Over 450 teachers, business and industry representatives and community leaders attended the La Porte Education Foundation's "Breakfast with the Stars" on Aug. 20.
In spite of stormy weather, supporters of education in La Porte turned out for the annual event showcasing the efforts of teachers who were awarded grants by the Foundation in 2007-08.
The Bill and Helen Crowder Foundation and Bracewell and Giuliani were Solar Spectacular sponsors for the breakfast with $1,000 donations.
The success of the event also was made possible by Shooting Star breakfast sponsors and table sponsors ranging from Shooting Star sponsors, making a donation of $300, to Solar Spectacular sponsors, with a donation of $1,000.
Don Empfield, current president of the La Porte Education Foundation Board of Directors, served as master of ceremonies for the event.
"The La Porte Education Foundation is very proud of our Stars, the educators, as it is truly a 'work of the heart' from each one of them," Empfield said.
Motivational speaker Eileen McDargh, a former educator and Teacher of the Year in Nassau County, Florida, talked with guests about "The Energy Connection," noting that "innovation, creativity and productivity are the results of people who are highly energized by what they do, how they do it, and who they do it for."
During the 2007-08 school year, the foundation awarded 76 grants, for a total of $65,000, to LPISD teachers and administrators. Over 700 educators at all 12 LPISD schools have benefitted from these awards, which have totaled over $543,000.
The foundation plans to award $70,000 in grants during the 2008-09 school year.
The 2007-08 grant winners included Jo Ann Holt, Mona Gibbs, Steven E. Robson, Barbara Davis, Mona Gibbs, Scottie Anderson, Linda Lahaug, Becky Joseph, Rene Gibson and Jennifer Engels of Bayshore Elementary School; Debbie Alli, Mary Lynn Teutsch, Andra Mazariegos, Latisha Peltier, Beth Northcutt, Jana Stuzman, Melissa White, Betty Walker, Laura Teepe, Ashley Fish, Donna Simons, Julie Wilson, Linda Hyde and Rhonda Jones of College Park Elementary; and Debbie Alli, Melissa Champion, Danette Tilley, Becky Wingstrom and Lisa Tupper of Heritage Elementary School.
The list of grant winners also includes Pam Dunham, Mary Cummings and Sharla Northcutt of La Porte Elementary; Brenda Crager, Felicia Shindler and Diane Weeden of Lomax Elementary; Nancy Ojeda, Julie Banks and Catherine Casper of Jennie Reid Elementary ; and Christine DeLong, Dana Harmon, Laura Garcia, Denise Harrison-Fitzmaurice, Donna Bracewell, Christi Miller, Melissa Hattaway and Erin Stackhouse of Rizzuto Elementary.
Also earning Foundation grants are Sheryl Alexander, Celinda Bennett and Angela Watts of Baker Sixth-Grade Campus; Catherine Richard of Lomax Junior High School; Karan Ann Lee, Amanda Mueller, Melissa Harrison and Cristy Williams of La Porte Junior High School; Jo Claire Hall and Kathleen Restrepo of De Walt Alternative School; and Robert Miller, Kathy Kimball, Michelle Napier, C.J. Odam, John Guthrie, Hope Salas, Daniel Seibert and Christie Hamilton of La Porte High School.
Any LPISD teacher or administrator can apply for a Foundation grant. Grants provide educators the opportunity to obtain funding for projects they may not otherwise be able to implement.
Applications for this year's grant program are available on the LPISD web site at
www.lpisd.org
. This year's application includes instructions for filling out the application template. Applications are due in the district's Communications Office by Sept. 26.
In addition to providing grants to educators, the foundation has awarded over 59 student scholarships through designated funds and sent 20 LPHS students to China through the global studies program.
