The Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 Technology Foundation will award nine school districts with nearly $70,000 in grant funds to support education technology programs.

The new technology projects chosen came from a pool of nearly 50 applications submitted by districts from across the region.

Four of the selected districts, including three in Hill County, were awarded grants during surprise visits to educators Monday, March 20.

Hillsboro, Whitney and Aquilla independent school districts were awarded over $22,000 combined. Im really excited to see what its going to do on our campus with our kids math skills.

The Whitney intermediate campus received $7,448 after math teacher Kelli Moore submitted a project to create engineering/agricultural and artistic maker spaces that will allow students to create and explore ideas through research, invention and design activities.

Aquilla elementary campus received nearly $4,800 to increase reading fluency in elementary classrooms through integrated technology.

The project was submitted by campus principal Andrew Christian and assistant principal Jana Pratka.

According to a Region 12 press release, five more schools are scheduled to receive surprise awards in early April.

Since its creation in 2012, the ESC Region 12 Technology Foundation has awarded nearly $280,000 to 31 school districts and two charter schools in Central Texas.