We are so proud of the work our Winnsboro ISD Education Foundation has accomplished in our first three years of service! The formation of our organization was born out of conversations among Winnsboro ISD administrators about how to support the dynamic ideas that our teachers and educational leaders in WISD routinely have, despite ever- tightening budget constraints. The funding we raise is utilized to support programs that inspire and engage our amazing teachers and students, providing resources for the “outside of the box” thinking that traditional school district budgets are not designed to support.
It is with these beliefs that the Winnsboro ISD Education Foundation (WISD-EF) was formed. Our hard-working volunteer board members are parents, grandparents, alumni, business leaders, educational experts, and community leaders – all committed to our core mission of engaging the community and empowering educators.
Since the formation of the WISD-EF, Board Members have met regularly to organize fund-raising efforts and to diligently work to lay a strong groundwork to ensure long-term success for the Foundation and, more importantly, Winnsboro ISD students and teachers. Since our inception, we have pledged over $176,000 in funds to WISD...we are so proud of the impact our organization is making on our wonderful school district!
Hats off to all of the incredible sponsors who have partnered with WISD-EF to help make this success possible! It is through your generous support that we are able to make such a positive impact on the lives of WISD students and staff!
The Winnsboro ISD Education Foundation, in cooperation with the Winnsboro School District, hosted the 3rd annual Top 10 Academic Recognition Banquet on Monday, May 12th at the Winnsboro High School Cafetorium. This banquet honored the top 10% of the graduating Class of 2025 from Winnsboro High School. In addition to the individual recognition of each scholar's academic achievements, each graduate selected and honored a Winnsboro School District employee who has had a significant positive influence on his or her education and life.
It is truly such an honor for the Winnsboro ISD Education Foundation to host this event each year and to have the opportunity to learn about each graduate's educational journey and future plans. The inspiring stories shared by these graduates about educators who have had such a meaningful impact on their lives serve as wonderful reminders and reinforcement of the importance of our board's mission to ensure that students and educators in WISD are given the necessary tools for educational excellence and student success!
The Winnsboro ISD Education Foundation would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our incredible sponsors for this year's banquet. We are so grateful for your support and proud to partner with each of you!
We would also like to extend a special “thank you” to Duncan McAdoo for serving as our Master of Ceremonies, Haven's Cafe for catering a delicious meal, Ashley's Flowers for the beautiful centerpieces, and to the WHS Beta Club student volunteers for helping serve our guests.
HUGE congratulations to each of these Top 10 WHS 2025 Graduates on your impressive achievements and to the recognized educators for the incredible impact you have made on these students!
Did you know that because of the generous support from our sponsors, donors and volunteers, the WISD Education Foundation was able to award $29,324.90 in grants to Winnsboro ISD employees in 2025? Isn't that fantastic??
On April 30, 2025, members of the WISD Education Foundation, along with WISD district staff & sponsors visited WISD campuses with a LOT of fanfare, to surprise WISD teachers who were awarded teaching & learning grants! Students lined the hallways at each school as the Raider band, Varsity & JV cheerleaders, Raiderettes & the Raider Color Guard, led the Prize Patrol throughout the campuses to hand out over-sized checks to lucky teachers and staff. It was a great day of celebration for all!
To date, the WISD Education Foundation Prize Patrol has awarded over $81,000 to WISD staff and teachers.
- "Garden Club" by Kim Nash (WJH) Awarded: $1,590.34
- “Little Board, Big Possibilities“ by Angela Beavers (WJH) Awarded: $895.68
- “Interactive Learning Boards” by Jessica Stahn (WJH) Awarded: $3,795.00
- “Testing Team & Tier 3 Technology” by Shelly Self(WES) Awarded: $6,180.00
- “Enhancing Focus & Well-Being: The Sensory Path Initiative ” by Tonya Jones (WES) Awarded: $1,500.00
- “Learning Through Play: Make-Believe Matters” by Carla Cleveland (WES) Awarded: $1,865.00
- “Robotics Field Risers ” by Stacy Rogers (WHS) Awarded: $3.045.29
- “Autodesk Fusion Grant” by Stacy Rogers (WHS) Awarded: $4,098.00
- “Empowering Learning Through Mobile Technology” by Morgan Johnson (WHS) Awarded: $776.00
- “Reading Revolution: Dyslexia Reading Pens” by Callie Roberts (WHS) Awarded: $2,993.90
- "Ga-Ga Ball Pits" by Gary Chapin (WMIS) Awarded: $1,910.69
- "Efficiency In Education" by Frances Williams (WMIS) Awarded: $675.00
Each newsletter, we like to highlight one of our super WISD employees to show how they are putting the funds they received from an Education Foundation grant into action!
JULIE LEWIS - K-2 STEM Teacher
Winnsboro Elementary School
What an honor it is to highlight Julie Lewis, K-2 STEM teacher, at Winnsboro Elementary School! Julie is such a creative teacher, who is dedicated to ensuring that STEM-based instruction is embedded in learning for all K-2 students at WES. To date, Julie and the administrative team at WES have received over $11,000 in grant funds from the Winnsboro ISD Education Foundation to develop innovative STEM learning opportunities for K-2 students. In addition to using the funds to purchase instructional materials for Julie's STEM classroom, these funds have been used to create an Outdoor Learning Classroom. This outdoor area includes a butterfly garden, raised planters for growing seasonal vegetables & flowers, weather station, magnet wall for exploring force & motion, water station for learning all about the properties of water; outdoor math learning games, and so much more! Parents at WES were invited to attend a Family STEM Night in 2024, in order to discover more about how their students were learning through STEM at WES. It was a HUGE success!
Julie has done a tremendous job of utilizing the funds received from WISD-EF Innovative Teaching Grants and we are so proud of her and her initiatives to improve and enhance student learning through STEM.
Enjoy this great video from Julie, sharing all about how grant funds have been used at WES!
Our 2025 board consists of prominent and proud business and community leaders, parents, educators, and alumni who have come together to serve our Winnsboro ISD school community through the Winnsboro Education Foundation. Our focus is to engage the community of Winnsboro and empower educators by expanding resources that cultivate learning, boost teaching, and maximize opportunities for students in the Winnsboro School District. Basically, we are the Booster Club for teachers!!
2025 Officers/Executive & Nominating Committee
Ted Haynes – President
Tona Blizzard – VP Development
Rusdon Mills – VP Finance & Governance
CJ Holland – VP Marketing & Events
Linda Finney – VP Programs
Pam Swanner – At Large
Debbie Lyons – Secretary
Dave Wilcox, Ex Officio
Board Members
Jonathan Attaway ⭐ John-Brent Beaty ⭐ Blake Cooper ⭐ Kade Martin
Darren Swanner ⭐ Judy Nutter ⭐ Kim Leaks ⭐ Elizabeth Parker ⭐ Jody Hettich ⭐ Ken Ragsdale Phillis Stone ⭐ Debra Sue Miears ⭐ Brea Ogle ⭐ Ashley Hamm ⭐ Duncan McAdoo, Ex Officio