by Cheryl Slaton, Argyle Education Foundation
With the start of the new school year we are reminded of the influx of growth our small town has begun to experience as we see more and more new faces at within our community and at school. With so many new students and families in our district, we would like to take a moment to introduce you to the Argyle Education Foundation!
Established in February 2003, the AEF has provided 13 years of service to the Argyle Independent School District. We are proud to say we have donated over ONE MILLION DOLLARS to AISD through teacher innovation, programming grants, and scholarships! Our dedicated Board of Directors is comprised of a group of business, community and neighborhood volunteers working together to enhance the learning environment in our schools. AEF generates our financial resources through grants, donations and fundraisers to invest in teachers otherwise not funded by the district. We pride ourselves on “Investing in Education Excellence.”
Our “Fund a Teacher” campaign was started nearly two years ago and has enabled AEF to provide AISD with $180,000 for three teachers and four campus grants for the 2016-2017 school year! AEF was able to raise funds to support the Foundation’s initiative to invest in teaching positions that are above and beyond what is state mandated and otherwise not funded by the district through the results of the Black Diamond Affair.
Argyle’s 11th Annual Black Diamond Affair proved a success as residents and community members came out to support AEF with a “Night at the Ranch.” AISD supporters gathered at Circle R Ranch on April 16th with nearly 350 in attendance. A night including live auction, dinner, dancing and entertainment by George Dunham & the Bird Dogs. Robert Burns, AEF President 2013-2016, was honored with the Adele Foster Award for his many years of service and dedication to AEF and AISD. The evening was a success and AEF was able to top the previous year’s donation of $110,000.00 which had provided funding for 2 new teachers for the 2015-2016 school year.
As we continue to work toward our goal of adding additional teaching positions each year, AEF will kick off this school year with Foundation Night: Wednesday, September 14, at Earl’s 377 & Fuzzy’s. All are encouraged to come out to this family event and learn what the Argyle Education Foundation is about. A percentage of proceeds from dinner sales will benefit AEF, so please join us!
We will also present our 2015-2016 Golden Eagle Teacher Excellence Award winners: Pam Moore, Hilltop Elementary; James McNair, Argyle Intermediate; Kimberly McCage, Argyle Middle; and Pam Arrington, Argyle High School. Mrs. Arrington was also recipient of the Lisa M.Z. Over-all District
Teacher of the Year Award. “We are so proud to have teachers of this caliber within our schools,” states Amy Williams AEF Executive Assistant. Josh Westrom, AEF Vice President of Development noted, “Foundation Night is intended to celebrate our campus teachers of the year and the district teacher of the year. With the success of last year’s efforts, we continue to strive in helping AISD lower student teacher ratios at the elementary school and providing innovative instruction in technology, math and science at the middle and high schools that would otherwise not be available through state funding. The Foundations goal for the 2017-2018 school year is to raise enough to fund a fourth teacher!” AEF Development Chair Rebecca Lively Oehlers added,” This is an opportunity to learn how the Foundation, in return, supports our teachers, children and schools. The more the community is involved, the more amazing Argyle will be for our children”.
Argyle Education Foundation is happy to announce the return of its annual event, the AEF Gala (previously the Black Diamond Affair)! Board members have begun working hard along with our Development team in planning our primary fundraising event with a fresh and exciting new take.
AEF Gala Chair Amanda Payne comments that, “The 2017 Gala will be an event you will not want to miss! From cocktail hour to dancing the night away with a spectacular band, this night will be one to remember! You will also want to place your bid for one of our exciting auction items. Reserved tables and ticket sales will be available later this fall. We are currently looking for sponsors interested in becoming a part of this great event. Sponsors will receive recognition and benefits beyond general tickets. Let’s support our schools and have a great evening doing so”. Please mark your calendars for this special event February 2017!
The Argyle Education Foundation would like to welcome our new board members Trisha Simms, Kelly Massey, Tara Tarrant, Jennifer Sicking, Rebecca Lively Oehlers, Kara Kennedy, Becky Broadhurst, Traci Larrison, Steve Dembowski and Jimmie Stapleton. The board also welcomes longtime Director Sam Slaton as our 2016-2017 Board President.
We are Funding Teachers Today for a Better Tomorrow!
To sponsor, donate or volunteer for the 2017 AEF Gala, please contact Amy Williams at [email protected] . To learn more about AEF, please visit us at www.SupportArgyleISD.org.
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