On Friday, December 12, the Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation (GCEF) surprised 31 GCISD educators with Star Teaching Grants totaling $90,982!
“The energy of the Star Patrol was electric,” GCEF Executive Director Meredith Marin shared. “Seeing the shock and genuine emotion on our teachers’ faces as they realized their innovative ideas were fully funded was profoundly moving.”
Funding was raised entirely through the generous yearlong support of the local community—individuals, families, and businesses in Grapevine and Colleyville—underscoring a deep local commitment to educational excellence.
“This investment is an immediate injection of resources directly into the classrooms, ensuring our students continue to receive exceptional, enriched learning opportunities,” Martin added.
Star Teaching Grants are presented annually to support and enhance existing programs, current district initiatives or new pilot programs.
Learn more and support the foundation by visiting their website.
Congratulations to this year’s Star Teaching Grant recipients:
Bransford Elementary School
Colleen Patton, “Ideas in 3D: Turning Imagination Into Reality”
Cannon Elementary School
Valerie Balbaugh, “Building Mathematical Foundations Through Hands-On Learning with STEMscopes” and “Playful Literacy Lab: Building Oral Language Through Dramatic Play”
Stefani Donaldson, “Math Fluency Builder”
Kyleigh Sloan, “Specials Classes PreK Preparation”
Dove Elementary School
India Maine, “Math Stackers”
O.C. Taylor Elementary School
Sara Lind, “Elevate Kindergarten”
Johanna Quinn, “Cover One Book Repair Binding System”
Silver Lake Elementary School
Kelsey Helton, “Rainbow Connection: Pre-Reading Skills in the Music Classroom”
Becky Sporrer, “Revitalizing Silver Lake Library Collection to Support Student Literacy and Engagement”
Timberline Elementary School
Jenny Coffey, “PreK: Learning through Purposeful Play”
Katie Roderick, “Timberline Library Non-Fiction Update: Science & Technology”
Irene Sotelo, “The Power of Print: Securing Supplies for Visual Learning”
Cross Timbers Middle School
Gina Ramón and Casey Muckley, “Harmonizing Learning: Whiteboards to Amplify Engagement in Middle School Choir”
Lara Whitehouse-Jensen and Sylvia Nalbandian, “Socioeconomic Equity in Band Program”
Angela Kaker, “Revitalizing Middle School Library Collections to Support Student Literacy and Engagement”
Grapevine Middle School
Dawn Frazier, “Benefits of the Nintendo Switch”
Heritage Middle School
Audra Quetzal, “Revitalizing Middle School Library Collections to Support Student Literacy and Engagement”
Rachel Naranjo, “Headphones for Emergent Bilingual Students”
Sheila Shimmick, “Posters for Instruction”
Collegiate Academy
Aaron Geer, “Phoenix Initiative: Supporting Camp Collegiate and Senior Recognition”
Kristinia Haney, “Training Academic Champions”
Diana Alvarez, “Art and Crochet Club”
Grapevine High School
Ashli Morris, “Forensics: Documenting & Solving Crimes”
iUniversity Prep
Laurie Alsobrook, “Owl Art Displays”
Lindsay Hoerig Cavanagh, “Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Conference”
District
Nancy Hale, “Reading Academy Educator Support Grant”
Angela Harris, “Academic Decathlon"
Emily Powell, “Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics (CAMT) Math Professional Development “
Shiela Shiver, “ActivatEd 2026”