Education Foundation forms to support Burnet CISD students

Education Foundation forms to support Burnet CISD students Subhead 'We are very excited that community members have organized to help attract private funds to directly benefit our teachers, staff and ultimately our students.' Special To The Bulletin Wed, 05/01/2024 - 02:12 Image

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Burnet CISD Education Foundation Board of Directors are: front row from left, Aaron Peña - BCISD superintendent, Carcy Clinton - vice president of finance and governance, Vicinta Stafford - executive committee director at large, Damon Beierle - board president, Caitlin Byrd - vice president of programs, Kaylee Gaines - vice president of marketing and events and Diedra Robertson - vice president of development. Back row from left, Lori Ringstaff, Katie Duke (BCISD board trustee), Jordan Shipley, Lance Gunn, Wade Langley, Trace Catlin, Sharon Schwarz, Kendra Davis, Keith McBurnett (BCISD Superintendent Emeritus), Max Cardenas, Jodi Tatom and Afton Floyd. Contributed/BCISD

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A group of prominent community leaders have come together to form a foundation to support Burnet Consolidated Independent School District. The Burnet CISD Education Foundation has announced their focus to enhance community support and to expand resources that enrich teaching, inspire learning, and maximize opportunities for all students in the Burnet Consolidated School District.

The sole purpose of the newly formed Education Foundation is to benefit Burnet CISD by providing funds for educational programs and activities, which are not funded by the normal operating budget. These funds will be used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence and to expand community involvement from individuals, businesses and civic organizations. Funding priorities will

— Damon Beierle Board President also include funds for innovative teaching grants that will provide resources directly to the classroom for teachers to implement exciting new educational programs. The grant process has been established and teachers and staff will be eligible to participate in requesting funds this fall.

“The Burnet CISD Education Foundation was founded by alumni, parents, and community leaders who came together with the goal of investing in the students, staff, and schools of Burnet CISD to support and maximize learning opportunities. In addition, the foundation hopes to enhance the connection between Burnet CISD and the community, as we celebrate our students and teachers, and recognize their academic achievement and teaching excellence,” stated outgoing BCISD Superintendent Keith McBurnett.

The district has brought in Foundation Innovation LLC, a firm which specializes in developing foundations to ensure that we meet our first year goals and objectives. Foundation Innovation has worked with many communities and school districts in Texas and other states to establish foundations to benefit public school systems. According to Suzi Pagel, CFRE, of Foundation Innovation, “Following in the footsteps of public universities and colleges, K-12 school districts and their local communities are establishing their own foundations to leverage private dollars and expand opportunities for their teachers and students. There are currently hundreds of education foundations set up in Texas and that number continues to grow.”

“The Burnet CISD Education Foundation Board of Directors is dedicated to our community and educational excellence and I am proud to serve with them to support and enhance the tools available to the teachers and staff,” states Damon Beierle, President of the Burnet CISD Education Foundation. “We are very excited that community members have organized to help attract private funds to directly benefit our teachers, staff and ultimately our students. As we build the Foundation we want the community to know we have separate roles from the Hill Country Community Foundation whose mission is student scholarships. The Burnet CISD Education Foundation will complement their mission by focusing on innovative teaching grants in classrooms across the district, staff scholarships to further their learning and putting a spotlight on teaching excellence and academic achievement, helping add educational enhancing opportunities to every campus,” he added.

Board members include: Executive Committee: Damon Beierle - president, Diedra Robertson - vice president of development, Caitlin Byrd - vice president of programs, Kaylee Gaines - vice president of marketing and events, Carcy Clinton - vice president of finance and governance, Tara Rockafellow - secretary and Vicinta Stafford - executive committee director at large. Board Members are: Keith Mc-Burnett, Max Cardenas, Trace Catiln, Kendra Davis, Katy Duke, Afton Floyd, Lance Gunn, Wade Langley, Aaron Peña, Lori Ringstaff, Sharon Schwarz, Jordan Shipley and Jodi Tatom.