The Leander Educational Excellence Foundation awarded $140,096 through 36 individual grants across 31 campuses and departments at the district’s convocation event Aug. 8.
The gist
LEEF’s collaborative grants award educators up to $5,000 to fund programs or resources that create deeper learning experiences for students across grade levels or campuses, Executive Director Coleen Brighton said.
Vista Ridge High School and Reagan Elementary School received a $5,000 grant to create a cafe that will serve as a vocational program for special education students who will work alongside high school mentors. Students will develop business skills and connect with peers through providing staff members with caffeinated beverages and baked treats.
Running Brushy Middle School was awarded a $1,293 grant that will fund supplies for students to crochet and discuss literature with residents of New Hope Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Cedar Park.
An additional grant will fund new supplies for theater arts programs across all elementary campuses, Brighton said.
The impact
The foundation's grants play an important role in LISD by filling gaps left by a lack of state funding and improving teacher retention, Brighton said.
“When teachers know that they have an education foundation that is supporting them and is a resource for them to bring innovative, collaborative resources into their classroom or onto their campus, [that] is important to the work that they do,” Brighton said.
Beyond grants for teachers and staff, the foundation has funded several district staff positions, Advanced Placement test fees and professional development initiatives, Brighton said.
This summer, LEEF received a $50,000 grant to fund an off-site professional development day for all staff members across the district’s seven Title I elementary campuses, which have a high concentration of low-income students, she said.
The background
LEEF was able to award grants beyond its $125,000 budget this year due to exceeding its revenue from the previous year; however, more funding is still needed to meet all applicants' needs, Brighton said.
The foundation received 78 grant applications totaling $280,000 heading into the 2024-25 school year. The LEEF board of directors selects which projects to fund by working with committees of district staff and community members who review applications, she said.
The foundation’s collaborative grants are funded in part by its monthly donors, including nearly 180 community members and over 1,800 LISD staff members who contribute from their paychecks. LEEF is looking to increase the number of community members who provide monthly donations—all of which go toward teacher grants, she said.
“We want to continue to increase the amount of funding we can get out to teachers through our collaborative grants, because clearly there’s a need,” Brighton said.
Stay tuned
LISD has transferred $2 million from its fund balance to start its own grant program as the district's budget tightens amid stagnant state funding. Through the Empowerment Grant Fund, teachers and staff members will be able to apply for one-time grants to fund new programs and initiatives, according to district information.
The fund, which will be managed by LEEF, is expected to begin accepting applications in September, Brighton said.
Get involved
Visit the foundation's website to learn more and volunteer or donate.
