Foundation Matters

Volume 5 - Issue 3 | September 15, 2025

Cathy Tenney, Editor

A Word or Two from the Board…

Greetings with Gratitude!

Excitement is in the air!

We hope your new school year started with the joy of meeting your students, the fun of engaging learners, and a passion for teaching. All of us are excited to begin a new year of DKG friendships, fellowship, interesting programs, and encouraging excellence in education.

The ADSOEF directors and committee members are also excited to begin working toward our purposes of raising, managing, and distributing funds to satisfy our mission.

Nine committees have been formed for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and have started meeting to accomplish their goals. Three committees were highlighted in the August newsletter. Three more will be highlighted in this issue. Continue reading to learn more about the Donor Relations, Fundraising, and Marketing Committees.

Pay attention to the graphics used in the August and September newsletters. They hint at the fundraising campaign theme which will be officially launched at the September 27, 2025, OHSO Executive Board Meeting. Then in the October edition, we will reveal the details of this colorful campaign!

With thankfulness,

The ADSOEF Board of Directors

Donor Relations Committee

The purpose of the Donor Relations Committee is to record all donations received by ADSOEF and graciously acknowledge those gifts by communicating with the donor in multiple ways within a short period of time. This helps to develop relationships with our donors by recognizing the generosity of OHSO chapters and members.

During the fiscal year 2024-2025, monetary gifts were received from 249 donors, both chapters and individuals, some wishing to remain anonymous. Many donations were given In Honor of to recognize accomplishments by others and some were sweetly given In Memory of a loved one no longer with us.

The first communication is a typed letter thanking the donor and articulating the date of the donation, its amount, the fund if one has been specified, and listing the In Memory or In Honor of designations. This letter can be kept and used as documentation of the gift for tax purposes; thus, it is called the Tax Letter.

The second communication, keeping a tradition alive often lost today, is sending a personalized hand-written thank you note, created especially for each donor by one of our committee members. These most sincere notes express gracious appreciation for the donation, are sent on ADSOEF stationery, and highlight the importance of targeting funds for their intended purpose, such as benefiting student teachers or emphasizing the concept of teachers helping teachers.

Notes are also written to the individuals who have been honored by a donor, and families of those remembered by an In Memory of donation are notified, sharing the information and the contributor.

The final public communication consists of providing the current donor list to the editor of Foundation Matters for publishing each month. It is our privilege to recognize the generous support for ADSOEF.

Barbara J. Smith, Zeta Chapter

Susan Samoviski, Chi Chapter

Joan Avery, Chi Chapter

Linda Reeves, Alpha Delta Chapter, Chairman.

Fundraising Committee

The purpose of the Fundraising Committee is to plan, coordinate and execute activities that raise money to support ADSOEF’s mission, providing funding to serve charitable purposes relating to professional and personal growth of educators and educational excellence.

The committee determines a financial goal, followed by implementing a plan to achieve that goal. Each year, the committee meets and develops this plan in the form of a theme to attract interest. This year’s theme will be rolled out at the OHSO Executive Board Meeting, September 27, 2025, held at OU-Dublin. The committee is excited to share the theme chosen and is ready to begin the 2025-2026 Campaign.

Through ADSOEF’s annual events, including National Philanthropy Day, Giving Day and The Birthday Luncheon, donations are collected to reach the goal. The Fundraising Committee attempts to build membership support and awareness through social media, the website, monthly Updates and Foundation Matters. By using these tools to build support, the committee encourages accountability and transparency.

The Foundation also collects ongoing donations that can be made on the website, www.adsoef.org.

Charlene Greene, Delta Mu

Annie Zahradnik, Gamma Theta

Holly Buente, Gamma Pi, Co-Chairman

Barb Zirke, Alpha Psi, Co-Chairman

Marketing Committee

The Marketing Committee develops strategies to encourage member and recipient involvement. The committee regularly reviews and updates the website, Facebook posts, and Foundation Matters. The Marketing Committee manages the Facebook page at Alpha Delta State Ohio Educational Foundation, and the members encourage you to like and follow the page. The committee will be meeting soon to find ways to publicize and promote the colorful new fundraising campaign, National Philanthropy Day, and Giving Tuesday. We welcome your suggestions and input!

Beth Bronkar, Alpha Psi

Katie Gantz, Gamma Phi, OHSO liaison

Joanne Snow, Alpha Pi

Cathy Tenney, Beta Kappa

Annie Zahradnik, Gamma Theta

Diana Kirkpatrick, Alpha Delta, Chairman

Dr. Norma Kirby

Linda Harrison

In honor of Metrisha Hughes

Alpha Psi Chapter

In memory of Ann Huntsman

Michaella Notte's Reflection on Her

Student Teaching Experience

Receiving the Strickland Grant has served as a substantial benefit for me. Due to student-teaching full time during the Fall 2024 semester, I was unable to work and didn’t have any income. Without the help of this grant, I am sure I would have had many more financial struggles. Because of this generous award, I was able to purchase items used for student teaching, such as books and school supplies, and fund my transportation, as my assignment was in the next county from where I live.

For my final semester at Kent State University, I completed my student teaching assignment at Marlboro Elementary School in Marlboro, Ohio, which is in Stark County. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed back there for the fall semester, as I completed my pre-clinical student teaching at Marlboro Elementary in the spring of 2024.

My student teaching experience was slightly different than most, as I had two mentor teachers. I was with Mrs. Ryan for the first 8 weeks of my experience and taught 3rd grade ELA and socialstudies. For the second half, I was in Mrs. Dine’s classroom and taught 3rd grade math and science. Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Dine have been team teaching for years, and their shared experience in the classroom has helped me grow as an educator immensely. With their mentorship and guidance, I have built better classroom management skills, gained more confidence in the classroom, and developed a much better ability to plan and modify a lesson. Without their help, I would not feel nearly as confident about running my own classroom.

There were 46 third graders at Marlboro Elementary. I was fortunate to build relationships with each of these students during my time with them. I became familiar with their interests and hobbies, which benefited all of us. Each student brought something special to the classroom, and it was refreshing and incredible to see their growth not just academically, but as young people in this world. I am truly better because of these extraordinary 3rd grade students. Their enthusiasm, creativity, curiosity, and unique perspectives and personalities have inspired me daily.

Because of my time spent at Marlboro Elementary School, I was blessed to receive a position at the school shortly after my student teaching experience was completed. Not only am I able to continue growing my relationship with my students and mentor teachers, but I am continuing to grow my skills as an educator as well, which will greatly benefit me in the future.

In addition to the immediate financial relief, receiving the Strickland Grant gave me peace of mind and allowed me to focus on what truly mattered: my students. It gave me the opportunity to immerse myself fully in my role as a student teacher, without the constant worry of how to make ends meet. I could prioritize my energy on lesson planning, engaging with students, and learning from my mentor teacher, knowing that my basic needs were being supported. This grant has not only helped me financially, but it has also been a significant source of encouragement and motivation. Knowing that others believe in my potential as a future educator has strengthened my passion and drive to continue pursuing this path. I am deeply appreciative of the Strickland Grant, and I will carry the benefits of this support with me throughout my teaching career.