Dripping Springs Education Foundation supports DSISD community

DRIPPING SPRINGS — The Dripping Springs Education Foundation (DSEF) has been supporting educators and students for more than 30 years.

Founded in 1992, the foundation raises private-sector funds to support academic goals and achievement at Dripping Springs ISD. This is done through awarding teacher grants for classroom enrichment, teaching innovations and continuing education.

Being the primary fundraiser for DSISD, the foundation’s mission now includes establishing a reliable private-funding mechanism that will help the district bridge the gap and maintain academic competitiveness, regardless of state funding levels. The foundation seeks financial contributions from DSISD families, the community at large and corporate donors.

“I think it's important for the community to know about the education foundation because we have been here for [more than] 30 years and we are able to support the district as a whole,” said Executive Director Lindsey Herring. “As we grow in our space here in Dripping Springs, we are going to need a lot more support in our schools. This is a local foundation that has grown in partners within the district to provide, for all campuses,  programs that benefit the learning environment for every person [and] a healthy school environment. The education foundation allows us to provide better opportunities for more students and staff.”

The foundation has three main programs: Mental Health Initiative, Innovative Teaching Grants and Student Leadership Grants.

Mental Health Initiative

In 2019, DSEF entered into a three-year agreement with the school district to provide salaries for three licensed mental health professionals across all campuses. They would cater to social-emotional learning skills, counseling and interventions for students.

Then, in 2023, the commitment was renewed for three years. This involved expanding mental health and wellness support to include a designated counselor providing support to all DSISD staff.

“It’s our biggest program and commitment to the district. That initiative is to really support the mental wellbeing of our students and staff here in the district. The exciting part about the commitment this go around is that we added an additional piece that brings in a licensed counselor that we contracted through the Samaritan Center. She's not a district employee, but she is primarily and solely focused on providing mental health support for staff. [For] any district employee that has a need for mental health services or is seeking a counselor, someone to help navigate the system is available to them free of charge during their work day,” Herring said. “We found that alone has been a really big component that we're seeing a lot of benefit from.”

In the 2022-23 school year, the district received an additional gift specifically toward supporting enhanced programs aimed at fostering the mental wellness of the DSISD community. One example is the implementation of Hope Squad — a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.

Innovative Teaching Grants

Through the Innovative Teaching Grants, teachers and staff have an opportunity to make their innovative teaching ideas a reality.

“It’s a program that allows all staff members across the district to apply for grant funding for any kind of classroom idea, campus idea [or] something that will improve or bring more opportunities and learning to their students,” Herring explained. “It allows teachers to really reach beyond the classroom walls, and what's provided, to bring learning to life.”

In the 2022-23 school year, the foundation awarded more than $70,000 in grant money to campuses across the district.

Student Leadership Grants

Student Leadership Grants are focused on empowering students to develop their leadership skills while making a difference in their school, community and beyond.

“We've got a great program that allows our students across the district to apply for grant funding for anything that they feel would improve their environment of learning at their campus and their community in their classrooms,” Herring said. “They write for different things. We’ve had sports equipment, different kinds of science clubs and robotic STEM days. Years ago, we had a community day where we just went out into the community and volunteered. We have had a lot of different programs come out of the Student Leadership Grants.”

With faculty sponsors, students can apply for these grants during the fall semester. Then, the DSEF committee — consisting of board members, community members, district personnel and donors — will review all of the applications and announce the winners in February.

DSEF awarded more $17,000 in grant money to students across the district in the 2022-23 school year.

Looking to the future, Herring said that the foundation is hoping to grow its monthly giving and get the community involved in supporting DSEF. To learn more about the foundation, and the programs it offers, visit www.dseducationfoundation.org.