To help offset state-mandated cuts to education, the newly formed Katy ISD Education Foundation will award grants for teachers to encourage innovation in the classroom. President Chris Crockett said grant applications became available last week, and the organization hopes to provide funds for projects in the next school year.

"Our mission is to support KISD in enriching teaching, learning and create more opportunities for students," Crockett said. "This year our focus is to use 100 percent of proceeds raised from our events in support of teacher grants."

Since the foundation's inception about 10 months ago, Crockett said, the group has made teacher grants and support its initial focus. Eventually, she said, the foundation will broaden its reach and model its efforts after other districts' education foundations, which could include funding staff trainings and placing college counselors on high school campuses.

"I have been involved in the school district for 15 years, and out of the things I have been involved with at KISD this has the most potential to greatly impact our teachers and students," said Janet Theis, administrative liaison for the foundation.

Teacher grants range from $1,000 for individual teachers to $5,000 for group grants. Crockett said they are meant to encourage innovation and creativity in the classroom, where funding-restricted teachers may be burnt out.

"We are asking teachers to ask what their wildest dreams are and to do things outside the box that they normally couldn't do because of money," she said.

In turn, successful projects that are born from the grants can be presented to the KISD Board of Trustees to be considered for district-wide implementation.

To view more information about the foundation, visit www.katyisd.org/foundation.