Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) is excited to announce the 2025-2026 J. Landon Short Mini Grants for Educators Winners!

For 36 years, SBISD has conducted a Mini Grants for Educators program. Over twenty years ago, the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation created a permanent program endowment in memory of J. Landon Short, a lifelong education advocate and SBISD patron. This year, SBISD educators submitted 67 applications! Each application was reviewed by at least two members of a review committee of SBISD staff and program sponsors, using a blind judging process.

Congratulations to our highest scoring 47 applications submitted by educators from 26 SBISD campuses! Thank you to our partners whose generous funding of more than $26,000 made these mini grants possible! We so appreciate our partners’ support of educators and innovation in SBISD! #CollectiveGreatness!

Please join us in congratulating these Mini Grant winners.

---

Bear Boulevard

• Sharon Mills
  Creating a Space of Wonder and Creativity for PreK3

---

Bunker Hill Elementary

• Melissa McMillan
  Dissection and Terrariums in 4th Grade

• Brittany Sanders
  Virtual Bridges: Building Social-Emotional Skills through VR

---

Guthrie Center

• Yolanda Matthews-Porter (n/a)
  Get Wiggy With It

• LJ Garfield with Cameron Brantley
  The Future of Medicine: Incorporating Higher Order Thinking Technology into Health Sciences Training

• Nakhestcia Franklin
  Dressed for Success: Culinary Practicum Uniform Project

---

Hollibrook Elementary

• Susana Salazar with Maria Jaimes
  The "Drama" Hive

---

Hunters Creek Elementary

• Maggi Cummings
  Printing with Gelli plates: Exploring a New Media

---

Landrum Middle School

• Jacqueline Valore
  Landrum Art Car

• Aileecia Ceaser with Hildamari Marin-Mendez
  CAMERAS FOR YEARBOOK

• Erika Mathre
  A Seat at the Table: Creating Space for Every Learner

• Sofia Guerrero
  Designing for Differentiation: Furniture to Foster Focused Learning

---

Lion Lane

• Kristen Nehring with Sara Allen
  Speaking Through Science: Developing Oral Language in English Language Learners Through Science Exploration

---

Meadow Wood Elementary

• Kate Zuelke
  Social Emotional Regulation

---

Memorial Drive Elementary

• Lisa Tran
  Math Magic: Engaging Minds & Critical Thinking Through Games in the Math Class

---

Northbrook High School

• Christopher McVay with Lauren Mohan
  Building Nature – Observing Our World Through Sculpture

• Jose Davila
  All Hands On in Aquatic Science

• Silverio Sierra
  Connecting with Numbers

---

Nottingham Elementary

• Paula Spaulding with Damesha Strain & Elida Chavez
  Garden of Possibilities

---

Pine Shadows Elementary

• Ashley Fung
  Reading is Golden!

---

Rummel Creek Elementary

• Michelle Rincon
  The Story Nook

• Madison Schleinschok
  Listen, Learn, and Grow

• Julie Raley
  Little Minds, BIG Math!

• Sara Lufburrow (NA)
  Sound Building and Word Chaining Kit for Intervention

• Mary (Maggie) Little
  Story Ears

---

Spring Branch Academic Institute (SBAI)

• Teresa Dolan with Kristi Dina
  Soaring with STEM: Coding Takes Flight

• Catherine Wood-Sponsel with Nakhestcia Franklin (Guthrie Center)
  Who Is Coming to Dinner? The Founding Fathers!

---

Spring Forest Middle

• LaQonia Hines
  Art Teacher

---

Spring Oaks Middle

• Brenna Rogers (N/A)
  Wheels of Imagination

• James Otey
  Capturing Our Story: Student Photography for the Yearbook

• Jacob Barton
  Roots of Growth: A Therapeutic Classroom Garden

• Andy Nguyen with Chloe Harbuck
  In-Tune for Success

---

Spring Woods High School

• Amanda Redmon
  Beyond the Textbook: Real-World Accounting in Action

• Joshua Ault
  Regit Production

---

Spring Woods Middle

• Megan Lopez
  Taking the Stage!

---

Stratford High School

• Bill Dooley with Sofia Vachtsevanou
  Game On: Building Literacy Skills of Emergent Bilinguals Through Board Games

---

Terrace Elementary

• Madison Courts with Brooke Bramlett & Gabriella Tennon
  Positive Choices, Positive Rewards

• Karina Almanza
  Conversations About Conservation

---

Thornwood Elementary

• Brenda Roman with Caroline Moren, Joanne Lim, Stephanie Pineda
  Odyssey of the Mind – Leveling Up!

• Azuka Ifezue
  Enhancing Counseling Communication Through Visual Artifacts

---

Tiger Trail

• Amanda Sierra with Myrna DeLeon
  Learning Beyond Walls: An Outdoor Play Initiative

• Tanya Weiss with Olivia McAndrew
  Sensory Oasis: A Calming Corner for Special Education Students

---

Westchester Academy for International Studies

• Alice Dunlap with Lisa Unger
  It's as Easy as Pie!

• Elizabeth Heil with Tim Casey
  Champions' League

---

Westwood Elementary

• Leslie Marquez
  Literacy Matters: From Sounds to Stories and Every Word in Between

---

Wilchester Elementary

• Stephanie Walton with Christopher Yancey (Band Director, SHS)
  Performance Pathways from Elementary to High School

---

Wildcat Way

• Erin Dahman with Megan Hilfer, Taylor Morris, Beatriz Chapa, Kristen Clark, Lindsey Kardani
  Play to Learn: Enhancing Pre-K Creativity Through Dramatic Play