Foundations passes out grants for ideas that inspire, innovate - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports

BULLARD (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) — Bullard ISD students will have new resources in their classroom.

The Bullard Education Foundation on Monday awarded 20 innovative teaching grants to district teachers, staff and students. That equates to $38,900 — about 20 percent higher than what the foundation has ever given away.

Foundation members were accompanied by the Bullard High School drum line as they traveled to the different district campuses, hoping to surprise grant recipients.

"It's going great. Kids are fired up, and the teachers are really excited so it's another good day," foundation president Darren Davis said as he stood outside Bullard Intermediate School.

Davis said the grants are awarded for innovative ideas not normally funded by the district. For a grant request to qualify, it also must be researched and "have significant impact on student learning," according to a news release.

Tisha White, the foundation's marketing director, said in the release, "Many times, teachers come up with a wonderful teaching idea or tool but are faced with either paying for it out of pocket or doing without. That's where the foundation steps in."

Among the innovative grants awarded are for TV monitors in kindergarten halls to allow teaching opportunities; a smart board in the visual arts classroom and five iPads for social studies at Bullard Intermediate School; a field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art for middle school students; video-streaming equipment and subscription at Bullard Elementary School; and registration fees for a robotics competition.

Teresa Green, who teaches language arts at Bullard Elementary, was a grant recipient for the first time.

She said she's excited that her students will have an iPad to work with and believes it will enhance learning.

She said she plans to download audio versions of novels her class uses so that when a child is absent they can listen to what they missed.

Her class also will use the device for writing and to create projects such as book trailers.

"Now, I'm going to get to experience (the impact of grants) through my own classroom. I think it's an awesome thing (the foundation is) doing," Ms. Green said.

This is the fourth year for the foundation to award teaching grants. With this year's total, the foundation has awarded about $140,000 in grants, according to a news release.

Davis said the entity now wants to reach every student in Bullard ISD through the grants.

"The Bullard teachers and staff continue to come up with incredibly innovative ways to produce better learning, better instruction and a more positive impact on the kids," he said in a news release. "This district is blessed with amazing educators who are in it for the kids and who are constantly finding ways to make the kids better in all aspects of their education."