Combined Efforts to Impact the NISD Students in a Positive Way

Nyla Chesser, a School Nurse, and her daughter, Carin Chesser, an Adapted PE Specialist at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, TX, are a dynamic duo who want to highlight the Northside Education Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

The Northside Education Foundation is committed to empowering NISD educators and students through strategic fundraising efforts. The Foundation raises essential funds to support grants for innovative teaching initiatives, help new teachers, and fund programs that enrich educational experiences and foster academic excellence.

Designated Funds

Donations for various designated funds and scholarships are supported through the Northside Education Foundation.

The Northside Independent School District (NISD) fundraising program aims to enhance educational experiences through various initiatives and community support. This includes events and grants that directly benefit students and educational programs across the district.

Overview of NISD Fundraising Programs

NISD employs several strategies to raise funds for educational support.

• Community Events — NISD organizes events like clay shooting and cornhole competitions to foster community engagement while raising funds for educational programs.
• Grants for Arts — The district awards “Celebration of Music” grants to top-placing bands at its annual marching festival, promoting arts in local high schools.
• Foundation Support — The Northside Education Foundation provides funding and resources that enrich student experiences, creating lasting impacts.
• Collaborative Efforts — Partnerships with local businesses and donors enhance the fundraising capacity, benefiting various educational initiatives.

Northside Education Foundation is located at 6632 Bandera Rd., Bldg. A, San Antonio, TX 78238
and can be reached at 210-397-8599 or emailed at nef@nisd.net during 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.   Monday – Friday

Types of Grants Offered by NEF

NEF Grants – Northside ISD offers several grant opportunities to support educators and enhance student learning.

The Northside Education Foundation (NEF) offers grants for Northside Independent School District (NISD) schools, including Team Grants, Innovation Grants, and Resource Grants, to enhance educational experiences and opportunities for students.

• Team Grants — Designed for collaborative projects among educators to enhance student learning experiences.
• Innovation Grants — Focus on funding creative and innovative educational initiatives that improve student engagement and achievement.
• Resource Grants — Provide funding for essential materials and resources needed for effective teaching and learning.
• Funding Limit — Schools with an economically disadvantaged population of 50% or greater can apply for up to $2,000 for educational experiences outside the classroom

In Northside ISD, learning and success go far beyond test scores and accountability ratings. Northside’s curriculum is based on six “Pillars of Character,” developed by the Josephson Institute. The pillars are: Caring, Citizenship, Fairness, Responsibility, Respect, and Trustworthiness. 

Teachers weave lessons about the pillars into classroom activities, and each year, the Northside Education Foundation selects six NISD graduates to represent each pillar. The six alumni serve as the centrepiece of the Foundation’s annual fundraising gala, and each must commit to visiting schools and speaking with students. 

A poster of the current year’s pillars hangs in all 6,000 Northside classrooms to remind students that everyone can be a Pillar of Character. 

Anyone in the community can nominate a Pillar by completing the Pillar nomination form. All nominees must be a Northside graduate. For more information, call the NISD Partnerships office at (210) 397-8599.

The New Earth Foundation (NEF) funds projects that enhance life’s wellness and promote peace on Earth. These projects typically include initiatives in health, education, environmental sustainability, and community development.

Types of NEF-Funded Projects – NEF supports a diverse range of projects aimed at societal and environmental improvement.

• Health Initiatives — Projects that promote physical and mental well-being, such as wellness programs and health education.
• Environmental Sustainability — Efforts focused on protecting the environment, including conservation and renewable energy projects.
• Community Development — Initiatives that enhance community resources, infrastructure, and social cohesion.
• Educational Programs — Projects aimed at improving access to education and enhancing learning opportunities for various demographics.
• Cultural Projects — Initiatives that promote cultural awareness and preservation, fostering community identity and heritage.

The Northside Education Foundation awarded $572,000 in grants to the Northside Independent School District in 2025 to support classroom innovation programs.

Grant Details – The Northside Education Foundation supports educational initiatives through substantial grants.

• Total Grants — The foundation awarded a total of $572,000 in 2025.
• Average Grant Size — This amount reflects an average of approximately $572,000 per grant.
• Focus Areas — Grants are primarily directed towards classroom innovation programs.
• Historical Funding — Since its inception in 1995, the foundation has awarded over $10 million.

The Northside Education Foundation (NEF) in San Antonio has been active since its 1995 founding, focusing on building community support for innovative educational programs. Over the years, NEF has provided significant grant funding to enhance student learning across the Northside Independent School District.

NEF Funding History

NEF has a rich history of supporting education through funding.

• Foundation Establishment — NEF was founded in 1995 to empower students and educators by fostering community involvement.
• Grant Distribution — Each year, NEF grants support creative projects that enhance student learning, with teachers applying for funding.
• Community Events — NEF organizes events like the 5K Run/Walk, which is its largest fundraiser, contributing to its funding efforts.
• Ranking and Recognition — NEF is ranked among the Top 50 education foundations in the U.S. and is the top foundation in Bexar County.

Both Nyla & Chesser understand the value of the Six Pillars of Character that Northside ISD proudly displays in all its schools and, with their God-given talents, are motivated to live to the highest standards and share them with everyone they encounter every day. Rather, it is with their school district, teachers and students. That is why they share these needs and solutions with the world. 

Carin Chesser, NISD Adapted Physical Education Specialist Provides Individualized Physical Education Instruction For Students With Disabilities

Carin Chesser, APE Specialist, has a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology. She holds an M.Ed. in Special Education and has taught since 2009. She has taught for 8 years in ALE (Applied Learning Environment) and 6 years in English Language Arts, and has also coached and taught for 3 years. This is her third year teaching Adapted Physical Education. Miss Chesser recently presented at the Annual Alamo Adapted PE Conference, sharing five strategies for success in middle school sports. She has gone undefeated as NISD’s head middle school soccer coach and was the runner-up for KISD’s H-E-B Excellence in Teaching Award. She also won a grant from NEF that provided iPads for her classroom and was featured in Modern English Teacher Magazine, where she wrote an article, “Gender Differences in the Classroom,” published in 2014. Miss Chesser has been featured in Business Innovators Magazine.

Nyla Chesser, A Dedicated School Nurse, Was Spotlighted In Business Innovators Magazine During National Nurses Week & Received The “Who We Recommend” Achievement Award 

Nyla Chesser is a Registered Nurse who has worked for Northside Independent School District for 13 years. As a floating nurse, she is assigned to elementary, Middle, and High schools. Nyla’s day begins at 5 am and can end at 5 pm, depending on where the Health Services Nursing Coordinator sends her.

• As an RN for NISD, Nyla has completed numerous continuing education certifications awarded by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service for Nursing Continuing Professional Development. NISD Registered Nurses must complete 20 CE credits every 2 years.
• Nyla has continued to receive superb evaluations from the Health Services Nursing Coordinators for the last 13 years. Recently, her Health Services Coordinator recognised Nyla as an outstanding member of the district’s Vision and Hearing Team. “She does an exceptional job in this role.” She added, Great job, Nyla!!

Northside Independent School District (NISD) employs over 170 nursing professionals, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). In addition to these nurses, the district is one of the largest in San Antonio. They have a staff of Registered Nurses and LVNs who are dedicated, unsung heroes in school nursing roles, playing a critical part in supporting students’ health, wellness, and academic success.

These School Nurses serve as Caregiver | Advocate | Educator | Problem-Solver

They address critical healthcare needs, helping students thrive in the classroom and beyond. The challenges students face today—from chronic illnesses to mental health struggles—demand comprehensive, accessible care, which school nurses uniquely provide. With over 25% of students managing chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy, the presence of a school nurse ensures these children can thrive in a safe and supportive environment.

School nurses are responsible for the health of children, including, but not limited to:

• Assessing the severity of illness or injury in students.
• Distributing medications to students who are provided and approved by their parents and healthcare providers.
• Caring for students with chronic conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy/seizures, asthma, allergies/anaphylaxis, and others.
• Ensuring all students are up to date on their vaccinations/immunizations.
• Directing the provision of health services within the school.
• Screening students for vision, hearing, and other potential health issues.
• Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases.
• Connecting students and their families to relevant health resources.
• Providing mental health support to students in need.
• Collecting health data in schools to provide to local, State, and national officials.
• Promoting overall school community health through education and wellness initiatives.

And, of course, providing urgent, episodic care to students, including band-aids and ice packs for cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Nyla also understands how important these grants are to students’ and teachers’ well-being. She encourages people to donate to such a worthy cause. 

As a School nurse and previously a clinical research coordinator, Nyla Chesser wanted to find a solution for Wellness Care. Therefore, she turned to her husband, Tom Chesser, to make the connections she needed to benefit her school district and its employees. With the high cost of health care and prescription medicine, they needed a solution.

Solutions Plus Introducing A Comprehensive Wellness Benefits Initiative For School District Employees and Employers