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SEF Provides More Than $82,000 in Circle of Success Grants

Student Honorees and Honored Educators

The Sherman Education Foundation (SEF) has provided more than $82,000 across 56 grants this year through its Circle of Success Recognition Event to help educators provide an innovative and engaging curriculum for Sherman ISD Bearcats.

“The Circle of Success ensures our educators will continue to provide creative lessons and engage our students in the classroom,” said Kathy Bickerstaff, SEF Executive Director. “These grants are vital in supporting fantastic educators who in turn support fantastic students.”

Grant winners were revealed March 22 as SEF traveled campus to campus surprising educators with the good news. These grants fund a wide variety of projects from field trips to classroom materials and are provided through community sponsorships given through the Circle of Success Recognition event, which marked 23 years Thursday night. The complete list can be found here.

“Through the generosity of our community partners, we have been able to award over $1.9 million to Sherman ISD through Circle of Success alone over the years,” Bickerstaff said. “We have raised over $3 million in total, which also includes money raised through the SEF Run, Major Saver and Walk for Fitness.”

Grants to be funded include a book vending machine at Crutchfield and Dillingham elementary schools, 3D printers at every elementary and middle school and field trips to the Meyerson Symphony Center and Dallas Museum of Art at every elementary school. SEF has also raised over $84,000 for districtwide teacher and student support.

“Support from within our community and even outside our geographical area is vital to the success of the mission of Sherman Education Foundation,” Bickerstaff said. “SEF is committed to supporting creative educational programs, curricular enhancements and other innovative solutions to meet the needs of Sherman students.”

The event also recognized eight outstanding Sherman High School students selected based on their character, service and leadership.  These students were first nominated by teachers, and then finalists were selected by SEF board members who are not parents of SHS students. Those eight students in turn honored SISD educators who were a major influence in the student’s career.

Those eight students and their honored teachers are:

  • Kaitlyn Brem, junior, and SHS teacher and coach Reeca Huntsman

  • Rachel Hammett, junior, and SHS teacher Sherry Young

  • Leif Inocian, junior, and SHS teacher and orchestra director Michael Moore

  • Dylan Jackman, junior, and SHS teacher Amelia Antillon

  • Mia Passanisi, senior, and SHS teacher Amelia Antillon

  • Alan Salazar, senior, and SHS teacher Chris Donaho

  • Maci Vickers, senior, and retired SHS receptionist and substitute teacher Frances Rallis

  • Amanda Wiggins, senior, and Piner Middle School nurse Gail Petty

Photos of the Recognition Event can be found here.

Photos of the grant reveals can be found here. A video highlighting the grant reveals can be watched here: https://youtu.be/WRcRtjQg40s.

For those interested in sponsoring Circle of Success or donating to the Sherman Education Foundation, please contact Bickerstaff at kbickerstaff@shermanisd.net or 903-891-6431.