About Us

Highland Park Education Foundation History

Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1984, the Highland Park Education Foundation exists to support quality education in the Highland Park Independent School District, a public school district serving over 6,000 students. The Foundation benefited from the visionary leadership of George Connell, Judy Gibbs, Jack Hammack, Darrell Lafitte, Charles Seay, Don Williams, and the late Walter Spradley as founding members. Today a 30 member Board governs the organization, and an Advisory Board of approximately 25 members provides guidance concerning various Foundation activities.

For the first 10 years, Foundation projects were volunteer driven, and annual distributions were directed to student scholarships with occasional special gifts such as "seed" funding to start the HPHS Alumni Association. In the early 1990s, the Texas State Legislature approved school finance laws mandating that the Highland Park ISD send a significant percentage of its tax revenue to other Texas communities. (In 2004-2005 the District sent 70% of its property tax revenue to the state to be distributed to other Texas school districts). This "Robin Hood" legislation increased the reliance of HPISD on private funding and increased the role of the Education Foundation to one of greater significance. No longer could Foundation dollars be used for enhancements to education, but instead were needed to meet the budgetary bottom line.

In mid 1994, with support from the civic group La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, the Foundation hired staff to coordinate development activities, manage daily operations, and serve as a liaison with the District and the community. Two years ago the Foundation joined hands with the 5-12 PTAs Mad for Plaid Campaign to coordinate a district wide fund drive in support of all levels of education in HPISD. Foundation fund-raising efforts have grown steadily with annual gifts in support of education increasing from $17,000 in 1993-94 to over $3,500,000 in 2007-2008.

In addition to Mad for Plaid, the Foundation is actively seeking funding to create a permanent endowment to ensure the long term excellence that has been the hallmark of the Highland Park schools. The Foundation gratefully accepts memorials and honor funds supporting scholarships for both students and teachers at HPISD.

Some of the programs supported by the Education Foundation in the past few years include:

  • Teacher Salary Support District-wide
  • Teacher Leader Academy
  • Distance Learning
  • Resiliency Training
  • New Jersey Writing Project in Texas
  • Curriculum Alignment and Teacher Training
  • Technology
  • Teacher of the Year Awards

The addition of the $cot Dollar$ program has helped the Foundation further increase giving to HPISD in support of both needs at the individual schools and of teacher salaries at the District level. $cot Dollar$ are negotiable gift/debit cards that can be used just like cash to purchase everyday items such as food and clothing. Every purchase earns revenue for the schools by simply asking families to exchange the dollars they normally spend, for cards that can be used at the places where they customarily shop.

The Foundation has pledged $1,000,000 in funds raised this year to directly support teacher salaries at all grade levels. In addition, other funding will also support programs vital to the education of our children.