On Tuesday, November 22nd, the Bullard Education Foundation awarded 21 innovative teaching grants to teachers, staff and students in Bullard ISD. The total amount of grant money was nearly $32,800. Every Bullard ISD campus received grant awards meaning the entire district student body will benefit from innovative teaching tools, resources and methods provided by these grants. “This is our third round of grant awards since the Foundation’s inception, and the excitement level at the campuses grows each year. This is yet another great day for the kids, teachers and staff in Bullard ISD,” stated Darren Davis, the Foundation’s President. Including this year’s total, the Bullard Education Foundation has awarded close to $100,000 in grants to the classroom in just 22 months.

The educational depth and range of the grants is far reaching. “From interactive learning carpets and technology tools to a sensory room for challenged students, to a scientific study of live corn snakes, to claymation i-movie design, and from children designing and publishing their own books, to the study of exercise and muscle tone on agricultural animals, Bullard ISD students will have the opportunity to experience innovative learning that would not be available otherwise,” continued Davis.

In order for a grant request to qualify for awarding, it must be innovative, researched, have significant impact on student learning, and not be eligible for normal district funding. Tisha White, the Foundation’s marketing director, stated, “Many times, teachers come up with a wonderful teaching idea or tool, but are faced with either paying for it out of pocket, or doing without. That’s where the Foundation steps in.”

**Click on images to view larger image and details of each grant awarded.**
Thanks to our donors, the Bullard Education Foundation as been able to 'Reach Every Campus' with grants awarded.  Our goal is to 'Reach Every Student'!

Amount Awarded: $1000.00 To: Diana Turner- High This grant will allow high school science students an alternative to learning objectives concerning genetics. The book Corn Snakes in Captivity will be used for research where four snakes will demonstrate the Mendelian Genetics.Small Animals/Real Life Amount Awarded: $2800.00 To: Monty Main(Ag Dept) This grant will allow students to compare and study effects of consistent exercise in developing both muscle tone and enhancing weight gain in market goats/lambs. Technology & Tutorials Amount Awarded: $4121.48 To: 1st Grade Team- Primary Summary: This grant allows for two Dolby Media Players to be used to provide students with extra help to be successful in academics, as well as Character Education. Teachers will utilize every moment of every day.iPads- Small Groups, Photos, & Facetime Amount Awarded: $4400.00 To: Kindergarten Team - Primary Summary: This grant will allow kindergarten teachers to purchase eight iPads for the K team. The iPads will be used to help students stay motivated, engaged and on task while learning.Letters & Shapes Carpet Amount Awarded: $539.35 To: Stacy Golden-Primary Summary: This grant will allow the purchase of a learning carpet in bright colors, letters, and shapes. This will help students identify letters, colors, shapes, and encourage the use of their imimagination.
Dancing with the Stars Amount Awarded: $1008.35 To: Lorree Green/5th Grade Science Dept.- Intermediate Summary: This grant will allow students to attend a presentation at the new Center for Earth and Space Science Education located at TJC and purchase an illuminated Earth/Moon Orbiter . Read, Write and Report Amount Awarded: $792.96 To: Sharla Rounsavall- Intermediate Summary: This grant will allow for the use of a book club where students can develop independent reading skills that will benefit them across all subject areas. Students will engage in critical discussions.Mixbooks Amount Awarded: $950.00 To: Angela Talley- Intermediate Summary: Allows for students to research topics, save facts and photos to design and publish their own books. A parent/community night will be held to show published books. Students will use technology and their own creativity.Science is Not Extinct Amount Awarded: $691.95 To: Bonnie Horrick- Intermediate Will allow all 6th grade students to use reference books & follow his/her natural interests by relating content to experienced that they know & understand. Learning Through Digital Media Amount Awarded: $1200.00 To: Georgia Hallford- Middle Will allow the purchase of two Nikon D3100 14.2 megapixel DSLR Cameras to be used daily by Multi-Media and Yearbook classes. This will promote digital media in the classroom.
Eyes on Education Amount Awarded: $3644.00 To: Donny Lee (Campus Grant)- Middle Will allow for the purchase of a Samsung 1630d Digital Recorder, Ganz Color Dome Cameras to have surveillance on all the campus. These “Eyes on Education” will be for students to know they are being watched/protected.Claymation/iMovie Amount Awarded: $578.41 To: Cheryl Conner- Middle Will allow students to express their creativity through digital story-telling. This will allow students to learn how to make a claymation or stop motion film, learn to use iMovie, and work as a team to produce group projects.iPads Amount Awarded: $998.00 To: Cecilee Walker- Elementary Allows purchase of 2 iPads. The learning styles and needs of young children require tactile, visual and auditory experiences. Young students need practice and repitition with many concepts that are part of reading and math.2 iPads 2 Amount Awarded: $999.98 To: Jennifer Carlile- Elementary This grant allow 2 iPads to be purchased and used for centers 4 times a week and for literacy activities that foster reading fluency and comprehension into the classroom. iPad Notebooks for Classroom Amount Awarded: $1000.00 To: Jana Wright- Elementary Allows for 2 iPads to be purchased. Students have different learning styles and needs and technology helps provide a diverse method for increasing students fluency and reading comprehension.
Video with More Great Pictures of the Fun We Had Giving out Grants!
Interactive Smartboard Games Amount Awarded: $3492.00 To: 3rd Grade Team Will allow all 3rd grade teachers to have interactive smartboard games in their classrooms. These games allow teachers to incorporate multimedia elements into lessons using demonstrations, making lessons more exciting.Real World Economy/iPads Amount Awarded: $1,000.00 To: Kimmy Watkins- Elementary Allows purchase of 2 iPads for real world math economy in the classroom. The iPads expose students to new innovative technology that they can actually use in real world situations.I Think, I Think, iPad Amount Awarded: $1,000.00 To: Angela Naumann- Elementary Summary: This grant allows purchase of 2 iPad2 tablets and engage learners through project-based learning. This will allow students to see learning in the hands of the learner. 2 iPads Amount Awarded: $999.98 To: Leigha Grundy- Elementary Allows purchase of 2 iPads for use in centers, reading instruction with emphasis on the struggling reader. iPads will eliminate flipping through books(distraction) while using earphones to capture attention on the activity at hand.Parent Power Amount Awarded: $672.00 To: Lisa Williams - Elementary Allows for a special parent training to be held at the Elementary School. Parents and students will rotate through stations concerning STAAR information, math strategies, reading strategies, reading strategies and pizza!
A Real Sensory Room Amount Awarded: $902.00 To: Stacey Thomas- Elementary Will help complete a sensory room design. Room will include visual input and lighting, vestibular input, smell (olfactory), taste, proprioception(pressure, tactile and auditory).