Panther Prize Prowl

LIBERTY— It was an active Monday morning as Liberty ISD Education Foundation board members prowled the halls of Liberty campuses to award teachers grants.

With 12 grants, the foundation awarded a total of $30,557 to teachers on May 5.

The foundation has been awarded grants since 2007, totaling $390,831.

“I love watching how excited the teachers and students are every year when the grants are awarded. It reminds me what the foundation is all about,” foundation President Brandon Davis said. “We are blessed to have a community that supports our students and a district that works diligently to make sure our students succeed.”

Liberty High School teachers Richard Ewing and Joe Roberts were awarded a grant for a UAV drone certification program, with grant funds going toward purchasing drones. Once students complete the program, they will be able to earn their FAA Part 107 Pilot’s license to fly commercially.

The Dawn Fourtiq Grant and the Ellison Miles Grant partially fund the grant.

Choir directors and teachers Ryan McKinney, Liberty Middle School, and Christie Bean, LHS, were awarded a grant for foldable keyboards for students to take home to practice.

“We thought that students would be able to reinforce what they’re learning by taking home their instrument, just like band students can take home their instruments,” McKinney said.

The grant is partially funded by the Vara Martin Daniel Innovative Teaching Grant for the Fine Arts, the Baxter Willis Dunagan Sr. Endowment, the Liberty County Farm Bureau Endowment, the JoAnn McGuire Endowment and the M.J. Joe Leonard Endowment.

LMS teacher Ebony Hamilton was awarded a grant for an aquaponic system. Her students will be able to see how organisms interact and support each other to create a thriving ecosystem.

“I’m very, very excited,” Hamilton said.

The grant is partially funded by the Bill Griffin Sr. Endowment, the Jana Marie Buchanan Grant, the First Liberty Bank Endowment and the Rick Mearns Grant.

LMS teacher Kirsti Mc-Carty was awarded a grant to purchase a 60 Seconds or Less STEM Challenge Kit, allowing students to participate in daily challenges. Students will gain a deeper understanding of engineering and physical science concepts through competitive activities.

The grant is partially funded by the C.A. (Abe) Miles Endowment and the JoBeth Willoughby Teaching Grant.

LMS teacher Elisha Lemelle was awarded two grants for science magazines and lab kits. The former will allow students to discuss recent scientific discoveries, and the latter will help students gain a deeper understanding of the materials they are learning.

The lab kit grant is partially funded by the Norman and Brenda Dykes Endowment, the Dr. Reese and Sara Brown Endowment and the Dr. Frank S. Griffin Grant.

LMS teacher Aurora Luna was awarded a grant for period-piece costumes, using an interactive method to teach students about historical figures and prepare for the STAAR exam.

The grant is partially funded by the Jeffrey Family Innovative Teaching Grant and the Bruce and Tina Blake Endowment.

Liberty Elementary School Principal Joanne Knepper was awarded a grant for an inclusive playground swing, allowing students of all physical capabilities to enjoy playing together.

The grant is partially funded by the CW and Aggie Castle Family Endowment and the Mildred Arnold Endowment.

Liberty Elementary School Assistant Principal Tabitha Pritchett was awarded a grant to help students who participate in Texas Math and Science Coaches Association competitions. The grant pays for registration fees, practice tests, calculators and more.

Pritchett said the middle school currently participates in those competitions, so they are “bridging that into the elementary.”

The grant is partially funded by the Nora Miles Endowment.

LES teachers Julie Pruett, Ashley Smith and Rebecca Hill were awarded a grant to purchase books for the fourth and fifth-grade student book club, which meets once a week. They plan to purchase “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

The trio was previously awarded a grant to initiate the club, with about 32 students joining in the first semester and about 34 in the second.

The Laura Jane Hartel Endowment partially funds the grant.

LES third-grade teachers Erica Howse and Rachael Willis were awarded a grant to initiate a book club similar to the above-mentioned but geared towards second and third-grade students.

The Dahlia McManus Endowment partially funds the grant.

To learn more about the foundation and its efforts, visit www.libertyeducationfoundation. net or call Executive Director Bruce Wright at 936-641-0367.

To donate for future grants, visit https://securepayment. link/libertyeducationfoundation/.