SCHOOL BUS
Foundation for Rural Education Excellence
Supporting Academic Achievement in
Rural Northeast Florida Communities

January 2025 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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New Teacher Network Awards

After attending New Teacher Network #1: Classroom Management, three incredible educators took the strategies they learned and put them into practice. Their creativity and dedication paid off.


Meghan Sanchez - Columbia County

Raymond Brown - Gilchrist County

Kacie Stees - Levy County


These amazing teachers shared their experiences and received a $150 gift card from the Foundation of Rural Education Excellence (FREE).

Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness

NEFEC hosted an engaging and impactful event focused on supporting students experiencing homelessness. The event included insightful presentations from guest speakers Bryce Trafford from the Florida Department of Education’s McKinney-Vento Program and Ashely Gill from the Heartland Educational Consortium.


A special thank you to the Columbia County School District for their warm hospitality! Together, we’re building stronger pathways to education for all.

Rural Connect: Administrators & Coaches

NEFEC recently facilitated the third session of the Rural Connect program for administrators and coaches. The session proved to be an exceptional day of professional learning, characterized by a multifaceted approach to learning.


The agenda for the day included a comprehensive analysis of educational data, fostering district-wide collaboration, and engaging in role-playing exercises focused on growth chats. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to hear testimonials from schools actively involved in the Rural Connect initiative.


The session was attended by over 40 dedicated educators who contributed to an atmosphere brimming with enthusiasm, intellectual engagement, and collaborative sharing.

Mark Your Calendars

27th Annual Golf Scramble


FREE's annual golf scramble is scheduled for March 28, 2025, at The Palatka Golf Club.


Registration Information

Summer Leadership Conference


NEFEC's Annual Summer Leadership Conference is scheduled for July 21-23, 2025, at the Sawgrass Marriott in

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.



Conference Registration & Hotel Reservations





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


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