Spring is a season many look forward to, but for Sherman Independent School District students and staff, it carries special significance. Each spring, the nonprofit Sherman Education Foundation (SEF) hosts its annual Circle of Success fundraising event, a celebration of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence.
Since 2001, Circle of Success has provided over $2.2 million to fund innovative campus projects not covered by district budgets and to recognize some of the most exceptional students in Sherman ISD. Each year, educators nominate outstanding students for their service, character, and leadership. Selected students are then invited to choose an educator who has inspired them and made a lasting impact on their academic journey.
Kathy Bickerstaff, executive director of the Sherman Education Foundation, organizes the event with support from the foundation team. “Circle of Success is such a unique and inspirational event,” she says. “We select seven or eight students each year from a pool of around fifty. They are all so deserving, which makes the decision difficult. Everything we raise goes directly back to the schools.”
SEF President Edwin Clark adds, “Circle of Success offers a powerful window into the heart of public education. It is an all-encompassing evening where service, innovation, education, gratitude, and hope come together. Serving on the SEF Board is an honor because we are not just investing in schools, we are fueling the future. Every grant is a promise kept to a student, and every educator honored is proof that one life truly can change many.”
Over the years, the event has become a favorite among students and educators alike. Circle of Success Chair Rylee Arnot shares, “Circle of Success is one of my favorite nights of the year. Nothing strengthens your belief in our public schools, our students, and our staff quite like this event. It is a privilege to serve on the board and a joy to see students who embody service, character, and leadership recognized and celebrated.”
Grant recipients also witness the impact firsthand. Priscilla Burns, a music teacher at Parker Elementary, describes the difference the funding has made in her classroom. “Because of the Sherman Education Foundation’s Circle of Success grant funding, our fourth-grade students travel to Dallas to experience both incredible art and the power of live music,” she explains. “For many of our students, it is their first visit to Dallas. Visiting the Dallas Museum of Art and hearing a live orchestra at the Meyerson Symphony Center creates wonder and joy they might not otherwise experience. These moments deepen students’ love for the arts and often inspire them to continue pursuing music and art as they grow.”
The grants portion of Circle of Success provides vital funding for supplies, educational programs, and student experiences that might not otherwise be possible. Teachers use these funds to enhance curriculum and expand opportunities in areas such as math, bilingual education, STEM, robotics, dyslexia support, fine arts, and physical fitness.
Since its inception, Circle of Success has honored more than 194 students. Bickerstaff notes, “Many of these remarkable students have accomplished more in their short journeys than most of us do in a lifetime. This is truly an extraordinary program, and we encourage more community members to get involved through donations or sponsorships.”
This year’s Circle of Success will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Austin College. For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, visit ShermanISD.net/SEF or contact the Sherman Education Foundation at 903-891-6431.