I have been fortunate to work with a superb group of people on The Ashland Education Foundation. This community-based organization is dedicated to providing enhanced educational opportunities for students in the Ashland Public Schools. This spring, we funded 10 grants, which spanned a variety of disciplines and departments across the spectrum of schools:
Calling All Scientists: $613 to Jennifer Temple, Warren School
Clay in Class – A Lasting Impression: $2,000 to Colleen Glynn, Mindess School
Digital Scanner: $1,350 to Tina Hunter, Ashland High School
ELL Classroom Library: $1,500 to Daniella Alvarez-Bradley and Nicole Lynch, Ashland Middle School, Ashland High School
Jump for the Health of It! $300 to Geri Sprague and Ann King, Ashland Middle School
Kites and Bikes Storage Shed: $1,600 to Teresa McCarrick, Warren School
Linking Traditional Literature to Social Studies Topics and Contemporary Literature: $1,270 to Kimberlee Arnold and Maureen Welzel, Ashland Middle School
Maintenance of New Salt Water Aquarium: $1,100 to Christine Fletcher, Ashland High School
Massachusetts Children’s Book Award: $750 to Patricia Kacevich, Mindess School
Point of Sale System: $2,000 to Lisa Beaudin, Ashland Middle School
All of the projects demonstrate innovation, collaboration and have a potentially broad impact upon the school.
AEFI also holds an annual Fundraising Dinner and Grants Awards Ceremony in the spring. This year, it was on May 4 at Staples headquarters in Framingham. I am proud to report that we raised more than $7,500 through dinner tickets, donations, a raffle and silent auction. The organization will use the proceeds to fund next year’s teacher grants, along with proceeds from the foundation’s GIFTS program, to which people contribute several times a year.
Guest speakers at this year’s dinner were Doreen Nichols, Staples vice president of associate relations and global diversity, who emphasized the importance of corporate support for education. Senator. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, gave an overview of what lies ahead for education funding at the state level.
It is organizations, such as the AEFI, which keep a town going strong. The citizens of the town and surrounding businesses can work together to support our wonderful educators. In the end, the students win as does the future of our nation. By offering challenging, enriching educational experiences to our children, we can help them grow up to give back to society and keep paying it forward.
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