With the world developing so quickly, the children of our society's future need to be able to develop just as quick, so they can succeed! And this is what all teachers, especially Ida Jurkowski from Terrell Elementary School, want for their students! With her LEAF-funded grant, Think Big, Design Bigger: Imaginative Innovation, Mrs. Jurkowski was able to help her students do exactly this! Innovation in Action Thanks to the LEAF-funded grant, Mrs. Jurkowski was able to give alm

COVID-19 had an undeniable impact on the children born during the height of the pandemic by causing them to miss out on important early-childhood experiences. Mrs. Lafferty was able to help these exact children through her LEAF-funded grant, Swipe to Explore: Real-Life Learning for Screen-Time Kids. Impact Story Thanks to the LEAF-funded grant, Mrs. Lafferty was able to help 110 kindergarten students from Don Carter Elementary schools participate in enriching, hands-on learn

At Adolphus Elementary School, Coach Tosch was able to put her plan and her students into motion. 1,000 PK-5th graders in Coach Tosch's physical education program got the opportunity to experience the beginnings of a lifelong health journey, thanks to the High Fives & Healthy Lives grant! They received many grant-funded supplies, including push-up testers, heavily utilized by the 3rd-5th graders, and Nutri Play food beanbags, used by the PK-2d graders. As a result, the studen

At Tomas High School, 9th-11th grade students in Ms. Harrington's Culinary Arts Program are exploring the wide world of sustainable food production, sparking creativity, innovation, and responsibility for the future of the food industry. Thanks to Growing Innovation with Tower Gardens grant, these future culinary professionals are caring for fresh produce and harvesting it to produce original recipes, implementing strong farm-to-table instruction. This isn’t your typical cla

At the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF), our mission is strengthened by passionate leaders who believe deeply in public education and the power of community. This month, we are proud to spotlight Marla Jurek, a dedicated LEAF Board Member whose heart for service and commitment to student success make a lasting impact. Marla serves as the Business Development Representative at Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union Her ability to connect people and ideas has made a meani

The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation is proud to spotlight Amy Galvan , a dedicated leader and passionate advocate for students and educators, as our Board Member of the Month. Amy serves as the Client and Community Relations Manager for Stantec Architecture and brings a strong background in marketing, relationship building, and creative thinking to her role on the LEAF Board. Her ability to connect people and ideas has made a meaningful impact on the Foundation’s work an

At Lamar CISD, preparing students for the future means creating experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world opportunity. Recently, Durotech, winner of our Men Who Cook Auction package and their guests gathered for an exclusive CTE Preview Tour Experience, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the district’s new Career and Technical Education Center, set to open in Fall 2026 in Rosenberg. Hosted by the Bond Office, Lamar CISD Career and Technical Education Departm

The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation, in partnership with PBK Architects and Hunton Group , proudly hosted the first annual Clays for Classrooms fundraiser and it was nothing short of exceptional. From start to finish, the day reflected the strength of community, the spirit of collaboration, and a shared commitment to supporting students and educators across Lamar CISD. A Strong Start with Meaningful Impact Held at American Shooting Centers, this inaugural event brought

The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation is proud to spotlight Dr. Cimberli Darrough , an educational and community impact leader whose passion for equity and opportunity drives her service on the board. Dr. Darrough believes every child deserves access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential, regardless of background or circumstance. For her, public schools are the heart of a thriving community. By supporting them, she is helping strengthen families, neighb

The heart of the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation lives in the people who quietly show up, give selflessly, and lead with purpose. This year, LEAF is proud to recognize Beverly Richard as our Board Member of the Year . Beverly has devoted countless hours to advancing LEAF’s mission not only through financial support, but through an extraordinary investment of time, energy, and heart. From reading grants, scoring scholarships, and helping distribute classroom stipends, to

The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) Grant Express is o ne of the most joyful traditions at Lamar CISD. This year’s Grant Express brought smiles, cheers, and a few happy tears as LEAF awarded $500,669.21 in innovative classroom grants to teachers and campuses across the District. On Wednesday, December 3, LEAF volunteers, district leaders, community partners, foundation donors, and members of the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees loaded into nine buses and hit the road

Meet Lorin Pargoud , a dedicated member of the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) Board of Directors. Lorin is a professional with PBK , where he works in the design of educational facilities — giving him a firsthand look at how schools shape the future of our students. A true “worker bee,” Beverly lends her time and talents to both daytime and evening events, excelling in preparation, setup, and creative planning. Her favorite LEAF program is the New Teacher/Staff i

Beverly Richard, a retired educator with an impressive 45 years in public education—40 of them in Lamar CISD—has been serving on the...

Thanks to a LEAF I-Fly Grant , 162 fifth graders and eight teachers from Hubenak Elementary had the unforgettable opportunity to bring...

September 22, 2025 – Rosenberg, Texas – The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) is well-versed at hosting events that celebrate...

Meet Elgin Smith , one of LEAF’s dedicated board members, bringing enthusiasm, heart, and a passion for service to our mission. With a...

At Beasley Elementary, learning recently took a wild turn thanks to a LEAF grant awarded to Stephanie McDowell for her project, Wild...

Second graders at Jane Long Elementary recently embarked on an exciting learning adventure thanks to a LEAF Classroom Grant awarded to...

At Lamar High School, CTE Patient Care Technician (PCT) students in Ms. Lobitz’s class are stepping into the world of healthcare with...

The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) proudly helped launch the 2025–2026 school year at the Lamar CISD Convocation , where over...