As he was making his way through the high school, Kingfisher Educational Foundation board member David Blair made an obversation.

“This is taking longer than it normally does,” he said as the KEF board members - along with Santa and Mrs. Claus - were out delivering good news on Wednesday morning.

And Blair couldn’t have been happier about it.

The KEF distributed some $77,000-plus in grant monies to teachers and programs across the district.

“It’s a new record,” Blair noted. “Another record.”

And, again, he couldn’t be happier.

•••

The KEF has one fundraiser each year: The Duck Race in conjunction with the Fourth of July celebration at Kingfisher Park.

In 2025, the non-profit organization sold 768 ducks and raised $58,400.

Both were - you guessed it - new records.

The money is placed into an endowment and the KEF pulls from its interest earnings each year while the rest of it continues to grow.

The application process runs each year from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.

Teachers makes requests for a wide range of tools for learning which includes programs, equipment, stipends for visiting instructors, field trips, academic aids, supplemental materials and more.

Grant applications are reviewed anonymously.

The KEF fully funds some grants while Kingfi sher Public Schools also provides funding for some.

This year, there were more than 50 grant requests totaling $115,439.18.

There were 50 total grants awarded.

The KEF funded $60,944.64 and KPS funded $16,057.33.

In all, 98 percent of the grants were approved and 67 percent of the money requested was approved.

“We, as a board, were very excited to see that,” Blair said.

Which is why it was taking longer than most years to deliver all the good news.

Board members made their way to each school and posed with photos with the winners and even students who wanted to join in.

Board members along with Blair include: Zac Kannady, president; Heath Redwine, vice president; Joe Voth, treasurer; Mark Andrews, secretary; and members Alberto Sanchez, Jennifer Farrar, Jeff Wilcox, Kathy Kadavy, Kristin Perkey, Trevor Wilczek and Superintendent Andy Evans.

Projects funded this year include:

Gilmour Elementary

MelissaWarren(pre-kin- dergarten) - There Was an Old Lady book series($ 163.94/KPS funded) Jarren Graham (pre-kindergarten - first) - Safe and Comfortable Calm Corner ($940.03) Tiffany Blundell (kindergarten) - Happy Learners; Happy Teacher ($1,187.04); library budget ($179/KPS funded) Jessica Stewart (kindergarten) - Learning tools for students/rug ($1,731.46) Jessica Stewart/kindergarten teacher team (kindergarten) - class sets of wireless headphones ($1,852.90) Laurie Hagar/Hart, Hood, Warren (pre-kindergarten) - Listening & Learning (at your own pace) via iPad apps ($1,625) Micah Hensley (kindergarten- first) - classroom flexible seating ($447.86) Tammy Duncan/kindergarten teacher team (kindergarten) - Pocket Full of Learning ($715.15)

Heritage Elementary

Jordan Waltman (second) - Chick, Chick, HOORAY! ($924.50) Stephanie Farrell (second) - Science of Reading Phonics activities bundle ($916) Kelley Connel (third) Watch us learn to tell time - ($1,099) Kaytlyn Woods (second- third) - Catching Kindness - ($400) Lili Giles (third) - third grade Webster’s dictionaries - ($738) Barbara Baker (kindergarten- 12) - Sensory Garden ($1,810) Barbara Baker/Franks, Ince, Laudwig (kindergarten- 12) - musical inclusion playground equipment ($13,311of $26,311 requested) Sheila Redwine (seco nd-third) - Spire ($2,134.63) Shasta Yost (second) Extreme Animals ($865) Lesley Redwine (second- third) - Dispensing Knowledge, Bringing Books to our Students ($1,000) C. Nicole Kippenberger (second-third) - Physical Education-Health & Safety ($1,195.54) Morgan Shuman (second) - Math in Motion ($682.32) Rachel Ince (third) - individualized sound system for classroom engagement ($329.99) Anna K. Schaefer (second- third) - Emotional Regulation in the Classroom ($21,609 - not funded)

Upper Elementary

Katelyn Dissinger (sixth) - First Chapter Friday ($311.23) Michele Simon (fourthsixth) - laminator-cold roll ($484.98) Liz Walter (fifth) - First Chapter Friday ($164.96/ KPS funded) Melody Kuehn (fourthsixth) - classroom tables, stools and cart ($3,015.95); The Art of Circuitry ($1,435.57) Morgan Finley (thirdfi fth) - A “Solid” Foundation of Learning ($5,579.94/ KPS funded) Kara Mueggenborg (fourth) - classroom chairs and equipment ($2,059.62/ KPS funded) Jannason Long (sixth) Engaged ($299.23) Mark Redwine (sixth) - Science magazines ($304.92) Meggan Lunsford (fourth-sixth) - library makeover ($411.96); new titles for series ($891.75) Kara Mueggenborg (fourth) - phenomenon based learning and STEAM materials ($2,144.67)

Junior High

Whitney Hauser (seventh) - cards for nursing home ($328.58) Deana Silk (eighth) - Let there be Color ($575) Mandy Horn (seventh- eighth) - spelling program ($320) Bridget Birdwell (seventh-eighth) - Project Momentum: Driving Achievement Through Play ($953.13) Lainey Mueggenborg (seventh-eighth) - Imagination and Creativity Builds Futures: The Junior High Art Initiative ($2,408.41)

High School

Mandy Owens (ninth-12th) - bass drums and carriers for drumline ($5,402.60) Paula Leffingwell (ninth-12th) - technology for test administrators ($1,829.90/ KPS funded) Doug Jech (ninth-12th) - Driver’s Education-A Drunk Buster/Impairment Simulation Resource ($582) Jan Swart (10th-12th) - supplemental equipment and materials for high school science ($1,817) A.J. Johnson (all) - school image printing support ($1,200) Melissa Hardison (eighth-12th) - Enhancing Food Science and Nutrition Education through Freezer Storage Expansion ($529) Stefanie Godde (eighth-12th) - FFA in Full Bloom: Floral Design Skills for Student Success ($971 of $4,488.21 requested)

Multi-school

Nikki Young/Voth, Kuehn (second-eighth) Expanding therapy classroom libraries for grades 2-8 ($1,003.20/KPS funded) Steffanie Stephenson/ Mueggenborg, Upchurch (pre-kindergarten-sixth) Amazon Therapy materials ($838.24 and $857.21/KPS funded) Kinsey Mueggenborg/ Stephenson, Upchurch (all) - audiometers ($2,936.25/ KPS funded) Kinsey Mueggenborg/ Stephenson, Upchurch (all) - evaluations and screeners ($1,283.31/KPS funded) Lacey Kuehn/Young, Voth (all) - Quality intervention resources and professional development ($2,125)