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The honored its grant and award winners last night at its 2025 Dream Makers Banquet – and there were a bunch.

In fact, the foundation recently awarded nearly $180,000 in grants to 91ֱ�� teachers to empower them with the resources they need to bring innovative ideas to life in their classrooms.

“At the 91ֱ�� Education Foundation, we believe that investing in our educators is one of the most powerful – and direct – ways to impact student success,” said Jeannie Deakyne, executive director of the 91ֱ�� Education Foundation. “These grants support creativity, enhance learning opportunities and ensure that every AISD student has access to an exceptional education.”

Several weeks ago, Deakyne and supporters of the foundation – dubbed the Prize Patrol – traveled to schools across the district surprising teachers with 33 grants.

Burgin Elementary librarian Melissa Salyer had no idea they were coming.

“When they walked into the library to let me know that I won the grant, all I could think about was how happy the students will be when they get to use all the new items that will be purchased,” Salyer said. “I am so thankful to the 91ֱ�� Education Foundation for the opportunity to help our Burgin Bengals grow!”

Salyer is receiving $10,000 for makerspace and STEM items for the library to give students hands-on learning experiences that will help them grow as problem solvers. Her purchase list includes Cubelets and coding robots, several different activities for building and engineering and math manipulatives.

“All of the items purchased are going to be used to create a student-centered learning environment,” Salyer said.

When the Prize Patrol traveled to Adams Elementary, they needed to make two stops.

First it was a visit to Adams’ music teacher, Whitney Johnson, who received the $9,999 she requested to create what she calls “A Stage of Their Own.” The money will upgrade the school’s stage and sound system and includes body microphones and stage equipment, like ramps, pylons, windows, steps and doors. Johnson wants to make sure that whenever the Adams Aviators perform, they are heard and seen.

“’A Stage of Their Own,’” is about supporting our students’ talents beyond and because of the work done in our classrooms,” Johnson said. “It is about showing them that we see their talents and support them by ensuring they have the best equipment to facilitate their dreams. It’s about exposing them to more so that they can stretch their dreams and challenge the boundaries placed before them. It’s about more than a set and more than microphones – it’s about helping them see that anything is possible!”

Then the Prize Patrol found Gail Lapinski, Adams’ gifted and talented teacher. She received over $7,000 to purchase eight LEGO Spike Prime robot sets and a BOLT+ Power Pack to use in Adams’ Robotics Club and the STEM Lab for hands-on coding and robotics activities.

“Coding and robotics foster collaboration, creativity and critical thinking skills for innovation-driven careers like technology, computer science and engineering,” Lapinski said. “By using block programming and Python, we hope to foster interest in STEM fields and broaden future career opportunities.”

Broadening future career opportunities is exactly what this grant – and all 33 grants – will do. And it’s why the Education Foundation has now given nearly $3 million to teachers over the last 30 years.

“We are honored to champion our educators and the incredible work they do every day!” Deakyne said.