The Denton Public School Foundation held its annual pep rally with Denton ISD leaders, teachers and staff and announced Sept. 16 that it gave more than $170,000 in scholarships and grants to district educators.
Two-minute impact
The $170,252.54 in grant and scholarship funding affects 139 teachers and staff members across the district after they applied for and received backing from donors, according to a district news release.
"Behind every check we delivered today is a teacher who sat down after hours to write a grant application, and a donor who trusted us to put their gift to good use," said Dr. Kathryn Pole, board president of the Denton Public School Foundation. "The board takes that trust seriously. Watching more than $170,000 reach 37 campuses in a single morning tells you exactly what this community is willing to do for its schools."
The grants and scholarships were broken down into four categories:
There were 72 grants to teachers awarded, ranging from $100-$1,000. These grants support individual classrooms, instructional technology and new learning materials. Overall, $62,032.01 was awarded in this category.
A total of $78,134.45 was awarded in collaborative grants, ranging from $1,001-$4,000, for joint initiatives, and there were 17 grants, ranging from $100-$1,000, for new hires beginning their careers at Denton ISD.
Eighteen staff scholarships in the range of $100-$1,000 were awarded for a total of $16,239 to district staff who are continuing their education.
"Stepping into classrooms and surprising these dedicated educators fulfills the core mission of the foundation," said Katherine Quinones, executive director of the Denton Public School Foundation. "Our teachers and staff constantly go above and beyond for their students, and through the generosity of our community partners and donors, we are thrilled to invest directly back into their vision, their classrooms and the future of Denton ISD."
The backstory
The Denton Public School Foundation was founded in 1995 and has awarded roughly $3.5 million in grants to teachers, staff scholarships and special programs, according to its website. The nonprofit also has bestowed nearly $1.5 million in scholarship funding on outgoing Denton ISD seniors.
