SAN ANTONIO, Texas (December 19, 2025) – The Firstmark Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded 20 teachers $1,000 each, as part of its 2025-26 Education Grant Program. This is the fifth-straight year the Foundation has given education grants, and it is the fourth consecutive year it has provided $1,000 each to 20 recipients.
The Foundation team provided grants to teachers in San Antonio, La Vernia, New Braunfels, and Uvalde, across 11 districts and two private schools. The contributions made by the Foundation would not be possible without members enrolled in Power of the Dollar® Checking, who continue to provide a stream of resources to fund these important initiatives that help create sustainability within the education system.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to help teachers with the funds they need to support their students,” said Marisa Pérez-Díaz, executive director of the Firstmark Foundation. “As a credit union founded by teachers, we are eager to support the education community in any way we can, but it is also not possible without our membership—they are the driving force behind all the philanthropic work we’re able to do as a credit union. We’re excited to see these 20 educators bring their initiatives to fruition and look forward to seeing it come to life in the springtime!”
The Education Grant Program is designed to support full-time, K-12 educators and school employees who work directly with students by funding their innovative project ideas, including the materials necessary to successfully bring them to fruition. These project ideas engage students with important content and concepts to make an overall positive impact in the classroom. In most cases, these initiatives inspire other staff members within the school district to replicate those same efforts.
The list of the 2025-26 winners are as follows:
| Allyson Johnson | Medina Valley ISD | LaCoste Elementary |
| Andrea Colwell | Northside ISD | Scobee Elementary |
| Brandy González-Kee | Northside ISD | Clark High School |
| Carmen Martinez | Northside ISD | Fisher Elementary |
| Cynthia Cuellar | Southwest ISD | Bob Hope Elementary |
| Denise Rodriguez | Southside ISD | Freedom Elementary |
| Elizabeth Buchanan | Northside ISD | Fields Elementary |
| Elsa Avila | Archdiocese – San Antonio | Sacred Heart Catholic School |
| Karen James | Northside ISD | Kay Franklin Elementary |
| Kirissa Kabanek | Marion ISD | Karrer Campus Elementary |
| Jennifer Flores | Northside ISD | Mireles Elementary |
| Leslie Soria | Edgewood ISD | Cardenas Early Childhood Center |
| Melinda Jasso | South San Antonio ISD | Alan B. Shepard Middle School |
| Michelle Cortez | La Vernia ISD | La Vernia Primary |
| Nehemias Moreno | Harlandale ISD | Terrell Wells Middle School |
| Rebecca Jimenez | Harlandale ISD | Gillette Elementary |
| Rebecca Ross | Northside ISD | McDermott Elementary |
| Samantha Santos | North East ISD | Woodstone Elementary |
| Sandie Claus | Comal ISD | Oak Creek Elementary |
| Vanessa Rosemond | Private School | Scenic Hills Christian Academy |
To date, the Foundation has provided 95 education grants close to $90,000, and has collectively, alongside the credit union (Firstmark), funded upwards of $165,000 to school employees in San Antonio and the surrounding area.
To learn more about the Firstmark Foundation and the ways Firstmark Credit Union supports the education community on behalf of its members, please visit the Foundation tab at firstmarkcu.org.
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ABOUT The Firstmark Foundation
The FIRSTMARK FOUNDATION is a non-profit, public charity focused on making a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective giving of the membership. Firstmark Credit Union offers the Power of the Dollar® Checking that includes a $1 monthly impact fee that goes directly to the Firstmark Foundation. On behalf of the members of Firstmark, the Foundation will fund significant needs of our area schools and education community, such as constructing new facilities, improving existing amenities, enhancing learning spaces, and providing education grants and student scholarships. Founded on the philosophy of people helping people, ten teachers made the best use of their resources, established a credit union to serve educators, and 90 years later, Firstmark continues to build upon their legacy, supporting the vital work of our schools.
ABOUT Firstmark Credit Union
In 1932, ten teachers signed a charter to begin San Antonio Teachers Credit Union and served members from the original location at Fox Tech High School. Firstmark has grown the initial $475 investment to almost 100,000 members and over $1 billion in assets and continues to advance a legacy of working together with members to help build their tomorrow. Today, the Firstmark Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, exists to make a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective support of the membership. Firstmark has been recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as a Best Places to Work for the last five years, an achievement made possible by employees who proudly serve one another and the members. For more information about Firstmark Credit Union, please visit firstmarkcu.org.
