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

March 2024 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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Counselor Forum Draws Big Crowd

The recent Annual Spring Counselor Forum facilitated by NEFEC and ISRD (Institute for Small and Rural Districts) was a great success with nearly 100 school counselors attending.


The day started with a keynote from Dr. Danielle Liso from UF's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, followed by sessions covering FLDOE updates, Executive Functioning by Melissa Call, and Dr. Carmen Larson, 2024 School Counselor of the Year, sharing the benefits of therapy dogs in schools. A big thank you to all who joined!

March Resiliency Leaders - Problem Solving

NEFEC supports the development and implementation of Florida's Resiliency Education Initiative. Each month NEFEC superintendents and administrators are recognized for a specific characteristic of resilience.

Resilient Leaders Recognized For Critical Thinking:


President Tracie Snow - Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

Makeba Murphy - Niblack Elementary School, Columbia County

Lindsey Whittington - Dixie County High School, Dixie County

Cari McGee - Bunnell Elementary School, Flagler County

Wendy O'Steen - Trenton Elementary School, Gilchrist County

Chris Webber - Fernandina Beach High School, Nassau County 


Stay up-to-date with the resiliency initiative on NEFEC's Facebook page.

26th Annual Golf Scramble A Great Day

The 26th Annual Foundation for Rural Education Excellence (FREE) Golf Scramble was held on Friday, March 22nd, at the Palatka Golf Course.


Thank you to all of the sponsors, players, and organizers who helped make this year's event the most successful to date. Despite the weather, skies cleared just in time for the shotgun start. Over $18,000 was raised to support academic excellence in northeast Florida rural school districts.


A special thank you to title sponsor Arthur J. Gallaher & Co., lunch sponsor Florida School Book Depository, beverage cart sponsor Herff Jones, hole-in-one sponsor Beck Auto Group, and our special prize sponsors, Rumberger/Kirk Law, PMA Management, Barfield and Associates, Walker/Revels/Greninger PLLC, and Capital City Bank.

Mark Your Calendars

Summer Leadership Conference


NEFEC's Annual Summer Leadership Conference is scheduled for July 8-10, 2024, at the Sawgrass Marriott in

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.


Conference Information & Registration



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


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