A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

Enrique Montalvo, President of the Eagle Pass ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors, informed The News Gram of their highly successful gala celebrated on Friday, April 12th at El Residencial Reception Hall.

"We made history and we're very excited about it," stated Montalvo, of the event which is the culmination of the work of many and the vision of former EPISD Superintendent Jesús Sanchez, who along with Montalvo saw what would eventually be the cuts in State and Federal funding for different aspects of education, "Special Education funding was and is getting very competitive as well as most federal grants, so with this in mind, we wanted to provide small grants for teachers to be creative and innovative in enhancing the educational process of the students."

Current Federal Programs Director Rolando Salinas, VP for Programs in the grand scheme of the Education Foundation, graciously informed The News Gram last week that they had managed to raise funds to give a little less than ten $500 grants to teachers last year.

That figure should significantly change this year as the foundation managed to raise about $40,000.00 with the assistance of many corporate sponsors including HEB who presented them with a check for $25,000.00 and the Mullen Pension Group donated $4,000.00 along with $1,500.00 Escamilla, Poneck & Cruz, LLP, and $1,000.00 Linebarger, Gogan, Blair, Simpson and Group Pension Administrators and other local sponsors added to the total amount of monies raised which will be put back into the classrooms of the EPISD in the forms of many creative ways for students to be motivated to achieve academically.

"Federal funding is going to be very limited," added the former Mayor of Eagle Pass who has always had an eye out for monies to enhance programs in our fair city including the funds provided the EPISD by President Barack Obama in 2008 when we received millions of dollars which were specifically earmarked for technology to go directly into our classrooms, "These funds are specifically for teachers.  That in itself enhances and gives teachers a new tool to motivate our students to achieve."

"With the support of many including Mr. Sanchez who got this project off the ground, we will continue holding these events to generate funds and we thank all those who exercise their time and commitment to these teachers and students."

Montalvo feels that if schools and school districts buy into this type of events, it  will generate interest around the area for other districts to do the same. 

"I would like to give our thanks to all those who put it together and we can only hope it continues to grow."

The Eagle Pass News Gram salutes the men and women of the Education Foundation and especially to the teachers of the EPISD who touch the future every day, they teach.