Clovis, NM – On Wednesday evening, November 20, the CMS Education Foundation hosted its 2024 Educator Initiatives Grant Winners Reception at the Clovis Municipal Schools’ Mr. G.C. Ross Administrative Building. The event, held in the board room, celebrated the creativity and dedication of educators across the district, showcasing their winning proposals and awarding funding to bring their ideas to life.

Educators from schools across the district joined the Foundation for the special occasion, accompanied by their principals and colleagues. Each winning teacher or team received a check to support their innovative projects to enhance student learning, faculty engagement, leadership opportunities for students, and family/community connectedness.

This year’s projects highlighted diverse approaches to inspire curiosity and foster growth in students. The funded proposals included:

• Tell Me Your 1% – Tori Blair (Mesa Elementary School, $3,000)
• Theatre Costumes and Props – Sarah Morrow (Yucca Middle School, $1,000)
• Creating the STEAM Dream – Emily Clark and Amber Kuczkowski (Parkview Elementary School, $5,000)
• Building Leaders, Character Development in Gifted Students – Ashlee Spears, Estephanita Blumer, Autumn Briseño, Lori Gammill, Annetta Hadley (CMS Middle Schools, $5,000)
• We’re All in This Together – Angela O’Daniel, Sara Hennessy, Cynthia Chairez, Rica Smith, Phillip Lemke, Sharon Cathey, Joelle Chavez (Bella Vista Arts Academy, $5,000)
• Battle of the Books –  Michele Keller & Todd Morris (Marshall Sixth Grade Academy, $1,000)
• Wiggle While You Work – Megan Dybevik, Emma Starr, Valeree Austin, Lory Ramirez (All-District, $3,100)
• Enhancing Inclusivity and Safety with Visual Communication Tools – Kimberly Bates & Kaylene Davis (Zia Elementary School, $550)
• Food Safety Certification Initiative – Kathryn Gonzales & Edda Albert-Castillo (CHS Freshmen Campus, $1,500)

“The Educator Initiatives Grants are a cornerstone of our Foundation’s mission to empower teachers and support classroom innovation,” said Scott Knauer, executive director of the CMS Education Foundation. “Each project funded this year reflects the passion and desire to do something extra for the benefit of their schools’, students, and their families. We can’t wait to see these initiatives’ creative impact on students.”

The Clovis High School ProStart culinary program, led by Ms. Engelica Anaya, provided exceptional catering for the evening, offering guests a delicious preview of Thanksgiving flavors. Their thoughtfully crafted menu included sausage stuffing bites, turkey pinwheels, pumpkin cheesecake, and more, showcasing both skill and creativity. This contribution also underscored the importance of education in culinary arts, drawing an inspiring connection to one of this year’s grant winners, Kathryn Gonzales. Her project at the CHS Freshman Academy focuses on helping students earn food safety certifications, equipping them with essential skills to join the ProStart program at the CHS main campus or become employable in Clovis’s vibrant food industry. Together, these efforts highlight the powerful role education plays in building both talent and opportunity in our community.

The CMS Education Foundation thanks the Clovis community and its donors for their ongoing support of this program, which continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of students and educators alike. The CMS Education Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that supports Clovis Municipal Schools by funding innovative programs, scholarships, and educator grants. Through partnerships, fundraising, and community engagement, the Foundation enhances educational opportunities, fosters student achievement, and empowers educators to create meaningful, lasting impacts in classrooms and beyond.

For questions, please contact Scott Knauer, executive director of the CMS Education Foundation, at [email protected].