Eanes ISD recieves TAP grant

May 2009 - The Texas Community Educatin Foundation awarded a Technical Assistance Program grant to Eanes ISD at the 2009 State Conference.

Leticia Hinojosa, Director of Community Education, accepted the $1000 grant, which will be used to organize and grow the community education program.

Others attending were Emily Hovland, Coordinator EASY Care (Eanes After School Youth Care), Erin Erickson, Community Outreach, and Reina Isbel, Billing Registrar. The grant was initiated by Eanes ISD Superintendent Dr. Nola Wellman and Assistant Superintendent Bill Bechtol.

Eanes ISD has offered community education for a number of years, but the current staff has been in place less than a year. Hinojosa reports that Eanes ISD offers three components:  Easy Care after-school programs for ages 5-11, the Child Development Center at for preschool care for staff and community, and adult enrichment courses.

"The priority this year is to grow the program," she said. "We picked up a lot here at the conference. We are all new, so we need guidance and examples."

The staff is already seeing benefits from being part of TCEA. One of the first actions when she took her position was to touch base with surrounding districts such as Dripping Springs and Lake Travis.

"We can talk on the phone with our peers," Hinojosa said. "People are encouraging,, and made us feel welcomed. Sometimes we feel like we are treading water, so we want to call and reach out to other directors."

Hinojosa plans to use the funds from TAP to grow adult education offerings, to increase advertising, to conduct a community survey, and to actively recruit vendors.

"Our overall goal is to keep up the quality of the courses," she said. "We think that is really important."

Eanes ISD staffers (clockwise from left) Reina Isbel, Erin Erickson, Leticia Hinojosa, and Emily Holland were at the conference to pick up ideas and the TAP grant.