The Cotton Bowl Foundation and College Football Playoff Foundation have donated $200,000 to non-profits that work with teachers in Texas. They made the donations at the University of North Texas at Dallas Tuesday.
Fifty thousand dollars will go to the UNT Dallas "Call Me Mister" and "Diverse Male Educators Destined to Teach, Hope, Respond, Inspire, Value and Empower" programs. Fifty thousand dollars goes to "Urban Teachers, and $100,000 goes to "Educate Texas."
"Educate Texas is committed to the success of African American, Latino and low income students by investing in our mission to increase the number of degrees and credentials our students receive and ensuring every student has a great teacher," says Educate Texas' Chris Coxon. "We know quality teachers are the most important factor in the classroom contributing to students' success and achievement."
The grants going to education programs at UNT Dallas aim to attract younger teachers and more male teachers.
"With the nation facing a crucial teacher shortage, UNT Dallas is on the front line supporting diversity in teacher recruitment efforts," says UNT Dallas Provost Betty Stewart.
The Texas Education Agency says 43,000 teachers left the state's classrooms in the last academic year, representing 12 percent of all teachers. In the 2020-2021 school year, 34,000 teachers left the profession.
"With the impact you can have on lives in the community and from my personal experience, reflecting on the experiences I had in school, I just thought it'd be really cool," says John Solano, a junior studying education at UNT Dallas.
The donations from the Cotton Bowl Foundation and College Football Playoff Foundation will provide grants of up to $1,000 to teachers.
"It goes a long way to getting them reaffirmed in their profession," says CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky, "They know people care, and they people really get the value of their work."
Lecharia Scales, a teacher at GW Truett Elementary in Dallas ISD, says the money she is receiving will help pay for supplies she brings to the classroom.
"When we don't have funding, we figure out a way to make it work," she says. "That means it comes out of our pocket, or we beg, plead and borrow from those around us like family to find other ways to raise the money we need to support our learners."
CFP Foundation was holding events across the country called, "Big Day for Teachers." The organization says "Extra Yard for Teachers Week" has led to $57 million to support educators.
Teachers honored at UNT Dallas also received tickets to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD