“Each day teachers come to school ready to tackle a job that is critically important, extraordinarily complex, often joyful, but at times heartbreaking. In essence, teachers help students to become their best selves, and I can think of no more important work.”
–Arne Duncan

KUDOS to Dallas County Master Gardeners Nicole Jones and Rikki Schramm, two of the 2025-2026 recipients of the Junior League of Dallas Grants for Innovative Teaching. Nicole, a first-grade teacher at Lakewood Elementary School, will use her grant to build a sensory garden for the Best Buddies program, which pairs general education students with children with special needs. Rikki Schramm, a teacher at the Dallas ISD Environmental Education Center, was awarded a grant to purchase a hydroponic garden tower.

Congratulations, Nicole and Rikki! No doubt your students will learn even more with your new tools made possible by these grants!