Co-op provides $10,000 to help power youth education
(JOHNSON CITY, Texas) Oct. 21, 2026 — As a member-focused, people-driven cooperative, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) appreciates the impact quality educators make and wants to support teachers and youth education. Today, PEC announced the recipients of its Educational Spotlight Grants, which will provide educators with the support they need to turn creative classroom ideas into meaningful learning experiences. In total, PEC selected 11 schools to receive up to $1,000 in grant funding to power educational projects in the classroom.
“We’re looking forward to seeing teachers bring their ideas to life, using these grants to enhance learning for young students,” said PEC Community Outreach Specialist Kevyn Packer. “We believe these funds will help shape the next generation of PEC members, strengthening our communities for years to come.”
Amanda Rodriguez, a first grade teacher at Uhland Elementary School in Hays CISD, received a grant to help empower her students with academic and behavioral goal setting.
“We will be using this money for the kids to set their reading and math goals in their binders, to reach each their goals, graph them, and celebrate when they achieve them” Rodriguez said. “As a Title I school, it’s especially important to me that my students know that I believe in them and that they can believe in themselves.”
PEC 2026 Educational Spotlight Grant recipients and their projects:
- Monica Warr, gifted and talented teacher at Bagdad Elementary School (Leander ISD): Materials and programs to establish a hands-on coding and engineering program for elementary-age gifted and talented students
- Anel Ellsworth, interventionist at Bertram Elementary School (Burnet CISD): An interactive whiteboard to make small-group reading and math instruction more engaging, interactive, and accessible for students who need additional academic support
- Heather Solis, third grade math teacher at Frost Elementary School (Georgetown ISD): Partnering with families for math success by sending home math games and hosting a school-wide math night
- Cerina Menist, gifted and talented teacher at Hisle Elementary School (Leander ISD): Equipment and supplies to support a cardboard city, project-based learning program for elementary students
- Caroline Ramirez-Jobson, physical education teacher at Kyle Elementary School (Hays CISD): A portable mini golf program for all physical education students
- Angela Drake, sixth through eighth grade science teacher at Lago Vista Middle School (Lago Vista ISD): Smart Carts, mass scales, and materials to create an investigation lab for middle school students that explores forces, motion, and engineering
- Christin LoDestro, first grade teacher at LBJ Elementary School (Johnson City ISD): Strengthening civic understanding through literacy using the resource Social Studies Weekly for all first-grade students
- Crystal Zeiler, seventh grade engineering and career and technical education educator at Marble Falls Middle School (Marble Falls ISD): An adenosine triphosphate (ATP) luminometer system and related testing supplies for students to track hidden bacteria and beyond
- Jennifer Robinson, seventh and eighth grade AVID teacher at Mountain Valley Middle School (Comal ISD): Materials to create an AVID design studio for seventh and eighth-grade students to develop college and career readiness skills
- Amanda Nichols and Stacy Guillon, fifth grade science teachers at Travis Elementary (San Marcos CISD): An overnight science and nature trip for fifth graders to The Outdoor School at Camp Champions in Marble Falls
- Amanda Rodriguez, first grade ELA/Math teacher at Uhland Elementary (Hays CISD): Personal data binders to help empower first graders with academic and behavioral goal setting
To be eligible for a grant, applicants had to teach in communities within PEC’s service area. Teachers can use their grant funds for classroom supplies and materials needed for specific projects and instructional resources, including field trips.
Packer said, “We look forward to recognizing these exceptional teachers for their contributions with funds that will elevate the quality of education in our communities.
Showing concern for our communities is part of the cooperative difference. PEC’s Educational Spotlight Grants are funded by the generosity of members enrolled in the co-op’s Power of Change Program. Through the program, members can opt to round their bill to the nearest dollar each month to support nonprofits, educational opportunities in the classroom, and financial assistance to qualifying PEC members in need.
Teachers can learn more about PEC’s Educational Spotlight Awards at myPEC.com/spotlight and members interested in giving back to their community can enroll in PEC’s Power of Change at myPEC.com/change.
