tcrow@taylorisd.org Closing school because of a pandemic didn’t stop the Taylor Educational Enrichment (TEE) Foundation from celebrating the 2020 grant recipients in true Mallard Mania style.
Although the traditional parade through campus hallways with cheerleaders and a drumline was not possible this year, plenty of supporters joined foundation board members in a carline through the Main Street campus parking lot for a parade celebrating this year’s recipients.
“It was great seeing so many folks come out to celebrate our teachers and the innovative ideas they have to inspire learning,” said Karen Farley, TEE Foundation board member. “I really enjoyed watching the teachers’ faces light up as they recognized students and parents who were cheering them on.”
A highlight of Wednesday’s event was the celebratory noise from over forty cars that drove through the line with horns honking, noisemakers, cheering and loud music.
“My favorite part was seeing the signs, and the cars that had music blasting,” said Melissa Sanchez, TEE Foundation board member. “One car had the school song playing and I heard Celebration coming from another.”
Thirty-eight grants totaling $52,024.27 were awarded this year to staff members from TH Johnson Elementary, Naomi Pasemann Elementary, Main Street Intermediate, Taylor Middle School, Taylor Opportunity Center and Taylor High School. One of those grants went to THS color guard director Marcie Svatek, and TMS band director Brianna Perry, to start a guard program at the middle school next year.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have this opportunity to share ‘colorguarding’ with the kids at Taylor Middle School,” Svatek said. “Almost all of the larger schools in our area have an introductory guard prior to high school. Since our varsity guard competes with those well-established programs, it only seems prudent to introduce students to the basic skills at an earlier age. With this grant, many younger kids will have an opportunity that would not have been available otherwise.”
Five grants of $2,500 each were awarded to teachers at Pasemann Elementary to introduce Smart Boards into classrooms. According to Dr. George Willey, Chief Academic Officer, Smart Boards are a great way for teachers to replicate the various forms of technology that students will use in their future workplaces.
“Teachers see these devices as a means to enhance their classroom environments so that students can ultimately achieve at higher levels,” Willey said. “Smart Boards are a form of technology that place a greater emphasis on graphics than written text as a way to engage today's students who tend to be more visual learners. Interactive technology boards also are a great way to promote learning among students who are predominately tactile learners.”
Ashley Rush, a third grade teacher and a grant recipient, said the Smart Board technology will turn her classroom whiteboard into an interactive board.
“This will allow us to really involve the students in their own learning by giving them opportunities to come up and manipulate interactive lessons,” Rush said. “Students often learn quite a bit from their peers and this will give them the opportunity to also be the teacher.”
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the TEE Foundation. During that time a total of $252,909.70 has been awarded to support creative and innovative projects that are not funded by the regular campus budget. The foundation has also expanded during that time to offer three categories of grants. Duck Bucks assist with more immediate needs up to $250, Mallard Mania grants are for projects up to $2,500, and Game Changer grants fund projects up to $25,000.
Moppy Miller, TEE Foundation executive director, thanked the community for their generosity and for making these grants possible.
“This community is amazing, even through hard times,” Miller said. “Whenever we ask for help, they always come through.”
The TEE Foundation depends largely on proceeds from their annual Food Dudes event to fund grants. Next year’s Food Dudes will be held on January 30, 2021. To learn more about the TEE Foundation, or to make an online donation, please visit tayloreducationfoundation.com, or contact Moppy Miller at mmiller@taylorisd.org.
