Foundation for Rural Education Excellence | |
Supporting Academic Achievement in
Rural Northeast Florida Communities
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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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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US!
At this time of the year, it's important to take some time to reflect on our families, friends, and colleagues. We are so thankful for each of you. All of you care about our students and work hard to make education excellence attainable for them. We hope that your holidays are filled with laughter, love, and some rest.
FREE and NEFEC also wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. We plan to begin 2026 with fresh engagement and renewed energy for our foundation, districts, and most importantly our students. Thanks for being a catalyst for making that happen!
| | Dollar General Support for Classrooms | | |
FREE is thrilled to have received the “Marking the Way to Literacy: Supplies for Student Success” grant from Dollar General. This generous funding is dedicated to providing essential classroom supplies that empower our teachers to engage students in meaningful learning experiences.
With this grant, FREE is partnering with NEFEC to equip classrooms with vital resources such as chart paper, markers, cardstock, whiteboards, and erasable charts. These tools are crucial for implementing effective literacy strategies that foster student growth and success.
A heartfelt thank you to Dollar General for their incredible support and partnership in our mission to enhance literacy in our community. Together, we’re making a positive impact on the future of our students!
| | National Award for Workers Comp Efforts | | |
Dr. Patrick Wnek, NEFEC Executive Director, attended the National Comp 2025 in Nashville, TN, to participate in the Theo Award ceremony.
The Theo Awards, named after President Theodore Roosevelt, honor organizations that demonstrate innovation and commitment in protecting workers and strengthening workplace safety. With the support of our valued partners, PMA Management Corp., superintendents and risk management directors from participating member districts, and NEFEC's own Risk Management Team, we reimagined our approach, leading to more streamlined processes, improved incident response, and stronger return-to-work initiatives.
This recognition reflects the power of collaboration across member districts and partners. Thank you to all who contributed to this achievement.
| | New Teacher Network Mini-Grant Winners | | |
FREE is excited to highlight the incredible momentum of our dedicated new teachers as they continue to excel in their professional learning journey.
Through a partnership between FREE and NEFEC, these educators also benefit from mini-grants that recognize and reward those who share their innovative classroom practices to strengthen teaching across our rural communities.
This round, we’re proud to spotlight:
⭐ Ms. Robin Jackson- Baker County
| ⭐ Ms. Amber Murr- Hamilton County | ⭐ Ms. Brittany Gulbrand- Union County | #NTN #RuralExcellence #NEFECProud | | | | |
1st Annual Tim Starling Scramble
FREE's annual golf scramble is scheduled for April 10, 2026, at The Palatka Golf Club.
Scramble Registration
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Foundation for Rural Education Excellence
(352) 317-0621
foundationruraled@gmail.com
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