2026 Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet
On Tuesday May 8th, Round Rock ISD recognized its Teachers of the Year (ToY) and Paraprofessionals of the Year (PoY), celebrating these educators’ outstanding contributions to students and the broader community.
Each year, every campus selects a Teacher of the Year to honor their classroom excellence and impact on the learning environment. These honorees are eligible to be named the district’s Elementary or Secondary Teacher of the Year, with the winner announced in early May. The district winner will then have the opportunity to compete at the regional and state levels for the Texas Teacher of the Year title.
Teachers awarded under the program carry the title for the following school year, signifying their ongoing dedication and influence in education.
Congrats to Elementary Teacher of the Year, Madison Buerster from Voigt Elementary, and Secondary Teacher of the Year, Tori Sanders, from Round Rock High School!
Elementary Principal of the Year is Amy Jacobs from Forest North Elementary School, and our secondary Principal of the Year is Larissa Ortiz from Cedar Valley Middle School!
Thank you to our event sponsors, H-E-B, A+ Federal Credit Union, and VLK Architects!
Thank you to our Partner!
Thank you to our partner, H-E-B, and PIEF Board member, David Sanchez, for serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet this past May! We are deeply grateful for your unwavering commitment to excellence in public education and for helping us celebrate the incredible educators who make a difference every day.
School Supplies Project
Beginning in late May, the Foundation began their Annual School Supplies Project, which is an opportunity for local businesses, organizations, and community members to help provide basic school supplies to Round Rock ISD students in need and Early Career teachers to ensure they have the proper tools at the beginning of and throughout the entire school year.
We are asking our community to help in the following ways:
📦 Host a School Supply Drive. – collect new school supplies at your offices. This is a great way to empower your Scouts and engage the PTA!
💙 Make a Monetary Donation. – Encourage employees to donate! Just $25 funds a complete school supply kit for one student. Every dollar counts.
You can make a difference for our students, our teachers, and our future!
Grants in Action
Berkman Elementary
🎠Thanks to an Excellence in Education Grant for Arts Integration from the RRISD PIE Foundation, students at Berkman Elementary were able to bring their stage dreams to life!
The grant supported incredible stage projects that made today’s performance—and future shows—possible. We can’t wait to see what they create next! 🎬🎤
Joe Lee Johnson Elementary
Thanks to the generous support of the PIE Foundation, Joe Lee Johnson Elementary launched exciting initiatives to boost student attendance and promote a love of learning.
A highlight was the Monthly Attendance Challenge, where top-performing classes earned rewards like popsicle and popcorn parties, teacher gift cards, and the student favorite—“Pie the Principal.” Some classes reached an incredible 98–99% attendance!
Another memorable event was Free Summer Book Day, made possible by a PIE mini grant. Nearly 800 students chose a brand-new book to take home, sparking joy and encouraging summer reading. Each student also received reading calendars and challenge materials from Wells Branch Community Library to stay engaged throughout the break.
Upcoming Events
Round Rock ISD Alumni Network Mixer
đź“… Thursday, June 17, 2025đź“Ť The Alcove Cantina
Join the us for our FIRST EVER Round Rock ISD Alumni Mixer! Reconnect with former classmates, meet new friends, and hear all about the exciting initiatives happening through the RRISD Alumni Network. Appetizers provided & Cash Bar.
Round Rock ISD Back 2 School Celebration
đź“… Saturday, July 26, 2025đź“Ť Cedar Ridge High School
Find out how you your company can engage with 6,000 community members as a sponsor or exhibitor at the event!
Email keri_pearson@rrisdeducationfoundation.org to learn more!
Round Rock ISD Connect 5 Conference
đź“… Monday, August 4, 2025đź“Ť Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Find out how you your company can engage with 3,700 educators and District staff as a sponsor at the event!
Email keri_pearson@rrisdeducationfoundation.org to learn more!
25th Annual Golf Classic
đź“… Monday, October 6, 2025đź“Ť The Golf Club at Star Ranch
36 sponsoring teams will compete for prizes while raising money for our mission! Underwriting sponsorships available!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
New Teacher Welcome Box Assembly
July 16, 2025 from 9am-3pm
Volunteers will help pack ~350 supply boxes for new teachers to RRISD.
School Supply Kit Distribution
August 7, 2025 from 8:30am-12pm
Volunteers will help at our District warehouse to distribute EPI school supply kits into delivery bays for each campus. Please note, the warehouse is not air conditioned and this opportunity requires ability to lift 20+ lbs.
Round Rock ISD Alumni Network
Stay connected to your classmates. Get updates on your class and Round Rock ISD. Connect with former classmates for reunions. Any Round Rock ISD Alumni welcome!
Message from Executive Director, Marianne Reap
Welcome to the inaugural edition of our new newsletter—and to the vibrant world of the Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation!
We’re proud to celebrate over 40 years of supporting the teachers, staff, and students of Round Rock ISD. Our Foundation helps fund vital programs including school supplies for students in need, scholarships, Teacher of the Year recognitions, classroom grants, Happy Birthday Bags, and many more initiatives that promote excellence in education.
Our ability to support these impactful programs is made possible thanks to our dedicated Foundation Board, staff, community partners, local leaders, and generous individual donors. Together, we raise the necessary funds to ensure our students and educators have the resources they need to succeed.
Round Rock ISD is unique—it spans more than 110 square miles across Williamson and Travis counties, serving over 47,000 students and 6,340 employees. With your support, the Foundation continues to fulfill its mission: to develop and allocate resources that enrich, enhance, and maximize educational opportunities for all Round Rock ISD students.
As we look ahead to a new school year—with fresh supplies for over 5,000 students, the Connect5 Conference for 3,700 teachers, and several annual fundraising events—we invite you to become an Education Hero by joining our monthly giving program. It truly takes a village, and we would be honored to have you as part of ours.
We hope you enjoy this newsletter as we spotlight the exciting and innovative work happening in classrooms across our district.
Sincerely,
Marianne Reap, Executive Director
Thank you to our Partner!
We would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Board member, Ryan Breaux, and Texas Children’s Hospital for their generous Presenting Sponsorship of the 2025 Shining Stars Gala, held in March. Their continued partnership plays a vital role in the success of our largest and most important fundraiser of the year!
Hundreds of community and corporate leaders from around the Round Rock & Austin area joined to support Excellence in Education for Round Rock ISD students, teachers, and staff. All funds raised will directly support Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation’s mission. We are deeply grateful for their support and commitment to advancing educational excellence in our district.
2025 Scholarship Reception
On Tuesday, April 8th, the Partners in Education Foundation held its annual Scholarship Reception, awarding 48 scholarships totaling $137,000 to outstanding high school seniors. The event celebrated the hard work and achievements of these students, who were selected for their academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. Generous support from private families and community partners made these scholarships possible, with contributors including the Nolan Ryan Foundation, Kanga Roof, and Whataburger, among others. Family members, district staff, and Foundation board members attended the reception to honor the recipients and celebrate their success.
KEEP MOVING to Honor Marla Valk Scholarship
Marla Valk dedicated her career to empowering students, supporting educators, and advancing the arts throughout Round Rock ISD. From 2019 to 2024, she served as the District’s Dance and Fine Arts Coordinator, following a remarkable 25-year tenure as a dance educator at Westwood High School. To celebrate her legacy, the Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation is proud to announce the creation of the KEEP MOVING to Honor Marla Valk Scholarship, which will launch in the 2025–2026 school year. This scholarship will support students pursuing their passion for the arts, continuing Valk’s mission of inspiring future generations. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.
Volunteers Making an Impact
In April, several incredible volunteer groups came together to support students in Round Rock ISD’s Families in Transition (FiT) Program by assembling birthday bags at our Resource Boutique. These special bags help ensure that every child in the program feels celebrated on their special day. A heartfelt thank you goes to St. David’s Hospital, Macy’s, Leadership Round Rock and the Round Rock Women’s Club for their dedication and teamwork in putting together 180 birthday bags. Your support brings joy to students and reminds them they are seen, valued, and supported by their community.
Grants in Action
Anderson Mill Elementary School brought creativity to life through the “Story Wranglers” program — funded by a $5,000 Excellence in Education Grant.
After applying and being selected by the Paramount Theater, Anderson Mill was one of just a few campuses chosen for this amazing opportunity. For 7 weeks, 3rd grade students worked in small groups to write original short stories. This, those stories came alive on stage through 12 lively performances — complete with skits, songs, and bilingual storytelling in English and Spanish!
School Supplies Project
Beginning in late May, the Foundation will begin their Annual School Supplies Project, which is an opportunity for local businesses, organizations, and community members to help provide basic school supplies to Round Rock ISD students in need and Early Career teachers to ensure they have the proper tools at the beginning of and throughout the entire school year.
We need the community’s help gathering both MONETARY and IN-KIND donations to fund:
BRAND NEW, District-approved, school supply kits for students in need. School supplies in 350 “Welcome Boxes” for Early Career Teachers. School supplies for our Resource Boutique, which will be give to students throughout the school year. Take-home folders for elementary campuses
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
New Teacher Welcome Box Assembly
July 16, 2025 from 9am-3pm
Volunteers will help pack ~350 supply boxes for new teachers to RRISD.
School Supply Kit Distribution
August 7, 2025 from 8:30am-12pm
Volunteers will help at our District warehouse to distribute EPI school supply kits into delivery bays for each campus. Please note, the warehouse is not air conditioned and this opportunity requires ability to lift 20+ lbs.
Round Rock ISD Alumni Network
Stay connected to your classmates. Get updates on your class and Round Rock ISD. Connect with former classmates for reunions. Any Round Rock ISD Alumni welcome!
Interested in one or more of these programs?
Please contact us at 512-464-5600 or email RRISDPIEF@rrisdeducationfoundation.org