Three SAISD teachers received a surprise just before students are set to start their winter break. 

Juan Morales from Lanier High School, Kayleigh Del Moral Caniglia from Riverside Park Elementary, and Eric Asel from Young Men’s Leadership Academy all got a knock on their classroom door and were greeted with enthusiastic cheers from members of the Valero Alamo Bowl, including president and CEO Derrick Fox, and Judy Geelhoed, executive director of the SAISD Foundation. Each teacher received $1,000 grants to add to previous funding already received from the Foundation. 

Fox says this is a way to give back to the community just before the Valero Alamo Bowl kicks off at the Alamodome on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The scholarships tie in the hard work being put in every day on the field and in the classroom.

“This is so exciting to see this. This is the first year we’ve done this program. It’s a program to get people across the goal line,” Fox said. “School districts have nominated different teachers and programs throughout the community. The $1,000 is for additional support in the classroom for these previously launched projects that teachers can now take to completion. We’re thrilled and couldn’t be more excited to be here.”

Asel’s project at YMLA includes creating virtual Minecraft worlds for his students, combining spatial awareness, math and gaming for his boys. Morales and his students from Lanier use the technology of drones and student-built equations to calculate wheel alignment and vehicle safety standards as part of their studies on accident prevention. Del Moral Caniglia and her students at Riverside Park Elementary are learning in a STEAM innovation area and maker space. What’s more is that students throughout the school earn tokens as part of academic incentives to select books featured in a high-tech book vending machine.

"Through our partners at Valero Alamo Bowl, we're able to put even more power into our classrooms with these three $1,000 grants,” Geelhoed said. “They will continue to help our teachers fund innovative, fun, engaging projects while allowing our students to learn beyond the scope of their books. This is truly a holiday blessing and we appreciate their support so much."

The grants are part of a collaboration with Extra Yard for Teachers, the College Football Foundation’s primary platform that elevates the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers through the implementation of programs in the areas of resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development.
The Valero Alamo Bowl will feature #14 Oregon and #16 Oklahoma. The game begins at 8:15 p.m.