Communications :: News Release/Announcement

[March 21, 2007] Creative Teachers Receive Grants from Education Foundation

Screams and shouts were heard in the halls of 10 Mansfield ISD campuses. The cause of noise was the MISD Education Foundation, former Dallas Cowboy Tom Rafferty and City of Arlington members tossing money at district teachers and staff.

Imogene Gideon Elementary kindergarten teacher Melanie Garrett was surprised by former Dallas Cowboy football player Tom Rafferty. Rafferty autographed the $682 check that will go towards Garrett's innovative grant, Cowboys Count With Winning Numbers, which will help the students strengthen their math skills by implementing youth-sized Dallas Cowboy Jerseys. Rafferty played in two Super Bowl games, and helped his team win a world championship title in 1978.

In addition, a $10,000 grant for an outdoor learning center was presented to several grant recipients at Timberview High School. The grant will fund an outdoor trail with workstations, and provide students with the resources to study the outdoors and its daily cycles. The grant was presented by Arlington City Council Mayor Pro Tem Robert Rivera, council member Ron Wright, and the City of Arlington Parks and Recreation representative Gordon Robertson.

“I think we have some rather creative grant recipients this time, and we know their ideas will ultimately benefit the students,” said MISD Education Foundation Director Linda Bacsik.

Since 1998, The Mansfield ISD Education Foundation has given back over $1 million to MISD Schools, in the form of Educator Grants made possible by the common passion for excellence in education that is shared by the community.