Press Release
Brandy Carvalho
President
Nassau Education Foundation
January 26, 2018 2:00 p.m.
We all have that one teacher, who made a profound impact on our lives. For me, that teacher was and is my mom. She was an educator for twenty years. Seeing education through her lens was one of the reasons I joined the board of directors of the Nassau Education Foundation. I, like many of our volunteer board members, value the education we received and believe that the teachers who go the extra mile for their students should be recognized for their efforts. The Nassau Education Foundation awards local teachers, who meet rigorous criteria, in the form of a classroom grant.
Since our inception in 2015, the foundation has provided almost $300,000 in grants to all sixteen schools and the adult education program in Nassau County. These grants range from STEM-focused initiatives such as robotics to language arts and career technical education. We have funded over $22,000 in grants to enhance the literacy of our students. Our board is especially proud to have provided over $14,000 in grant funds to enhance the educational experience for students with exceptional needs.
Nothing gives us more joy than to see the excitement on the faces of the teachers as they are awarded their grant and to hear how grants have improved the classroom learning experience.
We cannot do what we do without the generous support of our community. A HUGE thank you to the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and our gala chair, Kate Eames, for helping us host our annual Teacher of the Year gala. This year we raised over $142,000 and welcomed a record-breaking 430 guests.
The gala serves as the foundation’s largest fundraiser and the venue for the Nassau County School District to recognize the teachers of the year from each of the county’s sixteen schools – a big round of applause to all the teachers of the year from across our county. It also where the school district announces the county’s teacher of the year who will go on to represent Nassau County in the state competition. On behalf of the Nassau County Education Foundation, I would like to congratulate Nassau County’s teacher of the year – Asa Jernigan of Fernandina Beach Middle School.
A HUGE thank you to our very generous diamond, platinum and gold sponsors – The Ritz-Carlton – Amelia Island, Rayonier, Florida Blue, Rayonier Advanced Materials, CBC National Bank, Troxell Communications, VyStar Credit Union, Baptist Medical Center –Nassau, Presidio, Jacksonville University, the Nassau County Economic Development Board, Brooks Rehabilitation, Publix Super Market Charities, Family Support Services, Gail Cook, and Durand and Susan Childers. In addition, we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the local businesses who donated gifts for the teachers.
To everyone who has donated funds, time and talents to our organization, thank you. And to our teachers and administrators who work tirelessly to make Nassau County schools A-rated – you are amazing and we thank you for your commitment to our county’s children.