Last week, we kicked off our "12 Days of Giving" with the announcement to 12 SAISD educators who were chosen from 158 mini-grant submissions across 90+ schools as favorites are being featured in videos like the one you see below. One of our four strategic priorities is to Advocate for Student and Teachers and that is easy to do with amazing teachers like these. Their dedication is exemplified by educators like Dawn Barrera, who go above and beyond to develop programming to reach and engage her students in new ways. You'll hear from Dawn in the video below, click on the link below that, for the 12 Days of Giving Playlist and hear from our educators in their own words about how their $500 award will impact the students they teach. We continue to be amazed by what our educators can make happen with $500. Because of our donors, this is just the start of our grant giving season! The Wells Fargo Endowment and the donors of our recent Get Inspired! Virtual Event are making 100+ mini-grant awards possible in December and January.

Join us in congratulating them!

 

Dawn Barrera - Bowden Academy - Stamping Out Racism

 

Claudia Lemus - Burbank High School -

Pocket PCR Thermocyclers for DNA Barcoding Project

 

Patricia Barrios - Rhodes Middle School - Drones Away! 

 

Laura Sisson - Fox Tech Multi Campus - Chess for Champions

 

Sara Zapata - Hawthorne Academy - Courtyard Chicken Coop 

 

Sarah Carrola - Whittier Middle School - Hawks Voice Newscast 

 

Gabriela Santiago - S.J. Davis Middle School - Eastside Story Quilts

 

Marissa Holguin - Highlands High School - Studio Success 

 

Maria Garza - Irving Dual Language Academy - Yearbook Club 

 

Heather Beagle - Nelson Early Childhood Education Center -

Music Kit (Sensory Room Expansion) 

 

Odyssey Dailey - Carroll Early Childhood Education Center -

Ready, Set, Sign! 

 

Dezarre Boone - Edison High School - Changemaker = Printmaker! 

 

View the full playlist of the 12 Days of Giving on our YouTube channel here! 

We are so grateful to the Herrera family! Alejandra Herrera (SAISD student at Young Women's Leadership Academy pictured above) found a way to support others through her mask making during this pandemic. She accepted orders from near and far and both her parents matched her efforts tripling her donation to the SAISD Foundation. What started out as her small idea to give back, resulted in the whole family working together to outline, measure, cut, and sew just under 700 double layer, double elastic masks. We are humbled by her efforts in raising $7,000 to support students and teachers in SAISD by their family donation to the SAISD Foundation. Thank you Alejandra! 

Looking for a gift someone who has everything? Stuck on gift ideas? Look no further! You can support students and teachers in SAISD and leave a lasting legacy for SAISD students by purchasing a Legacy Paver! Create a brick in memory of a past educator, former athlete or a parent who attended one of our SAISD schools. This certificate can be mailed to you to present as a gift this holiday. These pavers will be laid at Alamo Stadium (110 Tuleta Dr)  and on display for all who visit. Full story here! Deadline to submit is Dec 17 by close of business. Please call 210-554-2235 for questions! 

San Antonio Independent School District alumni – Nancy York (Nancy Ann Graham, Jefferson HS, 1965), Michael Quintanilla (Burbank HS, 1972), and Marisa Perez-Diaz (Marisa Perez, Edison HS, 2003) are incredible advocates for our students and teachers (read their stories here). They are asking alumni and friends of SAISD to join them to support the important work of the SAISD Foundation! Please consider one of the giving levels here, as your support is critical to continuing the tradition of excellence at San Antonio Independent School District. #SAISDProud