Carr Colleen Colby Brian Feiden Kara Fulmer Tony Harris JJ Massey Miles McCrary Li-Yu Mitchell Chris Moran Roy Morrison Tara Odell Shawn Onley Shelli Peters Chris Sigwald Susan Soward Traci Wagner Amanda Watson Kristina Wait, Administrative Director
ABOUT US WHAT IS THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION? The Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises money to fund programs that transform the lives of Whitehouse ISD students. The Foundation is run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors from the Whitehouse ISD community. We are a separate legal entity from the Whitehouse ISD School District.
WHAT IS OUR VISION? Our vision is an engaged community where inspired educators and exceptional opportunities are available to all students.
WHAT IS OUR MISSION? Our mission is to connect our community to support, promote, and inspire educators by funding imaginative and creative opportunities in Whitehouse ISD.
HOW CAN YOU ADVOCATE FOR THE FOUNDATION? In addition to giving, there are many ways to join our cause and advocate for the Foundation. Partner with us by: sharing our mission with your circles, volunteering at a Foundation event, working a booth at a community festival, tagging us on Facebook, becoming a grant reader, sharing our calendar invites and more. Visit our website wisdef.org/involvement for more information.
$500,000 Since 2014, the Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation has awarded a HALF MILLION DOLLARS in district initiatives. We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of our passionate and consistent donors who make this possible. Even in a year of uncertainty, our donors have stepped forward to ensure creative and imaginative learning will continue for Whitehouse students.
$100,000 In the 2020-21school year, the Foundation awarded $100,000 to Whitehouse district initiatives. The bulk of this money was awarded on the day of Surprise Patrol in November. Once again, we were able to gift new teachers money for their classrooms. With the remaining $38,000, we’re excited for our second Wildcat Den in Spring 2021.
Whitehouse ISD Education Foundation 104 Hwy 110 N Whitehouse, Texas 75791 wisdef.org @WhitehouseEF 903.839.9950 ext.6176