by Marin Dupree (Posted on April 17, 2026 @ 10:57 a.m.)

Every year, each school’s PTO (Parent-Teacher-Organization) gives out grants to benefit athletics, academics, clubs, or arts. These grants help teachers, staff, and programs by providing funding for projects that might otherwise go unrealized. This Spring, the Alamo Heights Junior School’s (AHJS) PTO gave out 14 grants to applicants. These grants help teachers, and ultimately the school, provide what they need to create an environment where all students can learn and thrive. By supporting innovative ideas and classroom needs, the PTO plays an important role in enhancing student experiences and encouraging creativity, engagement, and academic success across the campus.

The AHJS teachers have an opportunity to apply for grants each year. The teachers go through an application process to be the recipient of these grants. They fill out a form explaining who will be impacted by the money that they receive. Mrs. Henry, a STEM and science teacher at the school and one of the 14 grant recipients, explains the application process, “It’s a Google Form that we have to fill out and we have to be able to justify how many students will be affected.” This process ensures that the funds are distributed to projects that will benefit the greatest number of students, while also encouraging teachers to carefully plan and explain how their ideas will make a meaningful impact in the classroom.

Many teachers use their money for a variety of reasons such as supplies, projects, extracurriculars, and support. For example, Mrs. Henry is going to use her money to fund upcoming projects in her STEM class, as well as buying and fixing new materials and supplies. Mrs. Henry states, “In STEM, we use really unique materials and while students do pay a STEM fee and an activity fee at the beginning of the year, usually by this time of the year we need a little extra support with our STEM materials.” This shows how additional funding helps teachers continue providing hands-on learning experiences.

The money might be given directly to the teachers, but its true benefit is to the students. These grants are providing materials and funding projects to make their school environment a little more fun and a bit more educational. Mrs. Henry states, “In my class I feel like students benefit because they have access to unique materials like 3D print filament that otherwise would be really hard to get, like other teachers and other districts can’t get those things.” The PTO is not only giving to our teachers but also benefiting our students and our school as well.

These grants are helping all of the AHJS teachers as well as students around the school. And with the school year coming to an end, the PTO is still hard at work helping our staff and students by raising money and making school life better and easier.