In Memory of Karen Sinders
With both a heavy heart and unwavering gratitude, we are announcing the creation of the Karen Sinders Memorial APSF Teacher Grant.
Karen Sinders has been an integral part of the APSF since the beginning. Upon learning about the Foundation, Ms. Sinders expressed interest in volunteering as an adviser as she wanted to represent the unique needs of the 5 Apex-area middle schools served by the APSF. She never looked back. She served on the APSF Principal Advisory Committee from early 2019 until the time of her unexpected passing, and she joined Mel Leach (Scotts Ridge ES) and Matt Wight (Apex Friendship HS) in advising the APSF Board of Directors in our inaugural year. Ms. Sinders was an incredible cheerleader for the APSF. As a student-focused educator, she backed our efforts to enhance experiences for students while also supporting educators, school staff and families. With her decade of experience in WCPSS, Ms. Sinders was a wonderful resource to our young nonprofit organization.
We at the APSF were fortunate to see Ms. Sinders twice this past November. She cheered on a Lufkin student and teacher at our game show event, and in mid-November, she attended our Board of Directors meeting. Ms. Sinders was beaming when she shared that Lufkin Road Middle School students had experienced their first normal pep rally since Covid. She valued these simple rituals and routines and was genuinely thrilled for her students and school community. Ms. Sinders loved her job and felt it was her mission to serve students and their families. As a leader, she realized the best way to serve students and their families is to support great teachers.
In honor of Ms. Sinders’s commitment, each year when APSF Teacher Grants are awarded, one will be recognized as the Karen Sinders Memorial APSF Teacher Grant. In the selection process, the APSF Teacher Grant Committee will give particular attention to high quality proposals that impact either middle school students and/or entail community programming, as both were near and dear to Ms. Sinders.
Ms. Sinders valued family and community and, while her immediate family was of utmost importance to her, she treated her students, colleagues and friends as family as well. She will be dearly missed and never forgotten.