Boca Raton Bowl gives A.D. Henderson teacher $1,000 classroom grant

The Boca Raton Bowl surprised A.D. Henderson University School social studies teacher Ella Pillitteri with a $1,000 classroom supply grant on Florida Atlantic University’s campus on Tuesday. The award ties into Extra Yard for Teachers Week and puts a local educator in the spotlight ahead of the bowl game on Dec. 18.

Why it matters: - The grant gives one Boca Raton-area classroom extra resources for supplies and student learning. - The recognition also highlights a national effort to support PK-12 teachers through Extra Yard for Teachers Week. - Ella Pillitteri will be honored again on the field at the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18.

What happened: - The Boca Raton Bowl surprised A.D. Henderson University School social studies teacher Ella Pillitteri with a giant check and a $1,000 classroom supply grant on Tuesday, Sept. 15. - The presentation took place in front of Pillitteri’s students and colleagues on Florida Atlantic University’s campus. - The award was part of Extra Yard for Teachers Week, held Sept. 12 through 19.

The details: - Extra Yard for Teachers Week is a College Football Playoff Foundation initiative that celebrates PK-12 educators across the country. - The program provides resources, professional development, recognition and recruitment support for teachers. - The initiative has invested more than $104 million and supported 756,000 teachers nationwide to date. - Pillitteri is known at A.D. Henderson for work that encourages curiosity, leadership and civic engagement. - She has led students in mock trial and academic games competitions, presented at national conferences and conducted action research to improve instructional practice at her school. - Doug Mosley, executive director of the Boca Raton Bowl, said teachers are behind every success story in the community and called Pillitteri the kind of educator the program was built to recognize. - Mosley was joined at the presentation by A.D. Henderson Principal Dr. Lauren Robinson and Adam and Clare Brim of Elite Vision Gifting, the event’s title sponsor. - Just Baked of East Boca Raton donated cookies for the celebration and has supported the tradition for several years.

Between the lines: - The Boca Raton Bowl is using the game-week spotlight to connect college football with local education recognition. - The teacher award also serves as a community-facing reminder of the wider CFP Foundation push to elevate educators, not just athletes. - The mix of school leaders, sponsors and local businesses shows the event is positioned as both a sports event and a civic partnership.

What's next: - Pillitteri will be recognized again on the field at the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18. - The Boca Raton Bowl kicks off Friday, Dec. 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET at Florida Atlantic University’s Flagler Credit Union Stadium. - The game will air nationally on ESPN, with radio coverage on ESPN Radio and ESPN 106.3 locally. - More information is available at BocaRatonBowl.com. - The Boca Raton Bowl also directs fans to follow along on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube.

The bottom line: - A local teacher got a direct financial boost for her classroom, and the Boca Raton Bowl turned the moment into a broader celebration of educators.