Prize Patrol storms AISD campuses

ANAHUAC— The halls of Anahuac Independent School District schools were alive with drums and cheers last Monday as Anahuac ISD Education Foundation paraded down the halls with the high school band and cheerleaders handing out seven grants to teachers.

On April 28, the foundation conducted its Prize Patrol, where board members awarded a total of $25,960.48 to teachers across the district.

"This day is special because it's a culmination of all our hard work through the year.  Awarding these grants is the reason we do what we do," foundation President Hannah Vaughan and Director of Special Program Stacey King said in a joint statement.

Some of the grants are memorial grants, where families donate to the foundation in honor of their lost loved ones.

"The memorial grants hold a special place in our hearts because they commemorate the years of service and love that these individuals had for Anahuac ISD," Vaughan and King said.  "We are so honored that these families have chosen to memorialize their family members through furthering the education of Anahuac ISD students."

Makayla Martinez, teacher at Anahuac High School, will use the Dr. Jack and Clara "Rip" Whitehead Memorial Grant to purchase veterinary science kits for students to learn how to handle animals for examinations and grooming.

Jack was a veterinarian from Smith Point and Rip was a nurse who taught health courses through the middle school's physical education program.

Each year, Jann Whitehead Randle donates to the foundation in honor of her parents, the Whiteheads. In addition to the memorial grants, Randle provided scholarships to four seniors this school year.

Garrett Lane, AHS teacher, will use the Keith "Cowboy" Jannise Memorial Grant for a welding booth project.

Lane works with about 80 students, teaching them welding and similar skills. The students earn certifications and complete projects for locals to prepare them for the workforce.

In March, five of Lane's students received blue ribbons at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for their ag mechanics projects.

"I know of several of his students that have gone to Lamar Tech and received CTE degrees and utilized their skills in companies such as Exxon," foundation Executive Director Julia Hall said.

Brittany Cardone, AHS athletic trainer and teacher, received a Whitehead Memorial grant for health/science sports medicine assessments.

Cardone will use the grant to go towards purchasing a shoulder for her classroom to teach treatments for varying injuries. Last year, Cardone purchased a knee.

"The kids have said it has made learning so real," Hall said.

Kaitlyn Bennett, Anahuac Middle School teacher and AHS debate coach, received a grant to go towards speech and debate. Bennett was awarded a grant last year, which she used for the UIL debate competition.

The debate team recently competed at the regional level and advanced to the state level, which will be held in Austin on May 19. Tina and Tammy Ly, AHS students, will head to the national competition in Iowa.

"I've learned that speech and debate is a resource game, and the big schools win that game because they have more money than we do," Bennett said. "This grant has been able to, or at least attempt to, put us on a level playing field with those bigger schools and give them opportunities to compete."

Ashley De La Cruz, Anahuac Elementary School teacher, received a grant for a Family STEM Night.

"Being a recipient of the Education Foundation Grant has given me the opportunity to expose my students and now my entire campus to new learning opportunities through STEM activities," De La Cruz said. "My goal is to bring parents and students together through hands-on learning experiences with a Family STEM Night this upcoming Fall!"

AES teachers Sammi Meyers, Emily Bogue and Erin Rodriguez were awarded for their "Make Science Great Again" grant. The teachers will focus on hands-on materials to promote engagement and for a deeper understanding of materials.

Jessica Weaver, Anahuac Primary School teacher, received the AISD Alumni and Staff Memorial Grant. The grant honors Paul Rice, alumni and principal; Bob Perry, alumni, coach, athletic director and principal; Paul Petkovsek, teacher, assistant principal and principal; and T-John Borne, alumni and coach.

The "Learning to Play and Playing to Learn" grant will focus on developmental growth and learning behaviors to create a solid foundation for the young students to help them succeed as they continue in their school careers.

"Playing is such an important skill for our Pre-K students to learn," Weaver said. "It helps stimulate cognitive growth, physical development and social-emotional skills."

Weaver said she will use the grant to purchase items for the collaboration area for all Pre-K students to use in addition to classroom items she plans to share with other teachers.

Items in the classroom will be used to practice "play" skills taught in classroom lessons.

"They are items that will help me with small group time and center time...all allowing the students to practice Math and Reading skills while having fun through the use of play," Weaver said. "The students will be learning to play and then playing to learn!"

Members from each of the four families were present to witness Weaver receiving her grant.

"It's an honor and we will always be very proud to represent Coach Perry with the school system and everything else that he did," Rhonna Perry said on behalf of the Perry family.