SAN ANTONIO, TX (December 19, 2025) |
The Firstmark Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded 20 teachers $1,000 each, as part of its 2025-26 Education Grant Program. This is the fifth-straight year the Foundation has given education grants, and it is the fourth consecutive year it has provided $1,000 each to 20 recipients.
The Foundation team provided grants to teachers in San Antonio, La Vernia, New Braunfels, and Uvalde, across 11 districts and two private schools. The contributions made by the Foundation would not be possible without members enrolled in Power of the Dollar® Checking, who continue to provide a stream of resources to fund these important initiatives that help create sustainability within the education system.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to help teachers with the funds they need to support their students,” said Marisa Pérez-Díaz, executive director of the Firstmark Foundation. “As a credit union founded by teachers, we are eager to support the education community in any way we can, but it is also not possible without our membership—they are the driving force behind all the philanthropic work we’re able to do as a credit union. We’re excited to see these 20 educators bring their initiatives to fruition and look forward to seeing it come to life in the springtime!”
The Education Grant Program is designed to support full-time, K-12 educators and school employees who work directly with students by funding their innovative project ideas, including the materials necessary to successfully bring them to fruition. These project ideas engage students with important content and concepts to make an overall positive impact in the classroom. In most cases, these initiatives inspire other staff members within the school district to replicate those same efforts.
The list of the 2025-26 winners are as follows:
Allyson Johnson Medina Valley ISD LaCoste Elementary
Andrea Colwell Northside ISD Scobee Elementary
Brandy González-Kee Northside ISD Clark High School
Carmen Martinez Northside ISD Fisher Elementary
Cynthia Cuellar Southwest ISD Bob Hope Elementary
Denise Rodriguez Southside ISD Freedom Elementary
Elizabeth Buchanan Northside ISD Fields Elementary
Elsa Avila Archdiocese - San Antonio Sacred Heart Catholic School
Karen James Northside ISD Kay Franklin Elementary
Kirissa Kabanek Marion ISD Karrer Campus Elementary
Jennifer Flores Northside ISD Mireles Elementary
Leslie Soria Edgewood ISD Cardenas Early Childhood Center
Melinda Jasso South San Antonio ISD Alan B. Shepard Middle School
Michelle Cortez La Vernia ISD La Vernia Primary
Nehemias Moreno Harlandale ISD Terrell Wells Middle School
Rebecca Jimenez Harlandale ISD Gillette Elementary
Rebecca Ross Northside ISD McDermott Elementary
Samantha Santos North East ISD Woodstone Elementary
Sandie Claus Comal ISD Oak Creek Elementary
Vanessa Rosemond Private School Scenic Hills Christian Academy
To date, the Foundation has provided 95 education grants close to $90,000, and has collectively, alongside the credit union (Firstmark), funded upwards of $165,000 to school employees in San Antonio and the surrounding area.
To learn more about the Firstmark Foundation and the ways Firstmark Credit Union supports the education community on behalf of its members, please visit the Foundation tab at firstmarkcu.org.
