Bullard Independent School District hosted the teacher's orientation starting Monday, Aug. 17, at the Audrey Owens Auditorium at the high school campus.

Dr. JOHN ALEXANDER BISD Board President

The orientation inc luded introducing new teachers and the president of the newly formed Bullard Education, Darren Davis, was one of the featured speakers.

According to Davis, the Bullard Education Foundation will focus on grants, achievement recognition and scholarships.

"What we're looking for is innovation, creativity and outside the box thinking," he said.

The foundation will seek funds from community leaders and businesses to help provide grants and scholarships.

"All the money we raise is going right back into the school system," Davis said. "Every bit of it."

The foundation will be able to provide funding for projects this year.

"We're talking about having money in about five to six months." He said. "We've had our sleeves rolled up and we're on our

(Banner Staff Photo by Don Treul) Bullard Education Foundation President Darren Davis, left, highlighted the benefits of the foundation at the BISD faculty/staff orientation Monday in the auditorium. Lisa Callens, right, demonstrated the posibilities of the grant with a mock check.

way."

Community leaders formed the foundation to partner with Bullard Independent School District. Their focus will be to provide opportunities for excellence in education, promote innovation in teaching, recognize achievement, and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students, Davis said.

The foundation board members include Davis, Larry Agnew, Ann King

Donnie Barron , Tiffany Kirgan, Terry Boyd, Jacky Lee, BISD Superintendent Keith Bryant, Roger Nygaard, Lisa Callens, Jill Rose, Candy Conant, Sharon Roy, Jill Smith, Lance Eitel, Susan Smith, Curtis Hippler, Amanda Tekell, Tony Johnson, Tisha White and Phil Wood.

"They are passionate about this mission," Bryant said of the foundation members. "You are going to see a tremendous infusion of dollars into the district."

(Banner Staff Photo by Don Treul) Bullard ISD faculty/staff gathered Monday in the auditorium for orientation for the 2009-2010 school year. Students will begin school Monday, Aug. 24.

The foundation is an independent, nonprofit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. The sole purpose of the newly formed education foundation is to benefit the Bullard Independent School District by providing funds for educational programs and activities which are not funded by the normal operating budget. The funds will be used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence and to expand community involvement from individuals, businesses and civic organizations. Funding priorities will also include innovative teaching grants that will provide resources directly to the classroom for teachers to implement exciting new educational programs. Contributions to the foundation are tax deductible.

"It became obvious Bullard Independent School District needed a foundation in order to provide for an alternative source of funding for teachers, and staff to develop exciting educational opportunities for the students and to allow the community to become more connected with the school system," Davis said. "The foundation is one of the necessary pieces of the puzzle required to help produce first class students and graduates and that will in turn, have a positive impact on our community and our future as a whole. Additionally, I am encouraged about the excitement and moral boost the foundation will bring to the students and staff of Bullard ISD."

"To me, the foundation represents a community of leaders that desire to make Bullard ISD the best district in East Texas," said Bryant. "It means our community really cares about our district being on the forefront of technology, teacher support, and student success."

For information about the foundation or to make a donation, visit the Web site at www.bullardisd.net (education foundation).

The orientation continued in the afternoon Monday with profiler Dan Korem, author of "The Art of Profiling." Korem's methods are designed to assist educators to identify potential problems and interact with each other and students to minimize dangerous situation on campus.