Foundation For Allen Schools Funded Classroom Grants at

Curtis Middle School

2022-2023 Classroom Grants

Independence through Community Based Instruction

This grant under Special Education Curriculum was awarded to Crystal Wright and will benefit 13 students at Curtis Middle School.

"Independence Through Community Based Instruction" allows students with disabilities the opportunity to learn the skills they need to function independently in a meaningful way. The students also gain confidence through their public social experiences.

Empowered Leaders

This grant under Counseling Curriculum was awarded to Jennifer Armentrout, Jennifer Springgs, Samantha Fields, Meredith Martin, Austin White, Solomn Boatfield, Harold Allen, Dylan Martin, Todd Fornadel and Tara Cassetty and will benefit 300 students at Chandler Elementary, Marion Elementary, Olson Elementary, Preston Elementary, Rountree Elementary, Vaughan Elementary, Curtis Middle School, Ereckson Middle School and Ford Middle School.

Empowered Leaders takes place in six elementary schools and all three middle schools in Allen ISD who participate in this unique after-school leadership program which focuses on building leaders in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Students participate in field trip, leadership skills training, and serving through volunteer efforts.

ALLen Reads 2022

This grant under Library / Makerspace Curriculum was awarded to Kelly Clewell and will benefit 20,000 students across AISD and benefits every campus in Allen. 

ALLen Reads encourages the entire Allen community to read the same book or the grade-level appropriate companion book. The grant provides copies of the selected books to all campuses in Allen ISD, and the students have access to community events related to the books, such as author and illustrator speakers, writing presentations, and musical performances.

BRAINball

This grant under Physical Education Curriculum was awarded to Geoben Johnson and Katie Snider and will benefit 16,500 students across Allen ISD in grades K – 9^th.

BRAINball is an innovative and unique physical education learning system that merges physical activity and academic learning through play. In addition to the physical benefits, significant improvement will be seen in gross and fine motor skills, cooperative and cognitive learning.  Brainball has proven to produce positive changes in letter recognition,  students read better, improve mathematical skills, movement and writing skills. Research also shows positive changes in graphomotor skills, eye-hand coordination, and temporal-spatial orientation improvement when used on a consistent basis. The Brainball set includes 100 premade games/activities for K-6 that can be adapted for grades 7-9. Training will be provided to allow easy integration into district curriculum and to academic classroom teachers that want to use it for enhancing learning in their class. The brainball set is appropriate for Kindergarten through High School and can be adapted for students with special needs and learning deficits.

Real time data in Science

This grant under Science / STEAM Curriculum was awarded to Jason Baughman and will benefit 3,600 students Curtis, Ereckson and Ford Middle Schools.

This grant will support science and engineering practices in our middle school classrooms by giving students the opportunity to collect and analyze data in real-time. The sensors connect to any compatible Bluetooth device including phones, tablets, Chromebook, laptops, and computers.

I Can See Clearly Now!

This grant under Special Education Curriculum was awarded to Patricia Reyna, Sherri Idbeis, Karen McCrary and Colleen Dunphy and will benefit 45 students across Allen ISD who have a visual impairment.

Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments serve students throughout the district and provide consult and direct instruction for teachers and students with blindness or visual impairments. An iPad Pro is a tool that makes accessing learning material possible for students that struggle with seeing on a regular iPad screen. An iPad Pro also serves as an evaluation tool for TSVI's and our Orientation and Mobility instructor in the district.

2021-2022 Classroom Grants

Adapt Me!

This grant under Special Education Curriculum was awarded to Patricia Reyna and will benefit 25 students at Anderson, Evans, Olson, Curtis Middle School and Allen High School. 

Adapted books for our special needs students will allow an opportunity for every student to interact with literature on their own learning level. Adapted books employ cognitive skills such as matching, comprehension, fine motor and attention-building skills.

Soothing Self-Care Strategies

This grant under Counseling Curriculum was awarded to Ryan Thomasco along with Lisa Phillips and will benefit 1400 students.  Self-care strategies are used with CMS students throughout the school year to help students develop healthy habits for life to take care of themselves and lead happy, productive lives.

Y.E.S. (Year End Service Project)

This grant under Counseling Curriculum was awarded to Sheri Kuester and will benefit 70 students.  

Students making a difference in the community by participating in year-end service projects. Students choose an organization and implement ways that they could serve that organization.

Curtis MS Theatre I Field Trip to A Christmas Carol

This grant under Fine Arts Curriculum awarded to Jessamyn Berger and will benefit 140 students. 

A field trip for Theater I students from Curtis Middle School to attend a student matinee of A Christmas Carol at the Dallas Theater Center. Funding from this grant will cover the costs of buses as well as 50% of ticket costs so students will be able to purchase their own ticket at the reasonable value of $10.

Blinded by the light, moon, and physics!

This grant under Science/STEAM Curriculum was awarded to Randall Mobley and will benefit 600 students.  

Physics "springing" to action, bringing the moon into the room, and breaking the light bring science to life for students to see science as they do science.

Independence through Community Based Instruction

This grant under Special Education Curriculum awarded to Crystal Wright and will benefit 12 students.  

"Independence Through Community Based Instruction" allows students with disabilities the opportunity to learn the skills they need to function independently in a meaningful way. The students also gain confidence through their public social experiences.