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Gulf Coast Educators FCU Awards 50 Classroom Mini Grants to Texas Educators Fall '25 & Spring '26

Gulf Coast Educators FCU Awards 50 Classroom Mini Grants to Texas Educators Fall '25 & Spring '26

2026 Mini Grant Classroom Project IMG

Picture: Mini grant recipient from Clear Creek ISD, Shirley C. Dickey’s class working on their rubber band racers project.

Pasadena, TX, January 16, 2026: Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union awarded 50 classroom mini grants to educators in the state of Texas. The teachers who applied had to answer one simple question, “How would $100 help you engage students or facilitate learning in your classroom?”

The credit union awarded 25 grants during the Fall semester of 2025 and an additional 25 grants during the Spring semester of 2026. Over 300 applications were received from educators all over Texas, from Galveston to Dallas, and everywhere in between. All Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 Classroom Mini Grant Recipients are listed below.


Fall 2025 Classroom Mini Grant Recipients

Adriana Sanchez Cantu - Alvin ISD

Amy Raymond - San Jacinto College

Bari Scherrer - Parkway Christian Academy

Danielle Derouen - Santa Fe ISD

Dean Rogers -Channelview ISD

Deja Getwood - Fort Bend ISD

Dennis Rigsby - Sheldon ISD

Donnette Williams - Houston ISD

Elizabeth Bell - Houston ISD

Gena Martinez - Deer Park ISD

Jennifer Dinsdale - Pasadena ISD

Jennifer Parrish - Santa Fe ISD

Karly Provoyeur - Dickinson ISD

Lori Scott - Birdville ISD

Maggie Courville -Pasadena ISD

McKenzie Williams - Deer Park ISD

Nikki Reed - Katy ISD

Patricia Ramos - Aldine ISD

Pennie Yancey - Alvin ISD

Sara Andrade - Pasadena ISD

Sara Hansen - Humble ISD

Shannon Howard - Waller ISD

Tammy Baty-Rice - Sheldon ISD

Tiffany Franklin - Spring ISD

Lidia Cleveland - Santa Fe ISD

Spring 2026 Classroom Mini Grant Recipients

Christin Borski - Pasadena ISD

Sarah Kloesel - Pasadena ISD

Ashley Smalls - Katy ISD

Rebecca Clark - La Porte ISD

Rani Bauer - La Porte ISD

Dakota Pierson - Goose Creek CISD

Rachel Aguilar - Magnolia ISD

Kayla Powell - Katy ISD

Veronica Powell - Goose Creek CISD

Kristen Di Napoli - Katy ISD

Abigail Gilger - Deer Park ISD

Shirley Cook-Dickey - Clear Creek ISD

Tiffany Randle - Klein ISD

Maria Nuncio - Tejano Center

Sara Hansen - Humble ISD

Melisa Evans - Pasadena ISD

Veronica Hunter - Tyler ISD

Kris Frederick - Katy ISD

Elizabeth Bell - Houston ISD

Lindsey Englis - Katy ISD

Jennifer Vann - Pasadena ISD

Ashlyn Pittman - KIPP Texas Public Schools

Arlla Acosta-Prado - Pasadena ISD

Nina Corley - Galveston ISD/private

Jana Reyes - Channelview ISD


Gulf Coast Educators FCU has been awarding classroom mini grants every year to teachers in need since 2015. In total, the credit union has awarded more than $57,500 in mini grants to educators all over the state of Texas.

About Gulf Coast Educators FCU: In 1948, eleven Pasadena ISD educators got together and formed what today remains a credit union dedicated to serving the financial needs of school employees, all over Texas. The credit union offers its member-owners a full line of banking services, but through a cooperative ownership structure. To learn more about the credit union, visit www.gcefcu.org