In this holiday season of giving, the Liberty Hill ISD (LHISD) Education Foundation awarded grants to LHISD teachers in record numbers this week. Let’s chat with them about the work the foundation does in our community and the teacher grant program.

The LHISD Education Foundation (LHEF) was formed in 2019 by community members with the mission of supporting the students, staff, and teachers of LHISD.  The LHEF board consists of 19 community members who represent parents, local business owners, and former district teachers. They meet monthly to review financials, execute giving programs, and plan fundraising events. 

Through donations and fundraising events, the foundation provides teacher grants, scholarships to students, grants to staff members working toward their teaching certification, monetary awards to the primary and secondary teachers of the year and top ten graduates impact teachers, and gift cards to all staff members at Thanksgiving. Collectively, the foundation has given back over $727,000 to LHISD since 2019.

Of all the ways the foundation supports LHISD, the largest is the teacher grants program. It is designed to bridge the gap between district resources and academic needs, helping to foster an enhanced educational experience for students. 

“We’ve got the best teachers in Liberty Hill, and they have a lot of great ideas,” said Mike Bowles, LHEF president. “Our goal is to help bring those ideas to life.” Teachers submitted their ideas through an online application that underwent a blind review process by LHEF Board members who scored and ranked them to determine this year’s winners.

Former LHISD teacher, LHEF volunteer, and new foundation Board member Amy Rosser agreed and said the grant patrol brings joy, opportunity, and excitement to LHISD campuses.  “We help empower teachers who go beyond the curriculum, enrich the student experience, and continue to build champions across Liberty Hill ISD,” said Rosser. “LHISD is incredibly special to me, as both an educator and a parent of two LHHS graduates. Joining the Education Foundation felt like a natural extension of my commitment to this community.”

That donation was put into action this week, as LHEF board members and LHISD leaders visited campuses to surprise teachers with their grants. Classroom instruction was briefly interrupted as members of the grant patrol charged into classrooms, surprising teachers and staff with oversized checks with cowbells, pom poms, and cheers. 

“The encouragement and morale boost for our teachers is powerful! It reminds our educators that they are seen and their work is valued and worth investing in,” said Kendell Luedtke, Santa Rita Elementary principal, “During a time when resources and personnel are limited, these grants empower our staff and educators to bring instructional ideas to life and provide learning opportunities for students that simply would not be possible without LHEF’s support.”