Our Priorities

Connecting Students through Innovation

Many of the annual STAR Grants are awarded into Abilene ISD classrooms to innovate classroom projects ranging from IPads to science laboratory skeletons.

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“Thank you for the gracious gift you gave first-year teachers. I have been a paraprofessional in AISD for 19 years, but recently earned my degree and started my first year as a teacher. Thank you again!”
Alicia Luna
Bonham Elementary

AEF Scholarships

To help students reach their potential, complete their college education, and graduate with reduced debt, AEF awards a number of scholarships to deserving AISD students. In recent years, the number and quality of scholarship applicants has risen as AEF’s COOL program has worked with students to make them aware of scholarship opportunities. Why does AEF financially help students pursuing a higher education degree? Because we know our students simply cannot afford to skip their higher education.

“I know you deal with a lot day-to-day, as most people do, and kids get scared when you’re talking to them about MORE school and what’s going to happen after high school. Dealing with teenagers is already hard, but you stuck by our side and encouraged us to be the best we can be. That’s a big deal when you’re all alone.”
Destiny Huerta
2020 Woodson Graduate

Celebrating our Teachers

In an effort to further recognize our outstanding teachers,
Abilene ISD submitted the outstanding elementary (Chelsea Rico, Lee Elementary) and
secondary (Jimmy Pogue, Cooper High School) teachers of the year’s names for the Texas
Teacher of the Year competition, and both were selected
as Region 14 Teachers of the Year!

“THANK YOU! - Numerous students have been impacted by YOUR generosity to my classroom over the years through AEF’s STAR Teacher Grants. Every high school senior that has taken my Economics class has had the opportunity to view Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance High School version better preparing them for life after high school. Every junior that has taken my US History class has had the opportunity to view Ken Burns’ documentaries on historical events. This information is important and has helped the students be successful on the state exams, but also just better understand how history connects to the present, and to better understand their own place in history. I cannot thank you enough for helping enrich education for all my students.”
Jennifer Jordan
Abilene High School Teacher

Meeting the Needs of Our Students

Our students’ needs begin before the school year starts and continue after they graduate. Donations to the Abilene Education Foundation provide for basics 

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“As the coordinator of New Teacher Orientation, this was my first year to get to participate in seeing the GIFT grants awarded. Although 2020 was an unusual start, the new-to-the-profession teachers were nonetheless thrilled to receive the additional help from AEF. What a true gift for our new teachers, thank you AEF!”
Ross Thomas
Director of Professional Learning/Digital Coaching