Spring Branch ISD Featured News

J. Landon Short Mini Grant funds help Spring Branch ISD teachers create mind-opening experiences for students

October 24, 2023 12:00 PM

Educators across Spring Branch ISD are dedicated to elevating students' learning experiences, and programs like the J. Landon Short Mini Grant for Educators have allowed teachers to engage students in innovative activities that expand their Limitless Curiosity.

For 34 years, SBISD has conducted a Mini Grants for Educators program. Over 20 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 75 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 43 applications submitted by educators from 30 SBISD campuses! Thanks to the generous support of program sponsors First Community Credit Union, Spring Branch Education Foundation, Spring Branch Management District and interest from the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation endowment for the nearly $27,000 that made these mini grants possible.

Some exciting initiatives that were funded by the J. Landon Short Mini Grant for Educators program include:

Lighting Up Our Minds, Kathryn Wolf and Elizabeth Peltier from Bunker Hill Elementary,
sponsored by First Community Credit Union

Urban Design through 3D Printing, Xavier Martinez and Fuad Loutfi from the Guthrie Center,
sponsored by Spring Branch Management District

Teen Leadership Campus Beautification Service Project, Tiffany Blackwell and Joshua Hopper
from Spring Woods Middle School,
sponsored by the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF)

Congratulations to all the recipients!

Registered Dental Assistant Licenses and Fingerprinting, Angelique Sanchez from Career & Technical Education
Bringing Stories to Life, Vicente Hernandez and Estela Aguirre from the Bear Boulevard School
Handy Talker, Delyar Pace from Bendwood Elementary
The Discovery Dome, Violeta Ortega, Carolyn Serena, Dr. Molly Nipper and Ashley Kopczynski from Bendwood Elementary
Brain Bins, Nancy Mejia, Cristina Vazquez, Mary Torres and Lan Dang from Buffalo Creek Elementary
Lighting Up Our Minds, Kathryn Wolf and Elizabeth Peltier from Bunker Hill Elementary
Grade 3-5 Newcomer/EB Decodable Library, Kimberly Hare and Debbie Agudelo from Cedar Brook Elementary
The Student Support Center: A Safe Space to Reduce Anxiety and Stress, Ashley Perry from Cornerstone Academy
Teaching Urban Design through 3D Printing, Xavier Martinez and Fuad Loutfi from the Guthrie Center
"The More We Play Together": Teaching Children The Importance of Altruism Through Music, Ananias Waters from Hollibrook Elementary
Campus Student Support Reward System, Ligia Ortega and the Campus Culture Task Force (Andrea Buck, Ashley Allen, Sara Shelton, Stacey Painter, Denise Chacon, Heather Tapley, Bridget Connolly, Kelli Chesebro, Beatrice Chase, Courtney Cullever and Johennie Mendez) from Housman Elementary School
Document Camera For Art Class, Nibu Abraham from Landrum Middle School
Today we are Readers, Tomorrow we are Leaders, Amber Cossette from Landrum Middle School
Future Engineers Making a Difference in Makerspace, Marianela Amaya and Rocio Solis Norsse from the Lion Lane School
Voice and Choice, Kyla Raygor and Lindsey Copp from the Lion Lane School
Let Them '3D Print' Cake!, Ruthelen Robinson from Northbrook High School
Holocaust Collage, Jorge Dominguez and Stefanie Guzman from Northbrook Middle School
Growth Goal Celebrations, Becky Hagan, Kimberly Muckridge, Kym Soto and Rebecca New from Nottingham Elementary
Music Composition, Briana Selman from Pine Shadows Elementary
Living Organisms, Veronica Hinojosa-Gonzalez from Pine Shadows Elementary
STEM Girls Day, Julia Rodriguez and Karen Rodriguez from Ridgecrest Elementary
Prints-a-Palooza, Amy Schmidt from Ridgecrest Elementary School
Calming Cart, Julie Raley from Rummel Creek Elementary
To Infinity and Beyond!, Courtney Jett, Alicia Doffing, Nayan Patel, Jamie Flint, Rebecca Royall and Pradip Srivastava from the SBISD Science Department
Building Problem-Solving Skills, Makayla Schenkel from Sherwood Elementary
Revive SBISD Sandcastle Competition, Becky Mustachio from Spring Forest Middle School and Christopher McVay from Northbrook High School
Growing Minds: Cooperation and Health Through Gardening, Shawna Dykes and Sara Cestero from Spring Shadows Elementary
Teen Leadership Campus Beautification Service Project, Tiffany Blackwell and Joshua Hopper from Spring Woods Middle School
Percussion Consumables, Ian Clause from Stratford High
Bringing Print to Life, Sara Boyle and Megan Wolf from Stratford High
Girls STEM Day at the University of Texas at Austin, Maria Fernanda Valdez, Emily Wiltcher, Alaina Weidman and Diamond Barbosa from Thornwood Elementary
Odyssey of the Mind - Joining the Adventure, Krystal Austin, Stephanie Pineda and Brenda Roman from Thornwood Elementary
Bilingual Family Night, Brenda Roman from Thornwood Elementary
Home Library Project, Amanda Ruiz and Sarah Vier from the Tiger Trail School
Superflex Superthinkers!, Clarissa Buitureira and Luisen Fernandez from Treasure Forest Elementary
Can you say it!, Arline Clark from Treasure Forest Elementary
Make Me a Mosaic--Rubik's Style, Stephanie Walton from Wilchester Elementary
Counting Collections in Kindergarten, Violet Gollapalli, Mariela Montoya, Marjorie Pedone, Nicole Hand and Theresa Trevino from Woodview Elementary
Level UP!, Ivonne Davis and Lourdes Perales from Woodview Elementary
Building Bright Minds through Play-Based Centers, Crystal Cordova and Laura Ramirez from the Zebra Zone School

Visit the J. Landon Short Mini Grant for Educators site for more information about the program.
If you would like to become a mini grant sponsor, please contact Community Engagement at partner@springbranchisd.com.