Students at 19 Plano Campuses to Benefit from Junior League Gift to Foundation and Sci-Tech Center

October 14, 2011

The Plano ISD Education Foundation is one of four Collin County foundations that will benefit from a $35,000 donation made by the Junior League of Collin County (JLCC) in honor of the league's 35th anniversary. The donation will benefit Title One schools in Collin County as well as the Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco.

Attending the JLCC donation event at Sci-Tech Discovery Center were Plano ISD Education Foundation representatives Lisa Raskin, president, and Monica Shortino, executive director, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto and Trustees Carrolyn Moebius and Missy Bender.

The donation is designated for each school’s fourth grade class to experience a field trip to the science and technology museum as well as to fund museum-supported assemblies at each school.

Plano ISD campuses to benefit from the JLCC donation are:

“We chose fourth graders for this special field trip opportunity because the museum is hosting a unique exhibit called ‘Playing with Time,’ which coordinates well with their math and science curriculums,” said Beccy Alldredge, the Junior League of Collin County’s president.

The donation includes transportation to and from the discovery center for hundreds of fourth grade students, who spread across four school districts including Plano, McKinney, Allen, and Frisco. Sci-Tech is also making sure that each student will go home from their trip with two spare tickets so they can visit the museum again with a parent.

Attending the JLCC donation event at Sci-Tech Discovery Center were Monica Shortino, Plano ISD Education Foundation executive director, and Principals Tramy Tran, Forman Elementary School, and Sarika Pride, Memorial Elementary School.

“We’re so grateful to Sci-Tech for the wonderful community work they do and their generous ticket donation so each child can experience the wonder of the museum again with a parent,” said Alldredge. Each school will also enjoy a school-wide assembly by the science center. Trained educators will take students through a class correlated to state education standards.

Tramy Tran, Forman Elementary School principal, said, "When I received information that Junior League of Collin County was sponsoring a field trip to the Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco for our fourth graders, I was speechless. Because of recent budget cuts for experiential field trips, one of my most pressing concern as a principal was how I would find resources to enrich the learning experiences for my students. The hands-on exhibits of the Sci-Tech Discovery Center support the learning needs of my students as they get to experience in real life the laws of physics and observe science in every day life.

Ms. Tran continued, "Not only did Junior League provide this field trip experience for our fourth graders, but they extended the gift to include third graders as well as a school wide assembly that allows students to explore the wonders of science. We are very thankful to Junior League of Collin County as they support our campus goal of increasing achievement in science."

Senator Florence Shapiro is pictured at the Sci-Tech Discovery Center event with Plano ISD Trustees Missy Bender and Carrolyn Moebius.

To commemorate the league’s anniversary as well as the science center’s newest exhibit, JLCC members joined city and school officials from all four district counties, members of the Sci-Tech board, JLCC donors and agencies, and the JLCC community advisory board in a recent tour of the museum.

“The JLCC’s 35th anniversary is a very special occasion to mark in our history, and I’m so excited to extend that joy and celebration into the lives of not only the fourth graders who will visit the museum, but all the children of these schools who will enjoy the mobile museum’s assemblies,” said Alldredge. “We’re proud of our 35-year past in Plano and Collin County, and we feel that this is a great way to look to the future.

About the Junior League of Collin County

The Junior League of Collin County (JLCC) formally known as Junior League of Plano is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  Through building positive relationships, developing leaders, and impacting the area with effective local projects, the JLCC is devoted to improving community life. By holding strong to its core values of service, respect, and leadership, the JLCC is dedicated to improving Collin County and the lives of its residents. For more information, visit www.jlcollincounty.org.

About the Plano ISD Education Foundation

The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with the mission to help all students in Plano public school achieve their full potential by providing financial support to educators and academic programs. The Plano ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors comprises business and community leaders who work to maintain excellence in Plano schools.  The Foundation provides grants to educators, programs that support academic enrichment to Plano ISD students, emergency assistance for teachers and staff members in crisis, as well as programs aimed at recruiting and retaining quality teachers.  To learn more about the Plano ISD Education Foundation, contact Executive Director Monica Shortino at (469) 752-8091 or visit the Plano ISD Education Foundation online: http://www.pisdeducationfoundation.org.

About the Sci-Tech Discovery Center

Sci-Tech Discovery Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization, began as the brainchild of the Junior League of Plano in 1999 to meet the community’s demand for an innovative education discovery center. The center has a clear mission to provide a dynamic, interactive experience that inspires people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace discovery and innovation through the exploration of math, science and technology. Sci-Tech Discovery Center seeks to spark a life-long interest and help equip area children with these advanced skills to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, educators and innovators. In addition to its permanent home in Frisco, Sci-Tech also provides outreach bringing various discovery programs to community centers, libraries, schools and scout groups across Collin County. Sci-Tech Discovery Center offers year-round exhibits, education outreach, groups and special events to ignite a passion for science in young people. To learn more about Sci-Tech Discovery Center, visit www.mindstretchingfun.org.

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"When I received information that Junior League of Collin County was sponsoring a field trip to the Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco for our fourth graders, I was speechless. Because of recent budget cuts for experiential field trips, one of my most pressing concern as a principal was how I would find resources to enrich the learning experiences for my students. The hands-on exhibits of the Sci-Tech Discovery Center support the learning needs of my students as they get to experience in real life the laws of physics and observe science in every day life."

~Tramy Tran, Principal
Forman Elementary School