Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – Educators across 28 schools in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) were surprised with PSJA Education Foundation Teacher Mini-Grants during the annual Prize Patrol held on December 10-11, 2024. Over the course of the two days, the Foundation awarded $43,839 in grants to fund innovative classroom projects and initiatives.
Established in 2013, the PSJA Education Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the students and staff of PSJA ISD. With the help of community sponsors and the ongoing generosity of PSJA ISD employees through monthly payroll deductions, the Foundation funds competitive teacher grants each year, supporting creative classroom initiatives, student scholarships, and library grants aimed at promoting literacy throughout the district.
This year, the Foundation selected 49 grants, ranging from $500 to $1,000, out of more than 190 applications. The funded projects span a wide range of topics, including literacy, social emotional learning, sustainability, and technology just to name a few.
Maria Sinapuelas, Graciela Garcia Elementary Librarian, is incredibly thankful to have been selected as a PSJA Education Foundation Teacher Mini Grant recipient for her student led broadcasting program.
“My heart is filled with joy knowing that this grant will allow students to enhance their speaking and writing skills, enabling them to create high-quality broadcasts that highlight our school,” said Sinapuelas. “Additionally, the Broadcasting Club will help boost students’ confidence in public speaking while fostering greater community involvement. These initiatives will support students in exploring their future career aspirations and promote digital literacy, a vital skill in today’s technology-driven landscape.”
For Jennifer Burden, Graciela Garcia Elementary Principal, having multiple educators from her campus receive grants from the PSJA Education Foundation was a moment of pride, as it highlighted the staff’s dedication to innovation and enhanced learning activities in the classroom.
“I am beyond proud of the teachers at Garcia who received one of the PSJA mini grants,” said Burden. “Garcia Elementary staff always goes above and beyond for our students and this support from the Foundation will positively impact the entire south Pharr community that surrounds our school and open doors to new learning opportunities.”
Since its inception in 2013 the PSJA Education Foundation has proudly distributed over $2.5 million in scholarships and teacher grants.
“Our PSJA Education Foundation Board is incredibly proud to support the inspiring work of our teachers through these mini-grants. Our teachers invest so much of themselves in shaping the future of our children, and these grants empower them to bring creative and impactful projects to life in the classroom,” said PSJA Education Foundation President Marlen Lopez. “Thanks to the generosity of our giving community—and even contributions from the teachers themselves —we are able to fund ideas that make a lasting difference for our students. This is a true testament to what we can achieve when we come together for education.”
To learn more about the PSJA Education Foundation and how you can donate to the cause, visit www.psjaedfoundation.org
