The Royse City ISD Education Foundation surprised teachers across the district with a record-breaking total of $128,360.88 in classroom grants during its annual Grant Patrol.

The 58 grants awarded mark the highest number of applications and the largest dollar amount in the foundation’s history.

“Grant Patrol is truly the best day of the year, where we get to see the immense joy on the faces of our dedicated educators,” said Education Foundation Executive Director Kim Crumrine. “This record-breaking total is a testament to the incredible generosity of our donors and community, and the inspiring vision of our teachers, who are committed to bringing innovative, transformative learning experiences to every student in Royse City ISD.”

The grants fund creative and innovative instructional approaches that encourage student creativity and critical thinking, reaching classrooms from early childhood education through high school Career and Technology programs.

Among the standout projects this year were “A Stage for Young Masters: Showcasing the Next Generation of Artists” at Royse City High School, a $5,000 fine arts grant, and “Together in Calm: An Inclusive Sensory Sanctuary for Young Learners” at Glenda Arnold Early Childhood Learning Center, which received $4,809.55.

At Ruth Cherry Elementary, the “From Dash to Sphero: Building STEM Skills Through Robotics” project earned $2,159.88 to expand elementary STEAM learning. Moss and Paula Walker Elementary schools each received $2,100 for the “Words in Motion: Giving Every Child a Voice on the Playground” initiative in Special Education, while Scott Elementary was awarded $1,500 for “Unlocking the Ultimate Potential: Autism Education Grant for Specialized Supports.”

The Foundation’s Classroom Grants program offers funding in several categories, including campus, department or CTE program of study grants up to $5,000; individual or classroom grants up to $1,500; mini grants of $250; and first-year teacher grants of $200.