News
During the 2026 CEF Grant Cycle, the foundation awarded a record breaking $66,836.91 in Classroom Grants!
Because of generous donors, the 2026-2027 school year will be one for the record books! 💙💛
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, partners, and community, we were able to award a record-breaking $66,836.91 back into Community Independent School District classrooms!
Below is a table of how the grants will be awarded.
| Christopher Howard & Stephanie Ebel | District Grant | Expanding Innovative Behavioral Supports Across Specialized Classrooms | $3,000.00 |
| Christopher Howard & Stephanie Ebel | Community Trails MS | Enhancing Structured, Hands-On Instruction in Life Skills Classrooms (Grades 6–8) | $750.00 |
| Erin Long | Community Trails MS | Student Voices Media Studio | $2,095.00 |
| Sandra Dolan | Community Trails MS | Enhancing Student Success Through Sensory Support | $650.00 |
| Josefina Leon | Dodson ES | Creative Calm: Healing Through Art in Community ISD | $750.00 |
| Lisa Ross | Dodson ES | Changing Perspectives: Student Stories Beyond the Surface | $748.75 |
| Jordan Fuchs | Dodson ES | Music Learned and Played with Turbano Drums | $2,895.60 |
| Lisa Ross | Dodson ES | Foundations of an Art Studio: Expanding Creative Possibilities | $3,000.00 |
| Haley Jackson | Dodson ES | Charge Into Reading: Building Strong Readers Through Hands-On Phonics | $1,800.00 |
| Sandi Barr & Amanda Smith | Dodson ES | Gaga Pit for use in P.E. and Recess | $1,619.00 |
| Jordan Belmore | Edge MS | Instructional technology | $2,999.00 |
| Kandice Sarles & Allison Jinks | Ellis ES | Growing with Gardens | $1,700.00 |
| Amy Alfaro | Ellis ES | Press, Print, Create: Expanding printmaking opportunities in the Elementary Art Room | $750.00 |
| Kathryn Banks | Ellis ES | Calm & Ready: Campus-Wide Social Emotional Learning Toolkits to Empower Learners | $2,062.42 |
| Brody Ross | Ellis ES | School of Rock: Building Musicians Through Performance | $3,000.00 |
| Kasie Fitzwater | Ellis ES | Literacy Lab | $600.00 |
| Brody Ross | Ellis ES | Calypso Everywhere: Building Musical Connection, Culture, and Community | $750.00 |
| Kandice Sarles & Susan Snow | Ellis ES | Building Collaborative Learners | $900.00 |
| Stephanie Ebel | Ellis ES | Building Foundational Skills Through Hands-On, Structured Instruction in Life Skills Classrooms (Grades K–5) | $750.00 |
| Katy Wilson | McClendon ES | Savvas Science Material Kits | $2,237.50 |
| Melanie Edwards & Christina Belmore | McClendon ES | Outdoor Learning Lab: Integrating Movement and Academic Growth | $2,993.63 |
| Hannah Freeman | McClendon ES | Sensory Path For ALL | $2,440.00 |
| Peter Zacherl | McClendon ES | Music Department Grant | $540.00 |
| Kelly Boyett | McClendon ES | Savvas ELAR Manipulatives Resource Package | $325.00 |
| Maricela Gomez | McClendon ES | Growing Young Storytellers: A Prek Storytelling Initiative | $545.04 |
| Elizabeth Ijames & Reading Team | McClendon ES | Read, Rise, Achieve | $750.00 |
| Holly Hill | McClendon ES | Rigorous Real-World Math Adventures | $500.00 |
| Pamela Simmons & Ruth Hernandez | McClendon ES | From Pages to Possibilities: Science Libraries that Spark Every Mind | $1,928.00 |
| Mallory Cummings & Margarita Solis | McClendon ES | "Math Minds in Motion: Building Fluency through Problem Solving" | $2,880.00 |
| Katy Wilson | McClendon ES | SAVVAS Language Arts Manipulative Kits | $325.00 |
| Maygan Wall | McClendon ES | Student-Centered Board Game Kits for Engaged Learning in Grades 3-5 | $750.00 |
| Jennifer Broyles | McClendon ES | Building Young Citizens: Engaging Social Studies Through Hands-On Learning | $723.94 |
| Adrianne Ramirez | McClendon ES | “Developing Young Scientists: Active Exploration in 2nd Grade” | $579.00 |
| Mallory Cummings | McClendon ES | Unlocking Knowledge: Escape Room Adventures | $680.00 |
| Kinsleigh Sawatsky | McClendon ES | Sculpting Creativity with Model Magic (K–5) | $1,200.00 |
| Hannah Freeman | McClendon ES | A is for Achievement: Building Early Literacy Through ABC Puzzles | $265.00 |
| Jana McKinney | McClendon ES | Engaging Every Reader Through Differentiated Literacy | $433.13 |
| Jana McKinney & Katy Robinson | McClendon ES | Enhancing Student Learning Through Hands-On Learning Stations | $2,791.90 |
| Melanie Edwards | McClendon ES | Sensory Pathways: Enhancing Student Regulation, Movement, and Academic Readiness | $750.00 |
| Amy Romero & Holly Hill | McClendon ES | From Writers to Authors: A Student Publishing Initiative | $1,000.00 |
| Pamela Simmons | McClendon ES | The Living Lab: Cultivating Curiosity Through a Butterfly Garden | $750.00 |
| Joann Del Valle | McClendon ES | Savvas-Aligned Supplemental Literacy Materials for First Grade Spanish Language Arts | $500.00 |
| Claire Aguillon & Special Education Team | McClendon ES | The Sensory Space | $2,750.00 |
| Shanna Frost Loeza | NeSmith ES | Budding Scientist | $3,000.00 |
| Emily Gutierrez | Roderick ES | Hand, Hand, Fingers, Drum! | $3,000.00 |
| April Bell | Roderick ES | Tide Pools | $380.00 |
| Pamela Simmons | McClendon ES | Elementary Teacher of the Year | $500.00 |
| Kristin Cash | Braves Center | Secondary Teacher of the Year | $500.00 |
Thank YOU for being an incredible partner in education, helping make a difference in Brave Nation.
Calling all Community ISD Alumni
Join us for a homecoming celebration on Friday, September 20, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Edge Middle School Cafeteria!
Connect with your class and celebrate being a Brave!!
This event is open to ALL CISD alumni! Light refreshments will be provided. No tickets are required for entry.
The event ends at 7:00 PM and will give you plenty of time to walk to Braves stadium and get your seat for the 7:30 PM kickoff at the homecoming game against Western Hills! Note - you will need a ticket to enter the game!
Don't miss this chance to celebrate our shared history and create new memories with fellow alumni!
At the End of Year Celebration in May 2023, the Education Foundation had the pleasure of awarding $42,622 in grants to Community Independent School District for a record-breaking grant cycle!
At the End of Year Celebration in May 2023, the Education Foundation had the pleasure of awarding $42,622 in grants to Community Independent School District for a record-breaking grant cycle!
The Foundation was able to fund 24 grants across the district on all six campuses (Including our newest campus, Dodson Elementary)!
If you joined the Once a Brave, Always a Brave Club, supported Braves Steak & $5K, donated through Employee Giving, or gave in any other way--YOU helped make this happen! None of this would be possible without the generous support of our donors. Thank you for investing in our students and helping ensure they have the best possible education.
Special thanks to our grant reviewing committee for working so hard to ensure the grants were ready to award at the celebration!
It is a great day to be a Brave!!
$14,100 was awarded to the graduating class of 2023.
The Foundation had the honor to present 18 scholarships totaling $14,100 to our graduating seniors at this year's Senior Awards night!
The Education Foundation presented a Once a Brave, Always a Brave Scholarship totaling $4,000 to five students that exhibit the Traits of a Brave.
Braydin Williams - Once a Brave, Always a Brave Scholarship - $1,000
Lily Roddy - Once a Brave, Always a Brave Scholarship - $1,000
Parker McCuistion - Once a Brave, Always a Brave Scholarship - $1,000
Rayna Petty - Once a Brave, Always a Brave Scholarship - $500
Faith Obamehinti - Once a Brave, Always a Brave Scholarship - $500
On behalf of our community partners, the Education Foundation presented an additional 13 scholarships.
Nylah Wright - Independent Financial Bank - Lavon Scholarship - $1,000
Katie-Lynn Fleck - Justin Wright Memorial Scholarship - $2,000
Chris Money Jr. - Ziad Scholarship - $600
The Community Athletic Booster Scholarships
Joseph Smith - CABC Outstanding Male Athlete Scholarship - $1,000
Rayna Petty - CABC Outstanding Female Athlete Scholarship - $1,000
Brooke Kurtz - CABC Memorial Scholarship - $500
Karrington Robinson - CABC Memorial Scholarship - $500
Hope McNatt - CABC Memorial Scholarship - $500
Katelyn Frisbie - CABC Memorial Scholarship - $500
The Community HS Braves Band Booster Scholarships
Lily Roddy - Mighty Braves Band Scholarship - $750
Parker McCuistion - Mighty Braves Band Scholarship - $750
Sa'Nia Turner - Traits of a Brave Scholarship - $500
Katherine Chappell - Traits of a Brave Scholarship - $500
The Secily Lackey Cosmetology Endowment Funded 7 kits for CHS students for the 2023-2023 school year!
On May 10, 2023, the foundation had the honor of presenting 7 students with scholarships from the Secily Lackey Cosmetology Endowment. The Secily Lackey Cosmetology Grant provides deserving CISD cosmetology students with assistance in securing their cosmetology kits. Through this grant, Secily's family hopes her passions will be lived out through others, and those individuals will pay their blessings forward, keeping Secily's legacy alive.
If you would like to help further this mission by making a monetary donation, follow this link.