Chloe McNiel dressed up as a teacher for Career Day during the first grade. She had always known that she wanted to be an educator and become a key part in helping children learn and accomplish their own goals when she grew up.
After graduating from Marcus High School in 2023, she is now working hard to fulfill that dream as a student at University of North Texas, with some financial assistance from the Fred O. Placke III Memorial Scholarship.
“Receiving a LEF Scholarship made me feel like the community believed in my dream of being a teacher. It made me feel that my hard work in high school was recognized,” said McNiel. “Since the scholarship was especially for education, I felt supported in my decision to pursue a Primary Education degree by other previous educators that had made a huge impact on education in our district.”
McNiel’s scholarship was formed in memory of Fred O. Placke III, who was an active community member and a LISD school board trustee for 12 years. His wife, Caren Linn Placke was a LISD special education teacher for 22 years and also has a scholarship in her memory.
“This scholarship was especially meaningful to me, because Fred O Placke is the husband of Mrs. Placke that provided my dyslexic sibling the education and support she needed in elementary school. Mrs. Placke was very special to my family and although I never met Mr. Placke personally, I heard so many good things about him from family friends,” saya McNiel.
The connection between the Placke Family and recipient McNiel is one of many special connections between donors and students through the Lewisville ISD Education Foundation. As McNiel continues on her collegiate journey to become an educator, the support of the district and foundation community continue to rally behind her, always.
