The Dickinson ISD Education Foundation received a charitable grant of $50,000 from the Valero Benefit for Children this year, thanks to the Valero Texas Open golf tournament and associated events.

“Valero continues to make a difference in our community, and we are humbled to be selected for a grant this year. We are grateful for their support because it will allow us to help our most at-risk Dickinson ISD students bridge achievement and developmental gaps heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tamara Sherrod, director, Dickinson ISD Education Foundation.

The awarded funds will be used to provide additional Chromebook devices to Dickinson ISD students currently enrolled in accelerated remediation programs. Dickinson ISD students who do not pass the state mandated STAAR reading and/or math tests are put on an Accelerated Instruction Plan (AIP) and must complete instructional activities. This includes targeted TEKS-aligned supplemental accelerated instruction delivered in a 1-on-1 or small group setting either through after school tutoring or as part of additional class instruction.  Further impeding the development of this student population are the lingering effects of the “COVID slide” that district teachers and administrators must also address. The goal of these programs is to build robust COVID recovery and acceleration plans and prepare students for future success as the STAAR test moves to an all-digital format in Spring 2023.

Due to the incredible generosity of Valero’s business partners, donors, and sponsors, more than $22 million in net proceeds from the Valero Texas Open will be distributed to agencies across the United States, supporting the work of hundreds of charity partners like the Dickinson ISD Education Foundation.

Funded in 2007, the Dickinson ISD Education Foundation provides funds for education programs and activities that either have not been funded or have been underfunded by the normal operating budget. Its primary initiatives center around awarding Innovative Teaching Grants and student scholarships, and awarded funds are used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence, and to expand community involvement among individuals, businesses, and civic organizations.