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Humble ISD Employees Pledge Over $90,000 to Foundation


One of the many ways Humble ISD ensures students are getting a high-quality education is to ensure that teachers have the opportunity to teach in effective ways, without being overly burdened by what it would personally cost them to do so. Often times, this means funding projects and processes that are unique to a particular teacher or school or programs that fall outside of the district's normal operating budget.

"Even schools that have highly active PTA/PTO organizations still find they need the Education Foundation to accomplish their missions of student centered learning. Many principals tell us that campus fund-raisers need to buy tangible items, like a playground or new computers, whereas the Foundation can step in and provide funds for large scale projects that help teachers experiment with unique ways of delivering quality instruction-- like a new system for efficiently conducting student assessments or an after school club for struggling learners" stated Jerri Monbaron, Director of the Humble ISD Education Foundation.

In a time of increased budget constraints, more and more educators are realizing they will need to rely on the Foundation to provide financial backing to their innovative ideas. Kate Peters, Instructional Coach at Timbers Elementary affirms this: "We have incredible teachers here at Timbers Elementary-- they are always thinking of ways to create learning at deeper levels and make it stick. During planning sessions, a dozen teachers might be in a room saying "Let's try such and such an idea..." but the reality is that money is tight and when you don't have pages of data and a year or two to wait for an answer, it can be hard to get district money set aside. The Humble ISD Education Foundation is a true savior of ideas. I can't tell you the number of times we would have thrown an idea away due to lack of funding-- now our creativity is continually sparked just knowing there is financial backing for a project if we have a well thought out plan."

It is for this reason and others that Humble ISD employees dug deep this year and collectively pledged over $90,000 to the Education Foundation, in a goal-shattering campaign that raised twice what last year's campaign raised. Many employees donated $100, $250 and even $500 to the effort-- and some of the donors have never personally received an Education Foundation grant, but donated to support the students in the district who will benefit from a Foundation supported project at some point this year.

Recently, employee donors were asked why they give to the Education Foundation. Please enjoy the answers below:

"I chose to step up my donation this year to the Employee Visionary Campaign because it is an election year. Thinking about the campaign motos: "Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?" I have to say our students have been given opportunities that they would not have had, if it hadn't been for the grants I received from the foundation. And of course, the whole "Bringing Hope and Change." Our school has benefitted from all of the hope and change that the foundation has endowed to our school. Giving to the Education Foundation is a better bang for the buck than other contributions I have made." - Terri Phillips, Lead Teacher, Maplebrook Elementary

"I love the projects that get chosen each year to be awarded grants. I feel that they are not only responsive to the true needs of our students, but at the same time they are innovative and reflect the creative spirit of our Humble family." Lupita Manrique, Teacher, Jack Fields Elementary

"The main reason that I decided that I should join the Employee Visionary Campaign is the simple fact that one day I will be old and these kids will be in charge... better give them the best opportunities possible." Dawn Magee, Payroll and Work Order Specialist, Buildings and Custodial Operations.

"I chose to donate to the Education Foundation for my children. I have 2 children in our wonderful district that I bring home with me each day. I also have 23 children that I have the honor of inspiring and nurturing that are on my class roll and I have an additional 63 children that I have the opportunity to reach out to on my grade level through small groups and activities and finally I take ownership of the 500+ students that I pass in the hall, welcome into the building, and keep watch over each day. I am blessed with the opportunity to shape our children into the next generation of leaders and this is just one more avenue where I can do my part." Wendy Anaya, Teacher, Hidden Hollow

Inspired Much? Visit here to learn more. You can even make a donation in a particular teacher's honor!