With The Spazmatics on hand to help the crowd get its “geek” on, the Lake Travis Education Foundation Crystal Ball Gala returned to the posh digs that are the Renaissance Austin Hotel’s grand ballroom Feb. 13.

The band opted not to reenact every scene from Star Wars, taking aim instead at the wealth of material that is the 1980s New Wave song book.
While guests danced the evening away, LTEF was raising funds to that will be used to assist many of the Lake Travis Independent School District’s teachers achieve their educational goals.
For LTEF president, Taylor Fife, the annual event speaks to the unique community that is Lake Travis.
“We have to count our blessings — we really do,” Fife said. “I don’t think anyone disagree that Lake Travis is a fabulous place to live.”
But under court-ordered school equalization funding, commonly called “Robin Hood,” LTISD must send just under $30 million — about 50 cents out of ever local tax dollar — out of the district. LTEF, now in its 25th year, helps fill the funding void by raising funds that are not subject to the state’s “Robin Hood” regulations.
Fife said teachers are the cornerstone to a good education and need all the help they can get.
“We have some extremely talented kids,” Fife said. “We have some exceptionally smart students. But how do they get that way? The get that way thanks to our gifted educators. Our teachers are phenomenal. You need to be smart, you have to hit the books to get the education, but our support programs make a big difference because the focus is all on the kids.”
And there should be plenty of reasons why teachers will be smiling when the “Prize Patrol,” the LTEF group that goes to the various Lake Travis Independent School District campuses to award grants, makes its annual rounds next May.
In addition to ticket sales, underwriting and sponsorships, LTEF’s silent and live auctions drew generous bids throughout the evening. Meanwhile, because those bids benefit the non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, contributions are tax deductible, and donors receive statements for tax purposes.
It will all culminate in the annual Prize Patrol next May. Last year, the Prize Patrol surprised teachers with more than $175,000 in grant funding.
Fife credited LTISD Superintendent Dr. Rocky Kirk for helping the community maintain a “small town” philosophy and thanked the present and past LTEF board members for their efforts on behalf of local school children.
“Rocky is a fabulous superintendent who fully supports the LTEF’s efforts on the district’s behalf,” Fife said. “Rocky and his amazing staff do an amazing job.”
LTEF has been the picture of a successful support program for the school district since its inception in 1985. Fife estimated that by the end of the year the organization will have raised between $2.25-$2.4 million over its history.
“It is literally awesome when you think about it,” Fife said. “That represents literally thousands of teacher grants throughout the years. It isn’t so much what the teachers need — it addresses what they want to improve the educational process, and that makes a big difference in the lives of our children.”
Fife noted that LTEF has funded 625 scholarships throughout the years, helping fill the gap for hundreds of Lake Travis graduates seeking a higher education.
“None of this could possibly be achieved without the generous assistance of our sponsors,” Fife said. “All this takes money and that doesn’t happen if we don’t raise it.”
To learn more about the LTEF mission, visit its Web site, www.laketraviseducationfoundation.com.