Silsbee Education Foundation Awards Nearly $24,000 in Grants to SISD Teachers

September 6, 2024 – It was a day of celebration for educators across Silsbee Independent School District (SISD) as the Silsbee Education Foundation (SEF) awarded nearly $24,000 in grants to 15 teachers. These grants, part of the "Grants for Great Ideas" program, are designed to inspire and support innovative and creative instructional approaches, promoting educational excellence within SISD.

The foundation emphasizes that the goal of these grants is to bring teachers’ visions for their students to life.

“We’re thrilled to be able to award these innovative teaching grants to our hardworking educators,” said Rachel Donalson, SEF President. “They put so much heart into what they do, and it’s exciting to help bring their ideas to life for our students.”

The SEF awards grants to individual teachers, campus teams, departments, or grade-level initiatives. These grants provide funding for materials and activities that support higher levels of student academic achievement, aligning with both campus and district improvement plans.

2024 Grant Recipients and Projects:

Laura Reeves Primary:

• Tonya Foster – C.A.R.E.: Calm and Relaxing Experience

• Jenny Theriot & Theresa Marble – Making Learning Fun, One Center at a Time

• Lauren Sangwin – Brain Bins: Implementing Interactive Learning

• Juliana Valencia – Flexible Seating

• Minta Lankford – Sensory Wall/Toys “Fidgets”

• Denita Miller – Light it Up and Increase Student Engagement with Sensory Accommodations

Silsbee Elementary:

• Marla Scoggins & Dominique West – Decoding and the Struggling Reader

• Lacy Castolenia – We Have Problem-Solving on the Brain

• Christina Kirkendall – S’more Connections: Bridging Language Gaps for Family Engagement

• Blair Hughes – Breaking Barriers

Edwards-Johnson Memorial Silsbee Middle School:

• Louis Ellis – Technologically Sound Music Instruction

Silsbee High School:

• Heather Wiggins – Simulation-Based Learning: No Longer an Add-On in Secondary Education

• Michelle Weichert – Don’t Let it Go (to Waste): A Journey into Freeze Drying

• Courtney Champagne – Petaling Business: Integrating Advanced Technology in Floral Enterprise

Donalson expressed her gratitude for those who made these grants possible. “A huge thank you to our sponsors and everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts—you are the reason we can continue empowering our teachers to pursue innovative ideas.”

These grants not only fuel the creativity of SISD educators but also directly impact the students, offering them unique and engaging learning experiences. The Silsbee Education Foundation’s commitment to supporting innovative teaching continues to strengthen the connection between the district, its teachers, and the community.