Thanks to the generosity of the Muenster community, the Muenster ISD Education Foundation was able to award 7 instructional enhancements grants, totaling $16,028, to empower teachers and enhance student learning throughout our district.

• Elementary Teachers - “Enhancing Student Creativity & Learning Through a Poster Maker” ($3,000) for a large-format poster maker for visuals in lessons, science fairs, art projects, and school events.

• Leah Styles, Elementary Computer - “Robot Rookies” ($1,250) for hands-on programming and coding of robots. 

• Tamara Blythe, Theater Arts – “Santa, I Know Him! – Memories Center Stage” ($542) for supplies for an annual Pictures with Santa fundraiser where theater students run costumes, props, and set design.

• Tyler Bruce, Graphic Design/Digital Media/Yearbook – “Bringing Graphic Design to Life” ($865) for a high-quality photo printer and supplies for the graphic design and media classes who design the MISD yearbook.

• Deanna Miller, IPC & Physics – “Powering Possibilities” ($2,626) for circuit kits for hands-on exploration of series/parallel circuits, data analysis, and real-world applications.

• Rose Barnhill, Biology – “Producing Proteins” ($359) for a protein synthesis manipulatives kit to help students better understand transcription, translation, and protein synthesis.

• Kevin Ralston, Music & Band – ($7,386) for instruments, percussion equipment, and a vibraphone to strengthen the music program, beginner band, and the growing drumline.

Thank you to the Muenster ISD Education Foundation for the 2024-2025 instructional grants that were awarded to the following teachers for the benefit of their students.

-Special Education Teacher, Mr. Chris Bevers:

This grant, which Mr. Bevers titled “Life Skills’ Coffee Cart Project,” in the amount of $500.00, involves setting up a coffee cart that the

students will use to make and deliver coffee to the teachers. The goal is for his students to learn daily living skills. Besides learning the specific sequence needed to make coffee, this project gives them a wonderful opportunity to work with money in a safe real world setting by accepting cash and giving back the appropriate change. Instructional aide, Mrs. Amanda Lee, is accepting the check on behalf of Mr. Bevers.

-The next grant, titled “Speak Up, Por Favor!”, is awarded to our HS

Spanish program under the guidance of Mrs. Amy Binder in the amount of $399.60. Twenty over-ear headphones will be used by Spanish students on a daily basis to help them become more confident in speaking Spanish out loud and to become more successful when taking speaking and reading tests. The ultimate goal is for our Spanish students to be more comfortable using the Spanish language outside of the classroom.

-Elementary Reading Teachers, come on down! These ladies are being awarded a check for $1,890 for a 2-year subscription to “Reading A to Z”which will impact 275 elementary students. This on-line reading program is an excellent tool for improving reading proficiency and fluency. Also, by implementing “Reading A to Z” in Kindergarten through 6 th grade, it will help with vertical alignment on the elementary campus.

-Ag Science Teacher, Cody Martindale:

Mr. Martindale and students in his Ag Mechanics classes will be involved in building an outdoor eating area for all MISD students to enjoy throughout the year and for years to come! This is “hands-on-learning”at its BEST! He is being presented a check for $4,000.

-Our last awarded grant goes to Ag teacher, Ms. Tara Whitely. She is being presented a check for $3,000 for “Food Science Fridays.” Every 3 weeks her Ag students will conduct some type of lab that involves food. These hands-on experiences are an excellent way for students to grasp the material that has been taught in a fun and engaging way, and a wonderful way to connect the teachings of agriculture into their

everyday lives.

The goal of the MISD Education Foundation is to raise funds to

support academic programs and achievement. We would like to thank everyone who has given to this organization; your generosity is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Congratulations to the 2023 MISD Education Foundation Grant winners! Thank you to the Muenster Education Foundation for their continuous support of the teachers & students of MISD!

*Family Consumer Science teacher, Ms. Brooke Beall:

This grant, which Ms. Beall titled “Ready or Not Tots”, in the amount of $907.30, is for “3 baby dolls that simulate a baby’s varying needs” to be used by students in her Child Development classes.

*The next grant for $2,807 is awarded to teachers in our Behavior and Life Skills Program, Ms. Marie Morrison and Ms. Khara Meyers. This grant allows for the purchase of a washing machine. These students will be taught how to operate the machine to do laundry. Also, being purchased is a SMARTBOARD and wall mount.

*The last awarded grant goes to our Ag teacher. Ms. Tara Whitely. She is being presented a check for $5,000! This money will be

used to purchase a “Bovine Breeder Artificial Insemination Simulator, and a “Cow and Pig Ear Simulator”. Each of these models will give her Ag students an opportunity for hands-on-learning in the classroom.

The Muenster ISD Education Foundation is super excited to announce the 2022-2023 teacher grant recipients!

*JH Math teacher, Mrs. Amy Binder:

This grant, which Mrs. Binder titled “Muenster MATH-LETICS”, in the amount of

$429, is for “challenging math games for JH Brains” to be used by her 7th and 8th grade math students.

* The next grant for $166 is awarded to our Cafeteria staff: Mrs. Jill Swirczynski, Mrs. Tanya Jones, and Mrs. Darlene Abney. This is for some much needed kitchen equipment that will make cooking easier and faster! This grant will benefit every MISD student that walks through the cafeteria food line!

*Ms. Jenna McCarty, Ag Teacher for MISD:

Under her guidance and direction, the students in her Ag Mechanics classes will be building a covered walkway between the JH and HS buildings. She is being presented a check for $7,172 for true “hands-on learning!” This grant will greatly improve student life for all JH and HS students when inclement weather occurs!

*Our last awarded grant goes to all teachers and students at the JH and HS:

Representing this group is Secretary - Mrs. Tonia Hofbauer, Art teacher -Mrs.Bridgette Carroll, and FCCLA teacher - Ms. Brooke Beall. They are being presented a check for $1,244 dollars. This money will purchase a much needed color printer and ink cartridges that will be put to good use by teachers and especially students who are working on school projects!

The goal of the MISD Education Foundation is to raise funds to support academic programs and achievement. We would like to thank everyone who has given to this organization; your generosity is truly greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Muenster ISD Education Foundation 2021-2022 awarded the  following education grants totaling over $7500!

Mrs. Thomas & Mrs. Reynolds - Flexible Seating

Miss Fuhrmann - WeVideo

Mr. Harris - You Make it: You Code it Program

Ms. Beall - FCS Class Refrigerator

Mrs. Sicking & Mr. York - Acceleration of Learning for Math & Reading Istation program

On Friday, October 25th, the MISD Education Foundation prize patrol was once again on both school campuses awarding yearly teacher grants!  For the 2019-2020 school year, four grants were awarded to some exciting programs proposed by teachers.  They are as follows:  

1.  On the High School campus, Mrs. Bridgette Carroll-Art Teacher-proposed a “Daily Document Camera.”  This camera is like a projector as it displays detailed demonstrations for art project assignments.  This tool will make it easier for students to understand the more specific aspects of each art lesson.  This proposal will impact 96 students.

2.  Also on the High School and Agriculture campuses, Mrs. Molly Sicking-Environmental Science and Biology teacher, Ms. Brooke Beall-Family Consumer Science teacher, and Ms. Jenna McCarty-Horticulture teacher, will all benefit from a Tower Garden with their “Continuing to Grown Green” proposal.  This project will teach students another alternative way of raising food free of pests and for immediate consumption. This proposal will impact 160 students.  

3.  On the Elementary Campus, the third grant recipients are 2nd grade class teachers, Mrs. Kim Budish and Mrs. Lisa Hoepfner.  They proposed a “River Ecosystems” project which will allow 5 aquariums to be set up in each 2nd grade classroom.  Groups of students will be assigned an aquarium and be responsible for the care of living creatures and plants in the ecosystem.  They will learn the science skills of observing and documenting living organisms using this hands-on experience.  This program will impact 40 students.  

4.  Finally, the fourth grant recipient is Mrs. Carol Cook, Mrs. Debra Sicking and Mrs. Lou Heers. This program is elementary campus wide, because it is a yearly online reading and math program subscription.  This highly individualized program monitors reading and math progress with science concepts embedded within the program.  Each student works independently on Chromebooks to show teachers where each student ranks in classroom instruction.  Reports are then viewed by teachers and instruction is adjusted accordingly. This program will impact over 300 students.

The total amount awarded to grants this year is $3,135.57.  Award money is budgeted every year based on the annual “Trivia Night” income. The MISD Education Foundation’s mission is to provide and manage funding to assist teachers and staff in delivering instructional programs for the students of MISD.  In order to meet our mission, we rely on the generosity of individuals and businesses for support.  This year, Muenster Family Medical-Amy Dangelmayr, FNP-C has agreed to help with the “Continuing to Grown Green” project by donating the Tower Garden. The foundation will provide the other materials listed in the proposal.  Be sure and look for progress photos on the foundation's Facebook page!    

The second annual teacher grant awards were presented on October 26th during the school day. The following teachers were awarded funds for their proposed grants as follows:

1. Ms. Jenna McCarty-AG teacher. Her classes will finish the design and structure of the greenhouse.They will also begin planting for this school year. The amount awarded is $896 with possible student impact of 80+ AG students, grades 8-12. Community Lumber Company will assist Ms.McCarty with this project.

2. Mrs. Otto, Mrs. Sicking and Mrs. McCarty-"Growing Green at MISD". These teachers span across campuses to propose the building of 5 raised planting beds at the fenced in elementary yard. They will cultivate their own food, observe sustainability along with life cycle of plants, insects and other science mechanics. The amount awarded is $1045 with possible student impact of 120+ to include all science classes throughout the entire MISD. Melvin and Terri Luke's Ace Hardware will assist these teachers with this project.

3. Mrs. Kelley-elementary music teacher- "UKE can do it". This proposal involves the purchase of Ukuleles to instruct students on how to read music and play an instrument which will enhance students' technical skills in other areas such as reading and math. The introduction of a string instrument as opposed to a recorder is a more receptive tool in current times. This acceptance was based on a futuristic goal of re-introducing music back into the secondary curriculum at some point. The amount awarded is $1,750 with student impact of approx.105, 4th through 6th grades.

4. Mrs. Carol Cook-Elementary computer teacher-"We can do Robotics 2". Her proposal is for two sets of Lego We Do 2 models. Students will do computer coding with hands on applications. This involves group work and problem solving skills. The amount awarded is $409.06 with student impact of 80, 3rd and 4th grades.

One of the goals of the Muenster ISD Education Foundation is to award teacher grants for educational enhancement in the classroom.  This school year-2017-2018, 5 teachers proposed and were awarded these grants due to major donations from Ford Motor Company and Southern Power.  From left to right:  

Mrs. Carol Cook –Elementary Computer teacher presented “Going green screen and Video Editing” for her computer classes. Students will create student-driven, directed and edited videos using a green screen and software. It can also be used to complete assignments from other classes. Awarded $199.00

Mrs. Amy Huchton and Mrs. Beth Saucer – Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers presented “the Chick Eggsperiment” –using an incubator and other supplies, students will learn about the life cycle of a chicken using scientific methods. Awarded $155.20

Mrs. Carolyn Lutkenhaus – Algebra and Geometry teacher 9-12 grades, presented “Where Math Gets Real” magazine.  These are copies of a math scholastic magazine students can read when they are finished with assignments.  They feature articles on math in real world applications. Awarded $140.08 for 15 issues

Mrs. Cicily Waneck – 5th and 6th grade English/Social Studies teacher, presented “Google Expeditions” – Students will go on virtual field trips without leaving the classroom using virtual reality headsets.  Students will learn about worldwide culture, geography, science and math using up to 500 learning programs! Awarded $6,999