Midway ISD is proud to recognize the following companies and individuals for their steadfast commitment to supporting educational excellence in our local community schools. The voluntary gifts of time, expertise and funding provided by Educators Credit Union, TFNB, Carly Webb and the Hewitt Public Library have helped improve education for all Midway students and meet our needs as a growing school district.
The 2021 Friends of Midway award recipients were each presented with a handcrafted blown glass bowl in Midway colors created by art teacher Bob Rynearson.
Educators Credit Union
Educators Credit Union has supported the Midway Education Foundation each year beginning in 2002 with a Silver sponsorship ($2,500+). Representatives from the ECU team have also accompanied the Education Foundation on most of their Prize Posse award rounds. This credit union has also sponsored convocation gift items and provided goodie packages of pens, calendars, post-it notes, etc. for faculty members for at least 20 years.
TFNB – Your Bank for Life
TBNB has provided more than $29,000 in Midway Education Foundation sponsorship donations over a 19-year period. TFNB also continued to provide a Showcase of Stars event sponsorship even after the event had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, they doubled their annual campaign donation from a Silver level sponsorship to a Gold level sponsorship while continuing to support our Showcase of Stars event. They also agreed to support our district by giving us a 1% interest rate for an endowment CD when the typical rate offered was around 0.4%, which will help us grow the amount in our endowment fund more quickly.
Carly Webb
Carly Webb is one of our community stakeholders who works tirelessly to enhance the quality of education for all Midway students. In addition to subbing at several of our elementary schools, Webb was co-chair for our Facilities Studies Committee and has done a phenomenal job taking Midway matters to the community ever since. She stepped up using social media to inform a local neighborhood group about a rezoning meeting, and then facilitated the discussion that followed. While there was a lot of activity and emotion on display in the online thread, the overall tone stayed positive and respectful, which can largely be attributed to the deft and gracious way Carly (and her husband) responded to concerns with quick and clear answers.
Hewitt Public Library
Midway ISD librarians reached out to the Hewitt Public Library and its director Waynette Ditto to create a partnership for Midway ISD students to receive their own student public library cards. This amazing opportunity allows all Midway students the ability to access the resources at Hewitt Public Library, including all of their print and digital materials. The timing of this partnership aligned perfectly with the summer approaching to provide access to resources and to encourage our students to keep reading.
“We are so thankful for the Hewitt Public Library and Waynette’s enthusiasm for this project,” Midway High School Librarian Lauren Steen and Woodgate Intermediate Librarian Katie Talbert said. “This is such a gift for the students of Midway!”
Hewitt Public Library Director Waynette Ditto and Children’s Services/Library Clerk Kay Carlile are also enthusiastic supporters of Midway’s special needs students. When approached by the MISD Special Education Parent Advisory Council, they were willing and eager to partner for events serving these students. They presented a creative and interactive telling of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” at the Play for All event in May 2019 held at the accessible Hewitt Elementary playground. In October 2019, they also hosted special needs families at the Hewitt Public Library for a Fall Family Game Night which included indoor and outdoor games, face painting, crafts, light refreshments, a visit from the fire department, and a fall-themed photo area.
“We are so appreciative of the compassion they have for our children and their readiness to partner with us on an ongoing basis,” Chair of Midway’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council Jenifer Salisbury said. “They are truly Friends of Midway.”
