Foundation for Rural Education Excellence

Supporting Academic Achievement in Rural Northeast Florida Communities

January 2019 Newsletter

The Foundation for Rural Education Excellence, a registered 501 (C)(3) organization, was founded in 1998 to facilitate philanthropic support for rural school districts of the   North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC): Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, Suwannee and Union Counties as well as Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and PK Yonge Developmental Research School. Working collaboratively, our mission is to enhance academic success and career opportunities for rural students in northeast Florida.

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UNF Virtual Teacher Academy

As another strategy for addressing teacher shortages, NEFEC is partnering with the University of North Florida's College of Education and Human Services to offer a Virtual Teacher Academy for selected high school students in surrounding districts. Through dual enrollment and support resources, the academy will be facilitated via an innovative and intuitive online format. For more information, contact Anna Arnold at: rossano-arnolda@nefec.org

Literacy Initiative 2019

During the summer of 2019, FREE and NEFEC Member districts will embark on a Literacy Initiative for grades K-5. An initial 4-day institute will focus on the 5 areas of reading, standards-aligned writing, and small group instruction. Professional learning will be provided by NEFEC staff and district/school trainers.  It is expected that 85% of the core instructional faculty and an administrator attend the summer training.This professional learning includes follow-up support during the 2019-20 school year.This job-embedded approach will not only ensure implementation in classrooms but provide additional school-based support based on needs. Interested schools must complete an application to show their capacity to implement the initiative. Administrators will be assisted with ongoing observation and analysis of data throughout the year.Train-the-Trainer dates are tentatively set to occur during April-May.This regional professional learning event will take place at east and west locations for NEFEC districts during the months of June & July. For additional information, please contact Rhonda Clyatt or Suzanne Beck at NEFEC.  clyattr@nefec.org;   becks@nefec.org

Upcoming Events

FREE Board of Directors Meeting

The next board meeting will be at the Bradford County School Board office in Starke, Florida on January 31, 2019, at 10 a.m. We are actively recruiting dedicated people to join our board. They must have a passion for rural education and willing to be an advocate for our board and its programs. If you are interested in learning more, please call Judy Boles @ (352) 538-5108 or email: jeboles@bellsouth.net

21st Annual Golf Tournament FREE's annual golf tournament is scheduled for March 22, 2019, at The Palatka Golf Club. Stay tuned for more information.

Summer Leadership Conference NEFEC's Annual Summer Leadership Conference is scheduled for July 8-11, 2019, at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Foundation for Rural Education Excellence (352) 317-0621 foundationruraled@gmail.com freeneedsyou.org

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