Whether singing songs to remember concepts or creating diagrams to display the ecosystem, students can have fun learning. When spending five days a week in a classroom, students who are engaged tend to enjoy their experience more, which leads to retaining more knowledge.
The Highland Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established to enhance the learning experience of the students by providing School Town of Highland teachers with funding to create an engaging atmosphere with innovative classroom projects. The foundation’s vision is to encourage, support and help achieve excellence within the teachers and students.
Judi Caddick, a retired teacher and president of the foundation said, “To me, to retain good teachers, it is vital for them to know that they have the support of their community.”
Caddick’s daughter, Beth Harwood was a long-term substitute teacher when she learned that Highland did not have an education foundation. She had received a grant from an education foundation while teaching in a neighboring community. Caddick and Harwood felt a passion for helping teachers and students, so they founded the Highland Education Foundation.
In July of 2016, the Highland Education Foundation received its 501(c)(3) status. The ten-member board was in place and fully operational in November. The board members include residents, teachers, administrators and two high school students interested in giving back to the community. All of these people share deep passion for education and a vested interest in ensuring that each individual succeeds by providing them with the proper tools.
Terry Mucha, board member and principal of Highland Middle School, said, “Any time you provide a better education for a child, it benefits the entire community. I became involved at the very beginning of this venture. I had previously served on other foundations and found it to be very rewarding.”
Money raised by this foundation have funded such projects as One School, One Book where students in two of the elementary buildings participated in activities relating to the book every student in their school is reading. Another of the elementary buildings purchased manipulatives to be used in a Math Lab where all of the classes from grades K-6 would have access to engaging activities. The other elementary building used grant money from the foundation to purchase MobyMax which is a standards based app for iPads. The middle school grant was used to purchase Breakout boxes which help to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.
The funds for these five grants were obtained through “Thank-A-Teacher” campaign as well as support from local restaurants including Culvers and Potbelly. With much anticipated excitement, the organization kicks off their first Trivia Night on Saturday, April 22.