Impacting Education by Impacting Educators

10th BIRTHDAY celebration

   September 17, 2020 marked the tenth birthday of ASTEF. Leading up this special day the ASTEF Board planned many exciting and fun things to help mark this milestone. Little did they know that the true celebration would not come until June, 2021 in Denton rather than the year before in McAllen. 
   Despite Covid and the inability to gather together to share birthday wishes and consider the highlights of the Foundation’s short history, members viewed videos and read special tributes. It is hoped that if one was missed or needs to be viewed once again, this location will be helpful.  
   A special Thank You to those who gathered in Denton this June where members were finally able to celebrate the tenth birthday. Keeping with the tenth birthday theme, A Decade of Making Dreams Come True, ASTEF Directors would like to thank all who contributed in some way to the Foundation’s success since the foundation of ASTEF. With the generosity of so many so many dreams have come true for Texas children, students, and educators. 
Here’s to ten more!

​To see the videos, click here
We have shared some memories and photos via Constant Contact. Click on the links to see each day's message.
September 17, 2020 - It's Your Birthday ASTEF!!
Part of the birthday celebration was a Trivia Contest about ASTEF. We asked the question " What does the tenth birthday theme A Decade of Making Dreams Come True mean to you?" Here are some of the answers.
  • It means a child dreaming about her future of becoming a teacher - dreams that ASTEF can help her achieve with Aspiring Educator grants
  • It means a  teacher dreaming to further her education but her family's budget is already stretched to the limit - dreams that ASTEF can help her achieve with Scholarships
  • It means a teacher dreaming of leading fellow teachers or chapter members, yet she thinks she could never do this because she does not realize her potential as a leader  - a dream that she can achieve through the help of 
  • ASTEF and Leadership Seminar
  • It means a dream of a committee who wants to help the membership of their organization become better leaders - a dream achieved through motivational speakers funded and presented through ASTEF
  • It means a group of teachers dreaming of implementing new ideas in their classrooms but they nor their school district have adequate funds to finance - dreams that ASTEF can support
  • It means a teacher dreaming of making a big impact on education for today's youth but feels limited because her funds do not allow her to do this - a dream that can come true by joining with other members of ASTEF
  • It means a dream of a woman with the spark of an idea that has come true and is growing every year in the form of ASTEF
  • It means a continuing impact for our future and continuing growth of ASTEF.
​-Lou Hitt

​"ASTEF makes dreams come true." To me, it can refer to the fact that ASTEF itself is a dream come true, but it also means that dreams come true through granting scholarships and Aspiring Educator grants to women seeking to further education, through funding the leadership seminar for those who want to enhance their leadership skills which therefore benefits TSO, and through stipends that grant money for educational projects that benefit Texas students or women educators. Virginia Bowers

It means I have been able to help a lot of people because we all work together. This includes Leadership  Seminar weekends, scholarship recipients, Projects developed by DKG chapters, coordinating councils, areas and individual members, and Aspiring Educators in the state of Texas. I know that my contribution has helped each year to make someone else’s dream come true. Nell Gentry
For ten years ASTEF has supported education in the great state of Texas. I can’t think of anything better to support with my time and money than ASTEF because it truly changes the world one child, one teacher, one classroom and one community at a time. Thank you ASTEF and Happy Birthday! Risa McCann
“Making Dreams Come True” – this means that my contributions to ASTEF are not only helping my chapter, other chapters, and TSO, but many aspiring educators who dream of becoming teachers,  those seeking to become better leaders, or those who have great projects. Janet Helmcamp
ASTEF's impact is immeasurable.  The satisfaction for me is knowing my efforts, no matter how large or how small, is significant and has the potential to have positive ramifications for many years to come. 
Happy birthday ASTEF!   A Decade of Making Dreams Come True is a REALITY! Cindy Neander
​Everyone has dreams. But what do we do with those dreams? If we sit too long holding on to those dreams in our mind, they continue to build as daydreams. But through ASTEF, individual members and chapters have been able to take those first steps in making those dreams become reality. Our chapter has been privileged to receive several project stipends that have provided opportunities to our rural students in making their dreams become real rather than imaginary ideas. Our chapter members have been privileged to take the steps to complete education milestones and travel to places around the world, then sharing their knowledge with others, planting those seeds of dreams in other women’s minds. The fact that several women had a dream to provide these opportunities to individual members, chapters, and women following a career in education makes this decade that much more powerful for Texas State Organization of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Debbi Ball
Our Society is such an awesome organization that we can give back to other educators.  My ten years of giving to ASTEF is my way of paying it forward.  I can remember how as a new beginning teacher what a hard time I had getting extra funds to outfit my classroom when I was living from paycheck to paycheck.  Thankfully ASTEF is still making dreams come true. Kerry James
The great dream of Jean Webb and Vicki Davis has come true and now look where we are headed! The BEST is yet to come! That I firmly believe!! Nancy Newton
It is a milestone for ASTEF to reach their 10th Birthday celebration.  I like to promote the Foundation to potential and new members.  I explain what the Foundation has available to assist in furthering their education and professional development. Let’s continue to have ASTEF grow. Hope Beyer
It means that my chapter and area have received grants enabling us to support beginning and seasoned teachers, students, and schools in ways we never dreamed possible. It means that my chapter members have recommended three education majors whose  dreams of becoming teachers are being supported financially through Aspiring Educator grants. Dreams across Texas are being realized through ASTEF’s commitment and vision. Trudy Matus
Ten years of service to 74 women with a dream of becoming a teacher. to 197 chapters and individuals with a desire to help and serve the students, teachers, and communities of Texas. to 121 women with an aim to develop the leadership skills needed to improve their lives and relationships as well as developing a path toward personal success in their career life. to 214 women with a goal of receiving higher degrees and additional certifications that might open the door to a more gratifying and fulfilling career in the field of education. 10 Years of Making Dreams Come True!! Rhonda Posey
Being a part of ASTEF has been a phenomenal experience. I have learned how ASTEF helps so many teachers and students across the state of Texas in so many ways. I am very proud to say I am a part of ASTEF. Kitty Hutchcroft
WOW!  Ten years ago, who would have thought that from such humble beginnings ASTEF could accomplish so much in making a difference in the lives of so many Texas teachers and students!  ASTEF has been blessed with giving hearts of outstanding educators and community leaders.  May the caring and generous spirit of those who value education continue to make dreams come true in the next decade and beyond. Gail Herring