February 2, 2024 - The Comal Education Foundation hosted its first Stakeholders Appreciation event on January 26, welcoming approximately 100 stakeholders including Comal ISD campus principals, members of the Comal ISD Board of Trustees, Comal ISD administrators, top donors and community partners.
The event was a way to showcase the success of the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the strategic growth of the organization, and to recognize exceptional grant winners and supporters.
“We are very grateful to all of our stakeholders, sponsors and partners not just for their financial support, but also for believing in our work and our mission,” says Chelsea Ormond, executive director of the Foundation. “We understand that economic hardships limit discretionary funds for most of us, and we strive to maximize our donor dollars to benefit every student in Comal ISD.
“Every gift we receive matters, and every dollar donated to the Foundation is a vote of confidence in our organization and keeps our volunteers inspired to make a difference in the future of education.”
The Foundation’s awards are included here.
Leader of Innovation Award – Christine Hall, first-grade teacher at Oak Creek Elementary, has been awarded more than $28,400 through four Innovation Grants in the last two years.
Campus of Innovation Award – Indian Springs Elementary, principal Mary Stults, has received nine Innovation Grants and three New Teacher Grants totaling more than $29,700.
Community Impact Award – Ron Fey, science teacher at Mountain Valley Middle School, received an Innovation Award in spring 2023 for solar eclipse glasses. He then hosted a community watch party in October at MVMS to learn about eclipses and to witness the phenomenon.
Partner of the Year Award – GVTC Foundation was the top donor of the 2022-2023, giving the Foundation $10,500 through a community grant award and multiple event sponsorships. Sonia Aguillon is the executive director of the GVTC Foundation.
Outstanding Service Award – Lizzie Trevino, Comal ISD state/federal programs coordinator, has supported the Foundation behind-the-scenes with budget codes and more, helping grant recipients purchase their materials quickly and efficiently.
The Foundation also provided the community with its Annual Report highlighting a 34.4 percent increase in revenue from 2021-2022 as well as a 48 percent increase in grant awards since 2020. In addition, all campuses in the district have been impacted by grant programs in the last three years.
Take a look at the impact of the Foundation in its latest video.
-Comal ISD first-grade teacher Christine Hall from Oak Creek Elementary received the Leader of Innovation Award from the Comal Education Foundation. Pictured from left is OCES principal Valerie Harrari, the Foundation’s president Casey Annunzio, Hall and Comal ISD Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman III.
-Indian Springs Elementary received the Campus of Innovation Award from the Comal Education Foundation. Pictured from left is the Foundation’s president Casey Annunzio, ISES principal Mary Stults and Comal ISD Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman III.
-Comal ISD science teacher Ron Fey from Mountain Valley Middle School received the Community Impact Award from the Comal Education Foundation. Pictured from left is the Foundation’s president Casey Annunzio, Fey and Comal ISD Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman III.
-The GVTC Foundation received the Partner of the Year Award from the Comal Education Foundation. Pictured from left is the Foundation’s president Casey Annunzio, GVTC Foundation’s executive director Sonia Aguillon and Comal ISD Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman III.
-Members of the Comal Education Foundation board of directors are pictured. Front row from left is Chelsea Ormond and Casey Annunzio; middle row from left is Josh Acut, Braden Haley, Steve Rayburn, Sarah Permenter and Mike Crowley; back row from left is Trent Christian, Steve Lyons, Danny Braaten, Craig Jendrusch, Anthony Nicola and Jason Rammel.