The EPISD Education Foundation board surprised 20 teachers this fall with a little extra cash to do some innovative projects in their classroom this school year. 

Nearly $17,000 in Classroom Impact Grants was awarded for grants ranging from STEAM projects to fine arts, college readiness and career and technology. 

“The EPISD Education Foundation is proud to fund classroom grants to provide resources for our teachers to do special projects that make a difference in the education of our students,” said Russell Wiggs, foundation president.  “The look on the teachers’ faces when we call their name during our surprise visits is priceless. It makes it all worth it knowing we can make a difference even if it is small.” 

The EPISD Education Foundation awarded more than $160,000 back to EPISD in 2018 through scholarships for graduating seniors, classroom grants and campus grants. 

“It means a lot to us as teachers that we have supporters like the foundation that are here to help us to get,” said Sonja Quintero, an Irvin food science teacher. “It's a community. It takes a lot of all of us together to make kids successful. And so without this, it would be that much harder for all of us to be successful.” 

Quintero is one of the 20 teachers receiving grants this fall from the foundation. She’ll be using the funds to purchase materials for a food science project. Teachers can apply for a 2019 classroom grant for up to $1,000 beginning in March.

“I always try to find community resources and whatever I can, I get donations, but when there's grants like this available, it makes it so much nicer for a teacher just to request things,” Quintero said. “I know there's so many wonderful projects out there but a lot of teachers get discouraged because they don't have the supplies. This is a wonderful program to be able to tap into.”