February 27, 2020

The Dripping Springs Education Foundation (DSEF) awarded more than $19,000 in funding through five Student Leadership Grants and another two Innovative Teaching Grants during DSEF's latest grants cycle. Student Leadership Grants are designed to foster the development of students' leadership skills through their efforts to serve their school, community, or others in the world.  Students, together with their faculty sponsors, apply for the grants. The Innovative Teaching Grants are awarded to those teachers whose grant application highlights a program, teaching techniques, equipment, or technology requested to improve, advance, or enrich student learning. Projects receiving funding this spring are: 

Student Leadership Grants

TeacherGeek Maker Cart, Dripping Springs High School - $6,000: TeacherGeek Maker Cart 2.0 for DSHS engineering and robotics students to create new events for DSISD families such as a district-wide STEM Carnival, summer camps, and workshops at the middle schools. Teacher Sponsor: John Adams

Raise the Bar, Dripping Springs High School - $4,999: 3D printer for students and teams involved in the engineering program. Teacher Sponsor: Jad Jadeja

Clean Sweep, Dripping Springs Elementary - $1,876: 65 floor sweepers/vacuums to allow students to partially clean up after themselves. Teacher Sponsor: Kari Potter

Paper Pals, Walnut Springs Elementary - $400: Recycling bins for classrooms. Teacher Sponsor: Kari Potter

Peaceful Art Club, Rooster Springs Elementary - $350: Art supplies for students to acquire art skills and be more peaceful through art instruction and mindfulness activities. Teacher Sponsor: Kim Pavlinsky

Innovative Teaching Grants

We Can All Speak the Same Language - $4,230: Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs Middle School
Real-time translating earphones (and iPads) to help teachers and school and district staff communicate directly with non-English speaking students and parents. 

Ready Bodies=Learning Minds - $1,330.38: Stephanie Stamps, Sycamore Springs Elementary
Motor lab program and equipment to help students with sensory integration for the day. Includes: tunnel, launching board, vestibular bowl, spinning board, manual, storage for all, and paint for walls.

DSEF will award one more round of Student Leadership Grants later this spring. The deadline for students to submit applications for those awards is March 31.