“Over 80% of all taxpayer dollars go back into salaries and funding the overall operations of the school district,” she said. “So there is not a lot of room left for creativity and innovation.”
Ortiz said that is where the foundation steps in. The foundation provides funding through a variety of grants, including the Educator Grant, which is awarded to teachers, administrators and paraprofessionals to bring creative learning to the classroom.
“We want to make sure that our students have an education that isn’t just in the classroom,” she said. “We want to fund outdoor classrooms, go on impactful trips and bring new resources here.”
In fiscal year 2022-23, Ortiz said funding from the foundation paid for a new ceramics class in the fine arts department, bought blood pressure simulators for the health science class, and created a one-time event called “Peace of Mind” to give teachers local mental and physical health resources and advice.
“The board is passionate about education and giving back to their students,” she said. “The best way to move our community forward is to invest in our students and teachers.”
The foundation was formed in 2014 by the then-MISD school board president and superintendent. Shortly after, Ortiz said the foundation moved out from under MISD to stand alone as a nonprofit.
Board members include business owners, bankers, leaders from the local chamber of commerce, Leadership of Montgomery County, Realtors and former superintendents.
Ortiz said in FY 2022-23, the board gave $90,000 back to the school district and awarded over $64,000 across 30 different educator grants.
A large portion of the proceeds came from the foundation’s two biggest fundraisers: the Spring Soiree in April and the annual golf tournament in October.
“We put the ‘fun’ in ‘fundraising,’” Ortiz said. “We’re always looking for creative and fun ways to engage our donors in our community. Those are the two main ways, but we’ve been getting very involved in corporations, doing company matches and just benevolent giving as well.”
To get involved in the foundation, visit www.montgomeryisdef.org.
