Tomball Education Foundation’s annual grants encourage the pursuit of innovative programs or projects that promote higher levels of learning. They are available to Tomball Independent School District (TISD) teachers, administrators, and school support staff. The grants also support TISD’s strategic plan to develop future-ready learners.
The visionaries who take advantage of TEF’s grant opportunities see ways to improve learning outcomes. They are investing in our future.
West Elementary special education professional Leslie Emory felt traditional classroom layout could be modified. “As educators, it’s essential that we adapt our classrooms and teaching methods to ensure that we meet the needs of every learner,” said Emory. “Research indicates that flexible seating arrangements can significantly enhance student engagement and comfort.”
Kids wriggle and wiggle and that’s okay in Ms. Emory’s classroom. Seating for
Success wobble chairs are designed to allow West Elementary students greater
freedom of movement, keeping them engaged longer.
The West Elementary teacher received a $597 grant from the Tomball Education Foundation. Seating For Success: Transforming Learning Environments With Flexible Seating provides liquid sensory tiles and wobble stools that create a supportive and engaging learning environment for students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (ASD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and emotional disabilities.
Liquid sensory tiles can enhance emotional regulation and concentration by creating a safe space for anxious or overstimulated students. They provide tactile stimulation that can support kids who are feeling overwhelmed or distracted; the tiles are also designed to assist students with sensory processing challenges. The tiles offer touch and visual stimulation by featuring various colors, patterns, and textures.
Wobble stools promote physical engagement. “Traditional seating can lead to sedentary behavior,” said Emory. Wobble stools allow for movement while seated. Student restlessness and lack of concentration occur while sitting for lengthy periods. The chairs allow learners to shift their weight, swivel, or rock.
The wobble stools and sensory tiles are not “just” about making kids more comfortable in the classroom, although that’s a critical feature. “They empower students by fostering independence; they can manage their own learning environments,” she continued. Emory says the sensory tiles and wobble stools can:
- Allow break times and transitional adjustments
- Challenge students to explore cause and effect
- Encourage collaboration
- Enhance focus
- Facilitate differentiated instruction
- Foster independence
- Improve posture
- Promote physical engagement
- Support sensory processing needs
“I’m so excited to provide my students with flexible seating options that cater to their diverse learning styles,” said the enthusiastic West Elementary of Tomball educator. “I have already noticed an increase in their concentration and focus.”
The name of Kathryn Gates’ 2024-2025 grant $4,400 proposal, Building Bright Minds: Enhancing Math and Science Education seems diminutive when you witness the educational impact of the awarded TEF grant. Canyon Pointe Elementary’s fourth-grade math and science students are more excited about math and science programs and tools this year because Katy Gates genuinely cares about science and math scholastics in the Tomball Independent School District. During the 2023-2024 school year, she received a $4,500 grant to develop interactive science tools for Lakewood Elementary fourth graders.
“The grant is twofold,” she explained. “We used the math portion for a web-based program that is user-friendly and personalized for each student.” The iknowit program offers interactive math practices, and student success is tracked by the teacher.
“I can assign addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fraction practices that are above or below the student’s performance indicators,” she continued. “And they have no idea the grade level at which they are working.” This can help struggling students as well as challenge above-average students to gain greater confidence and mastery of math.
Is erosion caused by wind or water?
Canyon Pointe 4th grade students explore
ways our earth is weathering.
The math challenges include:
- Detailed reporting for teachers to monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly
- Differentiated lessons adjusted to each student’s level
- Engaging, game-like activities that motivate students to practice math skills
- Immediate feedback to help students correct mistakes in real-time
- Skill levels from basic operations to more complex concepts
The grant also funded lab materials that students use for hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons. “These materials will allow students to explore critical scientific concepts in alignment with the newly implemented Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, fostering a deeper understanding of life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences,” said Gates. “This tactile and experiential approach is incredibly effective because it allows students to explore and manipulate materials, making the learning process more captivating and memorable.” Gates said fourth-grade students are at a crucial stage in their academic journey; curiosity is piqued and hands-on experiments can inspire a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The new lab materials allow Canyon Pointe kids the kind of experiential learning that makes scientific concepts come alive.
The lab materials:
- Align hands-on experiments with the TEKS science standards
- Enhance students’ understanding of key 4th-grade science concepts through hands-on activities
- Foster excitement and curiosity about science by making learning fun and interactive
- Provide opportunities for students to interact in collaborative, inquiry-based learning
This orbital planetarium illuminates the dynamics of our solar system.
Grant equipment included goggles and chisels for discovering embedded fossils.
Fourth graders manipulate resistors, LEDs, jump wires, and batteries as students study DC circuitry.
The TEF grant application period will open again this summer and close in October 2025. TISD teams and individuals with ideas that can promote excitement and achievement in education at Tomball schools are encouraged to fill out the form for notification when applications re-open.
FAQs
A frequently asked question about Tomball schools is:
Yes, and the Texas Educational Agency released their most recent ratings in April 2025. The grades are available on TXSchools.gov. Texas imposed higher standards to get an A.
TOMBALL WAS THE HIGHEST-RATED HOUSTON-AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Grades are based on:
- Closing the gaps in achievement – How well schools are boosting scores for specific groups of children, including students with special needs and English language learners
- School progress – How much students are improving on state tests
- Student achievement – How well their students perform on state standardized tests and whether they are ready for college and careers
Tomball Independent School District schools received grades of:
- A – Ensuring all students of all backgrounds are successful
- A – STAAR performance, college readiness, and graduation rates
- B – Students’ growth and performance compared to other schools with similar numbers of economically disadvantaged students (Tomball ISD has about 31.5% economically advantaged students. The statewide average is 62.1%.)
The top Houston-area schools were:
- Tomball ISD – A (Score: 91)
- Friendswood ISD – A (Score: 91)
- Barbers Hill ISD – A (Score: 91)
- Pearland ISD – B (Score: 89)
- Katy ISD – B (Score: 88)
Houston ISD received a C grade. The lowest-performing Houston-area districts were Spring, Huffman, Willis, Aldine, and Cleveland ISDs. The next performance rating will be released in August 2025.
Tomball Educational Foundation takes pride in offering Tomball schools beyond-the-basics tools that provide our students with a superior education. But it wouldn’t be possible without the donors, volunteers, and especially the TISD staff. To learn more about ways to support TEF, contact Tomball Educational Foundation.
