Friday, September 25, 2020
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jennifer Marshall-Higgins
Director Customer & Marketing Services
254-297-1198 | jhiggins@esc12.net
As Global Pandemic Forces Schools to Rely on Tech, Area School Districts Receive Over $60,000 in Technology Integration Grants
WACO, Texas - During a global pandemic that has revealed the necessity of the foundation's mission, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 Technology Foundation board members presented over $60,000 in technology grant awards to eight fortunate school districts via Zoom this week. While the board and ESC staff typically team up to surprise technology grant winners in person every spring, closures and restrictions due to the pandemic delayed award notices.

"While we always enjoy surprising the teachers and students with these grants in person, we are following in the steps of educators, using technology to make these award presentations exciting and memorable", Dr. Jerry Maze, ESC Region 12 Executive Director said. "We continue to be amazed at the creative, innovative methods that educators come up with to use technology as a tool for instruction that is enticing, relevant and meaningful to their learners." 

"The work of our foundation would not be possible without our donors, which include Gravely Attorneys & Counselors, Alliance Bank of Central Texas and our very own staff."
China Spring ISD's Elementary School received $10,000 to fund their project, "Brining Tech to Rec," which will utilize an indoor protection system to create a digital interactive playground.

Corsicana ISD's Collins Intermediate School received $4,694 for "MaKey Makeying Vocabulary Instruction Easy" by providing teachers and students with hands-on, interactive content that can be accessed on-demand.

Hill County Shared Services Arrangement (SSA) and member districts (Abbott ISD, Aquilla ISD, Covington ISD, Bynum ISD, Gholson ISD, Hubbard ISD, Itasca ISD, Malone ISD, Mount Calm ISD, Penelope ISD, Whitney ISD) ​received $10,000 for their project "Assistive Technology (AT) Makerspace." The awarded funds will be used to expand the AT Lab in order to provide custom-made AT devices that will increase functional capabilities and help maintain least restrictive environments for special education students.

Hillsboro ISD’s Elementary School received $10,000 to increase information retention through their project, "Fusing Academic Gaps with Osmos," which will provide activities to stimulate multiple areas of the brain.

Killeen ISD's Richard E. Cavazos Elementary School received $1,999 to integrate 3D printing into the curriculum, "Making Design Thinkers and Problem Solvers in 3D" by offering a hands-on approach to prepare students for life and work in the digital era.

La Vega ISD's 4th - 12th grade received $9,300 to expand STEM thinking while "Learning to Fly" through a variety of engaging hands-on applications.

Rapoport Academy Pre-K and Meyer High School received $9,996 to "Design, Animate, Read" an illustrated book and animated videos to help develop cross-communication between high school and Pre-K students and staff.

Waco ISD's Kendrick Elementary School received $4,758 to fund their project, "iLearn by OSMOsis," which will provide students with hands-on technology opportunities that will increase higher-level critical thinking skills through problem solving and object manipulation.

Including these eight grants, the ESC Region 12 Technology Foundationhas awarded nearly $461,200 to school districts and charter schools, serving 18,630 students in Central Texas. To learn more about our foundation and donors visit our website.

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About ESC Region 12
Education Service Center Region 12 focuses on helping schools save money and leverage resources into the classroom. One of 20 regional education service centers statewide, ESC Region 12 offers training and expert assistance to educators and school personnel in order to increase student achievement. ESC Region 12 offers effective, economical programs and services through professional development, expert assistance, direct services and alternative educator certification. 
 
Based in Waco, ESC Region 12 serves 76 school districts, 10 charters and private/parochial schools in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Mills and Navarro counties. Everything the center offers focuses on helping educators be successful and helping schools save money and leverage resources—driving more money to students in the classroom—where it matters most.
ESC Region 12 | 254-297-1212 | publicinfo@esc12.net | www.esc12.net