21-05-2025
JSCRSEA presents 15 grants, scholarship
Fifteen grants were presented to local teachers recently by the Johnson-Somervell Counties Retired School Employees Association. A $1,000 scholarship was presented to a Cleburne High School senior.
'We chose our 15 grants out of 46 applications,' JSCRSEA President Sue Lynn Nelson said. 'We had over 30 people apply for the scholarships.'
The scholarship was awarded to Nathan Rodriguez, who will attend The University of Texas and wants to become a fourth-grade teacher. The CHS senior has a 3.9 GPA and participates in the Golden Pride Band, Beta Club, National Honor Society and Texas Association of Future Educators.
Nelson shared Rodriguez' winning essay.
'Education has and will continue to provide so much for me, from placing me with like-minded peers, all the way to opening up the world to me, it has done so much to provide a small town boy like me,' Rodriguez wrote. 'I hope that it will always be able to afford me these amazing opportunities. Most importantly, I hope it will afford me the opportunity to be the first person in my family to attend college and receive a degree.'
Rodriguez said that despite a lack of extra funds, his family always made certain that they were dedicated to their endeavors.
'Being the child of an immigrant mother has taught me this,' he said. 'We work hard for the hopes of one day achieving our own version of the American dream. For me, that American dream is that I'll be able to graduate from college with my own degree. This scholarship could open doors for me that I once believed would be closed.'
Rodriguez serves as the secretary for Beta Club and front ensemble captain for the Golden Pride.
'I'm studious and hard-working, looking to apply myself in every facet of my life and learn about every facet of my life,' he said. 'Additionally, I'd like to learn about my world and all those who came before me. I can think of no better way to achieve this lifelong learning than earning a degree in education.'
Of the 15 grants presented, eight attended the JSCRSEA's May 14 meeting to accept their award in person.
The first was Cheryl Bagley, a sixth-grade math teacher at Alvarado Junior High School. She and Tamara Horsman requested the grant to purchase essential classroom supplies — 20 calculators and 52 whiteboards for their classrooms.
Three separate grants for Cooke Elementary School kindergarten/bilingual teachers in Cleburne ISD. Lourdes Rodriguez accepted her own and two for co-teachers, Maria Chavez and Amanda McCreary. They will be used for hands-on manipulatives and interactive materials to promote math skills and word building.
D'Lynn Hadley, a Grandview Elementary School kindergarten teacher, received a grant for a class set of headphones for Chromebooks, which are required for online programs in the classroom.
Next was Godley Middle School science teacher Roger Lawson, who received funds for nine Makeblock Interactive Light and Sound Robot add-on parks to enhance his eighth-grade robotics curriculum.
Angela Pinkerton, also a Godley Middle School eighth-grade science teacher, received a grant to purchase the Tower Garden Growing System to help students learn the properties of acids and bases.
A first-year teacher, Heather Bryson from Pleasant View Elementary School in Godley ISD teaches fourth-grade math and science. She received funds for whiteboards and expo markers, money sets and other math manipulatives.
Joshua ISD's Jessica Esqueda, a kindergarten/bilingual teacher at Elder Elementary School, received a grant for art supplies, science kits, bilingual books and notebooks for exploring and documenting students' learning and enhancing language development in both English and Spanish.
Chelsea Fulfer, Grandview Junior High School eighth-grade math teacher, requested funds to purchase whiteboard tables. Students work out math problems together using the tables.
Also receiving grants were:
— Jana Patton, eighth-grade Plan Your Path teacher at Loflin Middle School in Joshua ISD: suture kits for veterinary medicine and nursing classes.
— Gia Callaway, Grandview Junior High School art teacher: canvas so students can experience painting.
— Sheila Marble, third-grade language arts teacher at Venus Elementary School: picture books and literary task cards for small group instruction and class library.
— Alexis Page, first-grade teacher at Glen Rose Elementary School: rolling carts to hold classroom supplies for her students.
— Kayla Rich, Venus Middle School art teacher: wood panels, white beeswax, encaustic irons, damar resin crystals and oil paints to teach Encaustic painting.
