Employee Giving Campaign
Round Rock ISD Employees may contribute a monthly amount or make a one-time donation to the Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation. The annual PIE Employee Giving Campaign takes place in the fall and 100% of donations go back to the District. The Foundation provides school supplies for students and staff, Excellence in Education Grants, Teacher of the Year, student scholarships, professional development, district-wide events like STEMFest, Pre-K Rodeo and RROCK Ready, and more.
Excellence in Education Grants
The Excellence in Education Grants provide resources for educators to execute innovative ideas, programs, materials, equipment, field trips, and various other needs that enhance student learning. All Round Rock ISD students are impacted by the grants in some capacity. Educators from over 55 Round Rock ISD campuses and departments were selected to receive over $165,000 ALL campuses and departments. Partners, Foundation Board members, and members of Round Rock ISD administration surprise campus winners throughout the District’s five learning communities throughout the last week in August.
A video highlighting the excitement of the surprise, and the announcement of the remaining winners was posted to the District’s and PIE Foundation’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to share the good news with winners and the community.
“Being part of the Teacher Grant Review Committee is one of my favorite PIE Foundation programs. Personally, I want to help every student reach their full potential so that is why I give my time, treasure, and talent as a Board Member. It takes a community working together to educate all students to help our community thrive and grow.”
– KELLY MORENO, PIE Foundation Board Member
Scholarships & Endowments
All graduating Round Rock ISD Seniors have an opportunity to apply for a scholarship to support their higher education endeavors. Each application submitted is blindly evaluated (all identifying information of the applicant is removed) and students are selected to receive awards toward higher education tuition.
Families and businesses can create their own scholarships with specific criteria for seniors to apply for. To create a new scholarship, you must adhere to specific guidelines the Foundation has set. Please contact Emily Butler at Emily_Butler@rrisdeducationfoundation.org for more information.
Currently, over 30 scholarships are available, totaling over $100,000, for Round Rock ISD graduating seniors.
2024-2025 Scholarship Applications will open October 2024
Please Note: You MUST be a Round Rock ISD 2024-2025 graduating senior to apply. This includes all High Schools in the District: Cedar Ridge, Early College, McNeil, Round Rock, Stony Point, Success, and Westwood.
APPLY for each scholarship below based on the criteria given. Winners will be announced in April 2025. For questions, contact Emily Butler, Program Manager at 512-464-5600 or Emily_Butler@rrisdeducationfoundation.org.
An endowment is an endowed gift or an invested fund that can be designated as either a full or term endowment. The principal investment from a full endowment is never spent unless directed by the donor. Interest earnings from a full endowment are used to support the Foundation and provide a secure source of funding. Through an endowment, you can fund a scholarship, Excellence in Education Grant, school supplies or any educational program offered by Round Rock ISD. Endowments can be made as memorials, honorary or both. For more information on this type of investment, please contact the Foundation for full details.
For more information please contact Marianne Reap at 512-464-5600 or Marianne_Reap@rrisdeducationfoundation.org.
“I love serving on the Scholarship Review committee. It’s very rewarding to be part of the process to award scholarship dollars to exceptional, college bound students in our community. I currently have three children in Round Rock ISD, and two others who have graduated. I highly value the quality of the education that my children have received in Round Rock ISD, and serving as a PIE Board Member is a meaningful way to contribute back to the district by supporting the students and teachers. I see the work that the Foundation does in the Round Rock ISD community and I truly believe that their work makes a difference in students’ and teacher’s lives every day.”
– LEASE NEAVES, VMware & PIE Foundation Board Member
Scholarships
- Graduating Senior who is on the Round Rock High School Dragon Baseball Team.
- Graduating Senior from Round Rock ISD who participates on their varsity baseball or softball team.
- Round Rock ISD Stony Point High School senior with GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Completed 80 hours of Tigers in Service by graduation
- Attending a 4-year university
- Exhibits hard work and compassion
- Round Rock ISD graduating senior who mentored another student for two academic years during High School (through Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALS) Program.
- Or participated in the PRO’s Program at your High School campus
- Graduating Round Rock ISD senior who has shown a commitment to being present in their community through volunteering and making a positive impact on the lives of others
- Has been diagnosed with cancer or is a cancer survivor
- Has a sibling who has/was diagnosed with cancer
- Has a parent who has/was diagnosed with cancer
- Has a grandparent who has/was diagnosed with cancer
- For graduating Round Rock ISD Seniors who are pursuing Architecture, Construction, or Engineering
- Graduating Senior from McNeil High School who participated in cheer, dance team, or musical theater
- Attending a 4-year University
- Special consideration will be given to students studying engineering (though not required).
- Round Rock ISD senior who has/was diagnosed with cancer or has had an influential impact on a child diagnosed with cancer
- Must exhibit commitment to the community by volunteering or participating with organizations whose mission is to serve individuals with special needs
- First-hand experience over a course of time to relate to the challenges a person battling cancer faces as well as the long-term effects of treatments
- Graduating Round Rock High School Senior
- On the Round Rock High School Cross Country Team
- Round Rock ISD graduating senior pursuing a career in education or allied health
- Completed a minimum of 1 year (2 semesters) of Partners in PE at the high school level, and/or have participated and been recognized as a Key Volunteer and/or Unified Sports Partner in the Round Rock ISD Special Olympics program
- Students must have regular attendance and completed the AVID program.
- Graduating Round Rock High School baseball player planning to attend any higher educational program
- Exhibits outstanding character in all areas of life
- Round Rock ISD student entering a Trade School
- Round Rock ISD Student who plans to attend a Technical School and pursue a career in the Trades.
- Round Rock ISD Fine Arts Academy graduating senior whose primary goal is to become a Fine Arts teacher in the public or private sector upon graduation
- Demonstrates community service history such as volunteer and leadership activities
- Has overcome adversity to be accepted to college or university
- Round Rock ISD student who plans to major in the field of Education
- Student at Success High School pursuing Higher Education
- Stony Point graduating senior planning to attend a higher education institution majoring in nursing
- Currently enrolled in the Health Services Program at Stony Point High School
- Round Rock ISD graduating senior that demonstrates a financial need and has at least a 2.5 GPA
- Open to Cedar Ridge, Round Rock, Stony Point, and Success High School graduating seniors committed to their community
- Round Rock ISD student who demonstrate excellence in academics, community service, leadership and volunteerism
- Round Rock ISD student involved in music – Including Band, Orchestra and/or Choir
- Awarded to a member of the Round Rock High School ZOI Ora Filos Serteen club, who has demonstrated strong leadership, commitment to service to their community and has a passion for serving others.
- Awarded to a member of the Cedar Ridge ZOI ROZVI Serteen club, who has demonstrated strong leadership, commitment to service to their community and has a passion for serving others.
- Awarded to a RRISD student pursuing a degree in Hearing Impairment, such as Audiology or ENT
- Open to all McNeil High School senior varsity football players with at least 2 years experience
- Embodies strong character and level of energy inspiring others
- Plans to attend a higher education with consideration (not required) for those accepted to attend Texas Tech University or Mary Hardin-Baylor University
- Stony Point High School graduating senior who has been recognized as a Key Volunteer or Unified Sports Partner in the Round Rock ISD Special Olympics Program
- Completed at least one year of Partners in PE or one year in Choir at Stony Point High School
- Open to all Round Rock ISD graduating students with Special Needs that were in a Functional Academic Classroom or Functional Learning Classroom who are continuing their education
- Graduating senior who attends Stony Point High School and plans to pursue higher education
- Graduating Senior must have gone through Chisholm Trail Middle School and Round Rock High School
- Special consideration will be given to a student who has also attended Deep Wood Elementary
- Round Rock ISD graduating senior that is currently enrolled in one of the following academies: Hospitality, Culinary, Business or Marketing.
- Must pursue higher education in the Hospitality Industry (restaurants, hotels/motels, event venues, golf courses, private clubs, tourism, casinos, cruise ships, etc.)
- Graduating senior from Success High School
- Accepted to a post-secondary program (college/university, trade school, certification program) and plan to begin their program of study during the current calendar year
Teacher of the Year
Each year, the District recognizes and honors excellence brought by educators each day in their classrooms. Each campus Teacher of the Year (TOY) is elected by their peers and administration in recognition for their contribution in the classroom and throughout the campus learning community. Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation provides community partners to support the banquet through food and a monetary donation to each Teacher of the Year.
Endowments
“Teacher of the Year is a program that places a spotlight on select educators from each Round Rock ISD campus and shares all of the wonderful contributions they’ve made throughout the year. It is my favorite program to support. In addition, our students are the ultimate benefactors and they deserve the best educational experience Round Rock ISD has to offer.”
– LA TRICIA BRADSHAW, A+ Federal Credit Union & PIE Foundation Board Member
The Teacher of the Year event is set for the first week of May each year.
Other Programs
Resource Boutique & Happy Birthday Program
Resource Boutique: The Resource Boutique was created during the start of the pandemic when two other non-profit organizations in the area were no longer able to fulfill their missions and meet the needs of our Round Rock ISD students. Rather than watch the crucial services disappear, the PIE Foundation stepped in and created a Resource Boutique to cover those needs. This portable building allows Round Rock ISD social workers to provide emergency food support, hygiene kits, school supplies, backpacks, water, emergency kits to nurses, snacks, and Happy Birthday Bags to unhoused students and other students in need. We rely on donations through the community to stock the Boutique.
Thank you to Cargill for underwriting snacks and emergency food support
for our Resource Boutique!
Happy Birthday Program
Every child deserves be celebrated on their special day. Unfortunately, some children to not have families with resources to do so. Through the Happy Birthday Program, Round Rock ISD students are able to celebrate their special day without worrying about the cost to their families.
The Foundation provides ~1,1000 Happy Birthday Bags per year to the Round Rock ISD “Families in Transition” (FiT)/ Homeless Education Program and other students identified as “in need.”
Volunteer service organizations and leadership groups within our community help to assemble the bags, which are then delivered to campus counselors and discreetly given to students on their birthday.
Each Happy Birthday Bag is filled with:
- an age-appropriate gift
- mug cake
- handwritten birthday card
- and party supplies for 6 people, including party favors!
We rely on monetary donations from generous community partners to purchase supplies. A donation of $50 helps support one (1) birthday bag!
Families in Transition (FiT Program)
The Round Rock Independent School District Family Families in Transition (FiT)/ Homeless Education Program office is committed to ensuring that all children in homeless situations can enroll in, attend, and succeed in school. FiT provides programs and opportunities that might not otherwise be available for those students. FiT is committed to enhancing student learning by positively impacting the quality of education. This is accomplished by offering enhanced opportunities and resources available in the community. The Foundation supports this program through purchasing and collecting donated items for hygiene kits, blankets, gift cards for food, clothing, and airbeds for students in need.
Therapy Dogs
In addition to supporting basic needs of our students and families, the Round Rock Police ISD Department supports the first Behavioral Therapy Puppy Program in Central Texas for our students. It is the second program in the entire state to serve students using a behavioral therapy dog. “Even before the pandemic, mental health was a prominent community issue,” said Officer Cleere. “We are here to provide students prevention, and issue management solutions, not punishment. Dogs make people happy; they promote self-esteem and can produce positive student school interactions.”
Through the support at the Gala last year from R Bank, Pfluger Architects, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, the Watson Family, the England Family and the PIE Foundation three (3) of the five (5) puppies were secured and matched up with a Police Officer or social worker with the plan to matched up the remaining two puppies by the end of the school year. The puppies’ behavioral training and certification was also provided by funding support from these generous donors.
In partnership with Texas Humane Heroes, all of the Round Rock ISD Police Department puppies will receive complimentary shots for the first two years. Texas Humane Heroes will also provide the puppies’ first kennel, bed, toys and food support when needed. Through participation in veterinarian classes at their respective schools, the puppies receive grooming services from McNeil High School and Stony Point High School students. This opportunity provides the students “hands on” experience grooming each puppy and at the same time allows for the Foundation to fund other needs the officers and social workers may have to support these special puppies including monthly food support.
Piper
Breed: Labradoodle
Birthday: 09/20/2020
Coping Skills: Belly rubs and playing with my toys
Sponsored By: Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation
Donor: England Family
Cared By: Texas Humane Heroes
Doc
Breed: Goldendoodle
Birthday: 06/17/2021
Coping Skills: Parkour and barking at the wind
Sponsored By: Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation
Donor: Dr. Lindsey Watson
Cared By: Texas Humane Heroes
Winter (Cocoa)
Breed: Labradoodle
Birthday: 10/07/2020
Coping Skills: Watching squirrels and cuddles
Sponsored By: Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation
Donor: Pfluger Architects
Cared By: Texas Humane Heroes