It is the holiday season – and members of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation were in a giving mood recently. 

The Foundation’s “Dream Makers Caravan” surprised many teachers throughout the district as they visited classrooms and presented grants to the educators for various instructional resources. Nineteen grants totaling $73,911 were presented to teachers at all grade levels. 

“This is one of the most fun things that we do during the year,” said Herman Williams, Foundation board member. “When you see the faces of the kids and teachers light up when we surprise them with these grants, it is a great feeling.” 

Below is a list of the schools and teachers that received grants, as well as a summary of the instructional projects that will be funded. 

De Zavala Middle School - $4,990
Recipients: Toni Decman, Laura Quisenberry

The incorporation of the GATEWAYS Science program will provide measurable support to teachers and students in boosting achievement in science vocabulary and comprehension.  Additionally, the program is structured to add relevant, exciting laboratory skills for student motivation. 

Dobie High School - $3,168
Recipients: Sherrie Kent, Debra Kersman, Eileen O’Connor, Amy Crowder
 
Airbrush technology will be a useful aid in promoting technology and help us meet our curriculum guidelines. Teaching students a variety of different art techniques such as airbrushing allows the ability to compete at a higher level versus not only neighboring districts but also the opportunity to excel at state level competitions. Using technology in the classroom is another way for to keep “at risk” students interested in learning art.  The techniques learned in class become a foundation for future careers in graphic design and paint and body. 

Fisher Elementary - $4,973
Recipients: Stacie Van Loenen

The Success for All program will help build fluency and comprehension through the use of a literacy lab.  The goal is to have a wide variety of books that encompass core content areas such as math, science, and social studies. In addition to tapping into the child’s interest, the hope is to enhance each child’s writing, listening, speaking, and thinking abilities. 

Genoa Elementary - $5,000
Recipients: Jamie C. Murray, Eddie Gonzales, Silvia Cisneros, Brenda Villegas, Cameron Dobson, Joanne Whitley, Karen Lusby, Veronica Lopez, Rachelle Lopez, Lee Boler, Roxana Collazo, Mary Richardson, Mario Garza, Debbie Blair

This grant will supplement the school’s dual language guided reading library. Where the previous focus was on leveled science readers, this focus will be on leveled math readers with real world connections, as well as Stuart J. Murphy books which the teachers will be able to utilize for read alouds and the implementations of hands on math activities. 

Guidance Center - $868
Recipients: Traci Rogers, Veronica Saldana, Becky Mills, Cynthia Mills, Diana Wolfe, Karen Harris, Jamie Boren, Val McQuade, Jean Koch, Ann Taylor

In addition to assisting Guidance Center students with home campus assignments, direct instruction is provided that is aligned with the English Language Arts curricula.  With the purchase of suggested books, teachers can teach the various traits of writing in 30-minute increments. 

Jensen Elementary - $4,600
Recipients: Hillary Stout, Julie Scott, Antonio Avalos, Jessica Owens, Olga Galindo

 “ACTIVE Science” is a proposal to increase student interest in Science and Technology with the use of an ACTIVBoard.  This ACTIVBoard will be placed in our school’s science lab and available for all of the students and teachers on campus to utilize.  This cutting-edge technology would immerse the students and extend their learning by enhancing their critical thinking skills in science. 

Mae Smythe Elementary - $3,941
Recipients: Shandar Hobbs, Adriana Esparza, Patricia Moore

Science Solution is a proposal to completely integrate the science curriculum into three main components of the balanced Literacy Framework.  This would enable second and third grade teachers to completely immerse students into meaningful Science experiences and help them make connections across the curriculum through reading, writing and math activities. 

Meador Elementary - $5,000
Recipients: Michael Barton, Diane Patterson

The Waterford Early Learning Program delivers digital instruction that individualizes learning for Pre-Kindergarten through second grade students. It has a placement tool that can assess each student to determine the right starting point.  Waterford provides real-time data on student activities. 

Meador Elementary - $770
Recipient: Mary Christine Browning

ESTRELLITA is an accelerated, systematic, explicit phonics program.  At the kindergarten level, the program will be used throughout the school year, with many children learning to read midway through the year and more than 2/3 of the class able to read by the end of the year. 

Memorial High School - $5,000
Recipients: Alexander S. Graham, David White, Jane Dickerson, Mandy Snelson, Kristi White, Julie Knight, Paul Trahan, Deah Chamberlain, Lindsey Vanover

The grant will be used to expand the impact of integrated science projects, which include biodiesel, astronomy, robotics and optics projects. The focus will be to train our students to conduct research and development in alternative energy science.  These projects allow students to explore resources and experts from science, engineering, and related and applied fields to expose our students to career-based objectives, while taking the opportunity to educate community members and businesses about the district’s programs. 

Park View Intermediate - $5,000
Recipients: Rob Hasson, Jamie Lusk, Synamon High, Alfred Padron

The purpose of “Cowboy University” is to create thematic mini-sessions designed to teach at-risk students life lessons and practices beyond the school day.  The program will include six theme programs utilizing various experts from the school and community to teach and expose students to real world lessons and applications that integrate mathematics, art, social studies, music, and science. 

Parks Elementary - $5,000
Recipients: Mickey Key, Pam Aaron, Mary Owens, Teresa Jackson, Priscilla Holton, Maria Trevino, Courtney Merilatt, Catherine Pleasants, Diana Tovar

Bookaroo’s Reading Roundup addresses the need for increased reading practice, reading comprehension, and vocabulary empowerment for students.  Students would have access to hundreds of Accelerated Reader leveled fiction and nonfiction books for reading, vocabulary and literacy skills practice.  These books would enhance the upgraded Accelerated Reader Program which has a parental involvement component which links the school to home via the Internet. 

Red Bluff Elementary - $1,543
Recipients: Kathy Pavlik, Cathy Kelly, Beatriz Torres, Adriana Aguilera, Ericelda Covarubbias

 “Experience the Learning” will give students the opportunity to experience subjects learned about in the classrooms.  These experiences will include hands-on learning from the Houston Zoo about animals and insects through “Critter Coverage” and “Bugs on Wheels.”  They will soar through the Solar System with the Museum’s Discovery Dome.  Rhyme will come alive with a visit from Mother Goose.  Students will also experience a Life Cycle of a Butterfly and watch seeds grow. 

Shaw Middle School - $4,965
Recipients: Christi Thompson, Mollie Whistler, Bernice Cedillo, Cristy Smith, Letisia Ramirez, Veronica Rivera, Andrea Beerwinkle, Brian Levison, Blanca Gonzales

Lexia Reading V5 provides practice in the five components of reading and its design is consistent with current research suggesting that students who struggle with reading benefit from systematic and explicit practice opportunities

South Houston Elementary - $1,595
Recipients: Cindy Garcia, Star Garza, Jennifer Delpap, Angela Suarez, Carrie Blanco, Brittney Bryant

This grant includes one set of Activotes for the school’s third grade team and third/fourth grade Deaf Education students to share.  Activotes are wireless voting devices that interact with Promethean boards.  Students may press A, B, C, or D to answer a question.  Their vote is automatically tabulated and displayed on the board.  The teacher can see the number and percentage of correct answers.  The teacher will use Activotes as an instant evaluation tool for the class or small group.  Activotes will keep students actively engaged and encourage participation.  Acivotes will facilitate the integration of technology into the regular curriculum. 

South Houston High - $2,684
Recipients: Vi Nguyen

Qwizdom’s ReadySet Curriculum is an innovative, interactive teaching tool that will help stimulate and motivate students in Biology class.  This project involves utilizing the Qwizdom ReadySet Curriculum software to provide interactive learning opportunities, immediate feedback for both the students and the teacher and for class unit assessments. 

Summit - $5,000
Recipients: Charles Emich, Marcy Bieber, Robert DeWolfe

The purpose of this grant is to increase the interest and awareness of students at risk in math and its related applications.  This lab will increase students’ standardized test scores and math grades giving them the skills in math to be competitive in math courses when they return to their home campuses.  By using this teaching strategy, students will increase their knowledge of the relationship between math and technology.  This will enable students to pursue the study of math and its applications throughout their academic lives. 

Thompson Intermediate - $4,928
Recipients: Martha Weatherford, Susie Haas, Felicia Petit, Carol Waters, Jennifer Guerrero, Holly Bailey

Thompson Intermediate is seeking assistance in updating our science curriculum with the use of graphing calculators attached to lab pro interfaces.  Students need to master the use of technology in real world experiences.  Seventh and eighth grade science students will be trained to use TI 84 Graphing calculators and software to better prepare them for more advanced lab applications in high school and beyond. 

Williams Elementary - $4,886
Recipients: Sandra Burrough, Rhoda Mohr, Linda Flores, Wendy Wiseburn

Read Naturally is a reading fluency tool that uses recorded, leveled, non-fiction passages to build these skills with both English and Spanish speakers.  The branching capability available with this computer –generated intervention program allows the individual student to further develop his/her reading skills while gaining personal confidence as a reader.