The Frisco Education Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary by awarding over $81,000 in educator grants — and the morning of these surprise deliveries was as joyful as ever.

At Clark Middle School, $3,000 will go toward starting a house system for future-ready learners.

At Riddle Elementary School, $3,500 pays for a class set of tabanos for drum club, drum circles and creative engagement.

Grants went to Emerson High for thermal cameras for a science classroom; to Wilkinson Middle for headphones for a world languages class; and to Staley Middle for college visits for AVID students. Thanks to these grants, the Rogers Elementary library can make over their nonfiction section; Vandeventer Middle can install a schoolwide garden for hands-on learning; and Talley Elementary will furnish every class with sensory items to support student self-regulation.

That’s just a sample of the Grants for Great Ideas awarded this fall by the Frisco Education Foundation. Access a complete list of the winners.

This year, the foundation gave away over $81,000 for special program supplies, learning opportunities and classroom materials. That number represents 52 grants awarded across 32 FISD schools, with 52 educators and 14 co-applicants receiving funds. One District-wide grant was also awarded.

Grants are made possible thanks to Frisco ISD payroll contributions, CoServ, the Frisco Women’s League, the Stacy Simmons Memorial Teacher Grant Endowment and other community partners. Since 1999, 830 grants have been awarded, for a total of more than $1.24 million. 

“Seeing the joy these grants bring educators, there’s nothing like it,” said Ashley Sine, director of the Frisco Education Foundation and community relations. “These grants allow the Frisco ISD community to directly support educators by providing resources that make a meaningful difference in students’ education and growth.”

The Frisco Education Foundation is a 510(c)(3) nonprofit. Its mission is to provide financial resources to maximize student potential in FISD through educational programs, student scholarships and grants for innovative educators.

“FEF grants are helping FISD educators transform their ideas into impactful realities,” said Terri West, program specialist with the Frisco Education Foundation. To support foundation initiatives such as Grants for Great Ideas, donate to the Frisco Education Foundation.

Coming up

FEF scholarships: The application opens for the Class of 2025 at 10 a.m. Dec. 3, and it closes at 4 p.m. Dec. 20.

Mindbender Camp: A STEAM camp for incoming FISD sixth, seventh and eighth graders will be in June 2025. Registration opens at 7 a.m. March 28, 2025.

More information can be found on the FEF website. Congratulations to all of the 2024-25 grant recipients!

Elementary school grant recipients

• Callie Sanders, Bright Elementary School

• Angelina Booth, Carroll Elementary School

• Susanna Tarpley, Christie Elementary School

• Kimberly Wheelock, Christie Elementary School

• Ashley Schober, Corbell Elementary School

• Kristine Seale, Michelle Chapa and Amy Hicks, Corbell and Newman elementary schools

• Kimberly Minn, Gunstream and McSpedden elementary schools

• Lisa Hockenberry, Hosp Elementary School

• Misty Lewin, Liscano and Minett elementary schools

• Melinda Hubert, Minett Elementary School

• Gwendolyn Badura and Jamie Peel, Newman Elementary School

• Ruchi Jain, Norris Elementary School

• Amy Grieser, Riddle Elementary School

• Angela Landers, Riddle Elementary School

• Christopher Mapp, Riddle Elementary School

• Rachel Sartor, Melissa Biscamp and Christina Hopkins, Robertson Elementary School

• Judy Steen, Rogers Elementary School

• Kimberly Near (2 grants), Shawnee Trail Elementary School

• Kelly Straub, Shawnee Trail Elementary School

• Lucy Towle, Tadlock Elementary School

• Julie Mesina, Talley Elementary School

• Mackenzie Nadeau, Talley Elementary School

• Sally Pyun and Susan Pickrel, Talley Elementary School

Middle school grant recipients

• Melanie Leonardo, Clark Middle School

• Vanessa Rivas, Clark Middle School

• Frances Baker, Cobb and Griffin middle schools

• Samantha Tuttle, Pearson Middle School

• Jennifer Gumm and Dara Bender, Scoggins Middle School

• Kaysi Manuel and Blake Wright, Stafford Middle School

• Kris Majority, Staley Middle School

• Angela Sterling and Eric Rivas, Staley Middle School

• Kelli Anderson and Kelly Bailey, Vandeventer Middle School

• Micki Friedman and Celeste Hanvey, Vandeventer Middle School

• Heidi Teeling, Vandeventer Middle School

• Katrina Mcguire, Wilkinson Middle School

• Gloria Pienaar, Wilkinson Middle School

• Kelli Tenant, Wilkinson Middle School

• Sarah Fromhold, Wortham Intermediate School

High school grant recipients

• Julie Martin and Lauren O'Brien, Centennial High School

• Peili Ho, CTE Center

• Kelly Crossman, Emerson High School

• Kayleigh Hoyt, Emerson High School

• Giulia Tolar, Emerson High School

• Lisa Custer, Frisco High School

• Yazmin Encino, Independence High School

• Maddie Powell, Wakeland High School

• Cathy Toups and Paul Andrews, Wakeland High School

Districtwide and special programs grants

• Heather Mayfield and Elma Montenegro, Counseling Department

• Kathy Knesek (two grants), Early Childhood Center

• Jessica Lee, Early Childhood Center

A full list of recipients and their programs can be found online.