Texas Distance Learning Association

BACKGROUND
The late Don Foshee, a founding member and first President of TxDLA, helped pave the way for the birth of what began with about a dozen people gathering to talk about distance learning in 1995, to the largest statewide chapter of distance learning professionals in the United States. During Don's life, he was recognized as a pioneer for over twenty years while he designed, built, and managed some of the largest and most successful distance learning, training, and telemedicine networks in the United States. Past positions Don held included the titles of: President and CEO of Innovative Interactions, Inc., Director of Strategic Programs for VTEL Corp., Director of ED-NET, Director of STAR Schools, and Vice President of the TI-IN Network.

Upon experiencing a life-threatening illness, which eventually took his life, Don also focused on the delivery of distance learning to accommodate those who are homebound due to critical illness and/or physical disabilities along with the learning-impaired population. His love of music and songwriting talents drove him to be thoughtful and innovative in the field of distance learning, for example, he launched a Native American Network for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Don will always be remembered as a talented, fun-loving pioneer in the field of distance learning.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Don Foshee Memorial Grant is to recognize exceptional ideas and talents to be applied in a thoughtful, fun, and creative manner delivered through distance learning. Funds are directed toward the motivation of finding your "backyard treasure" in the spirit of Don Foshee.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM WORD PDF

Recipients
2008	Roxanne Glaser, Education Service Center Region 12 Tommy Bearden, Education Service Center Region 14
2007	Roxanne Glaser, Education Service Center Region 12
2006	Irma Muniz, Corpus Christi ISD Independent School District
2005	Teela Watson, Cheryl MacDonald, Birdville Independent School District

Contributors

2008 funding made possible by VBrick, Inc. and Trapeze Networks
2007 funding made possible by VBrick, Inc.
2006 funding made possible by VBrick, Inc.
2005 funding made possible by Polycom

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Don Foshee Memorial Grant Guidelines & Instructions

Guidelines

The proposal must be for new projects only, not continuation of existing projects.
The recipient's place of employment will receive and administer funding. Should the Primary Investigator (PI) leave the administering organization, plans for completion within project timeline for spending (not to exceed 2 years) must be agreed upon between the organization and PI with immediate notification and request for approval by TxDLA's Executive Committee. If project continuation and completion should be abandoned, remaining grant funds will be returned to TxDLA from the administering organization.
Primary Investigator must be an active TxDLA Member.
Proposed projects must be Texas-based.
Potential for outreach to additional benefactors other than those in the proposal will be considered in the selection process and should be mentioned, whether such target audiences be located within the state, nationally, or internationally.
A project progress report is required for presentation at the next year's TxDLA conference.
One complimentary registration for one TxDLA conference attendee will be given for the next year's conference.
Grant funds are not permitted for travel. Should the PI's employer disagree to provide funding for travel at the following year's conference, PI will be required to present on their project and its progress at the following year's conference via video, either synchronously or asynchronously.
Budgeted funds should be spent within the first year. Consideration will be made for no more than a two year spending timeline.
A Project Spending Report is due to TxDLA Management at the end of grant period.
Documentation of in kind contributions made by the PI, other grant project participants, and the sponsoring organization should be included with the Project Spending Report.

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Instructions

Project Description
Explain your project in detail on the Project Description section of this document. Please do not exceed one page for your proposal and include the following:

Give a general description of the project and how distance learning will be applied.
Describe how you will tap into your "backyard treasures".
Explain how the project is an exceptionally unique idea.
Tell what makes this project thoughtful, fun, and creative.
Include how many people and what constituencies this project will benefit from.
Describe this project's potential for outreach to benefactors other than those in the proposal.

Budget
Explain your budget in detail on the Grant Budget section of this document.

Provide a detailed budget for each item with a projected timeline for spending. If you do not have exact figures, estimate as closely as possible and indicate where estimation applies.
Include an approximate figure of projected in kind contributions that will be made by your organization or others (e.g. cost for hours volunteered and funds contributed toward project; materials donated by industry connections).

To make application:

Save file as: FosheeGrantYourName.doc
Make the subject line of your email: Don Foshee Grant Application
Email file as attachment to: past-pres@txdla.org

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