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A few minutes with Sheri Brown
This week we spend a few minutes with Sheri Brown, director of the Deer Park Education Foundation.
InsideDP.com: Where are you from originally?Sheri Brown: I was born in California. My dad was in the Navy, so we were only there for a year. We moved to Highlands, where his family was from and that's where I grew up. I went to Lynchburg Elementary and graduated from Deer Park High School.
What was your experience like growing up in DPISD?
It was incredible. We were afforded every opportunity. I was a biology major in college and we had better equipment in my high school biology classes than we did at my university. It was amazing. We got to do things that other districts didn't get to do. Mr. Leroy Baty was my math teacher and I loved him. Gary Gibson was my biology teacher and he encouraged me to be a biology major. Mr. Trent was my English teacher and I loved his classes too.
Where did you go after you graduated?
Sam Houston State. I changed majors a few times. I did biology then fashion merchandising before English and business. All of those impacted my life over the years except for biology. I had a dress shop for a number of years and have been with the Deer Park Education Foundation for five years.
What else did you do before you came to the Foundation?
I had three wonderful children and was a stay at home mom. I had the dress shop and then did some sales from home so I could stay with the kids. I was an office manger for a realty and mortgage company. After that, I was contracted to facilitate the DPISD museum. While I was doing that, I took the position as director of the Foundation and I've loved it.
What is the Deer Park Education Foundation?
The Foundation raises money to give teachers grants to do help bring their classrooms to life. The district gives kids a great education. We take it a step further to help pay for things that cannot be included in the budget. In 2011 we will celebrate our 20th anniversary. We have 29 board members that come from industry, the community and parent representatives. Superintendent Arnold Adair and School Trustee Donna Thomas are ex-officio members who represent the school.
How does the Foundation raise its funds?
Through individual donations, small business donations, industry partners and fundraisers.
How does the Foundation distribute its funds?
The teachers apply for grants for various classes. The grant had to be inline with state directives, campus initiatives and goals and district policies. A grant review board decides the grant awards. We award the grants during the Prize Parade. The Foundation members go through the halls of the campuses with the band and cheerleaders and award the grants to the teachers. It's a lot of fun because we surprise the teachers and give them a big check.
What kids of fundraisers does the Foundation have?
We have the Hall of Honor banquet, which is Sept. 11, this Saturday. It honors four DPHS graduates who have excelled in the community or in their profession. It includes a dinner and induction ceremony. This year, we are honoring Shane May, Marla Chandler, Gary Walters and Ann West. It's a really great group of people this year and we are proud to honor them. Our other fundraiser is the Strides for Schools. Shell Deer Park approached us last year about putting on a fun run with the proceeds going to the Foundation. Shell donated $23,250 from that first event. We had kids, adults, moms pushing strollers and someone who was 83 years old participate. It was a great turnout and we are envisioning an even bigger turn out on March 5, 2011 when we do it again. We also do a discount card that has about 30 local merchants who give various discounts when you present them the card. They are sold through the school for $10 each. $7.50 of each card sold goes back to the school and the rest goes to the Foundation, so all the money stays in DPISD. We also accept individual donations. If anyone would like to help, they can mail donation to 203 Ivy Ave., in Deer Park, 77536 or they can call me at 832-668-7037.
How much money has the Foundation distributed?
This year, we are giving away our one millionth dollar to the district. We're really excited about that. We are so thrilled to do it. We've been here 20 years and are about to give our millionth dollar and there are still lots of people who don't know who we are and what we do. Our goal for this year is to make sure our community knows who we are and what we do. We are impacting students. We give grants to all the schools, so the money is spread out. We don't give scholarships because those impact one student leaving Deer Park whereas a grant can impact hundreds maybe thousands of students.
What's next for the Foundation?
We're working on our second million. We raise what we give. I would love to see it get to the point where if a teacher asks for a qualified grant, we are able to fund it. With the help of the community, we will get there.
What do you like best about what you do?
I always wanted to have lots of money so I could give it away to those who need it. That's what I get to do with my job. I get to give it away. It's so awesome to see the kids and know that you are making an impact. It is such a rewarding experience. It's the perfect job.