$500 Grants Awarded to 23 New Teachers
Every new teacher begins their journey with excitement, big ideas, and a vision for their classroom. But turning that vision into reality often comes with a heavy financial burden. That’s where United to Learn steps in alongside Dallas ISD elementary schools in the U2L partner network.
Through our New Teacher Support Grants, we provide educators with one to three years of experience $500 grants to fulfill their classroom vision, creating learning environments where students feel inspired. These resources ease financial strain and also empower teachers to meet the unique needs of their students—fostering stronger relationships and enhancing instructional impact.
United to Learn’s New Teacher Support Grants aim to:
- Alleviate the financial burden of enhancing classrooms.
- Support teacher well-being and retention.
- Help accelerate student achievement by fostering inviting classrooms where every student can thrive.
“Having access to hands-on materials, technology tools, and flexible seating means I can better meet the individual needs of my students,” shared Alexandria Wilson, a new teacher at Edwin J. Kiest Elementary. “These resources not only make my lessons more engaging and creative but also give me the confidence to grow as an educator and build stronger connections with my students.”
Teacher Stories: Building Classrooms with Impact ✨
Bringing News and Discovery to Life: Kix Cosby
At H.I. Holland Elementary, Kix Cosby envisions a classroom where students with disabilities can access the world around them through differentiated tools and interactive technology.
One of the resources Kix is most excited to bring to her students is News2You, a program she first experienced as a student teacher. “It provides current events in a way that’s understandable for my students and encourages them to stay connected to the world,” she explains. “That’s such an important part of independent living.”
She also plans to add an Osmo interactive learning system, which transforms district-issued iPads into game-based learning tools for subjects ranging from pre-reading and phonics to geometry and early math skills.
“Students get a hands-on learning experience that feels fun for them,” Kix says. “At the same time, Osmo and News2You give me ready-to-use, differentiated materials that save valuable time while ensuring all of my students can access content at their level.”
Funds will also go toward adaptive classroom supplies—like fidgets, adaptive scissors, and sensory toys—ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed.
Creating Spaces for Literacy and Calm: Gerardo Diaz Rodriguez
For Pre-K3 teacher Gerardo Diaz Rodriguez at John F. Peeler Elementary, the New Teacher Support Grant is about more than just supplies—it’s about creating spaces where young learners can grow academically and emotionally.
“With this grant, I plan to create two key areas in my classroom: a reading nook and a calming zone,” Gerardo explains.
The reading nook will be stocked with culturally diverse, age-appropriate books displayed on low shelves, surrounded by soft seating and interactive visuals. Here, children will have daily opportunities to explore books independently, with peers, and during teacher-led read-alouds—building vocabulary, recognizing print, and developing a love for stories.
Equally important, the calming zone will be a quiet space filled with sensory tools, calming visuals, and soft lighting, where students can go to self-regulate their emotions.
“By promoting emotional well-being alongside early reading,” Gerardo shares, “I can help my students build strong foundations for both academic and personal growth.”
Celebrating Our 2025 Grantees
We are proud to recognize the following educators as recipients of our New Teacher Support Grants:
- Albert C. Black STEAM Academy: Tai’Daisha Jackson
- Anne Frank Elementary: Cristina Gray
- Ben Milam Elementary: Jordan Phillips
- C.A. Tatum, Jr. Elementary: Jennifer Luevano
- Central Elementary: Timmia Devine
- Chapel Hill Preparatory School: Gabriela Orozco Mendez, Katie Strader
- Edwin J. Kiest Elementary: Alexandria Wilson, Giovanna Chevez
- Gilbert Cuellar, Sr. Elementary: Fatima Gutierrez Mejia, Karen Alves Pedrosa Vieira
- H.I. Holland Elementary at Lisbon: Eternity Goree, Kix Cosby
- Jerry Junkins Elementary: Benjamin Guzman Uribe, Mark Taplette
- John F. Peeler Elementary: Gerardo Diaz Rodriguez
- John Q. Adams Elementary: Jordan Wheatley
- Julius Dorsey Leadership Academy: Jennifer Byer
- Lida Hooe Elementary: Catherine Mandin
- Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows: Tammye McIntyre
- Rufus C. Burleson Elementary: Eva Pacompia Cardena, Stephanie Hurtado
- William Brown Miller Elementary: Nia Simpson
How New Teacher Support Grants Are Made Possible
Community support is essential to thriving schools. Partnerships help close funding and resource gaps, empowering educators, accelerating student success, and building deeper connections between classrooms and the broader Dallas community.
“Teaching is unlike any other profession – there is no entry level. From day one, educators must be ready for their students. Our New Teacher Support Grants help ensure that readiness, equipping teachers with resources to create classrooms where students can thrive,” explains Alison Kreher, Director of Investor Relations.
Your support makes these grants possible. By donating to Learning Launch, you can provide first- through third-year teachers with the tools and encouragement they need to create engaging, inspiring classrooms where students succeed.
Looking Ahead
United to Learn will continue delivering New Teacher Support Grants throughout the school year to help new educators restock their classrooms and boost morale.
If you know a new teacher at one of our 120+ U2L partner schools who could benefit from a $500 grant, encourage them to apply. Applications not awarded this fall will be considered during the spring award cycle.
To learn how you can support United to Learn’s New Teacher Support Grants and other educator-focused initiatives, visit our Get Involved page. And be sure to follow us on social media @unitedtolearn to see grant deliveries and teacher transformations in action.