Programs: Awarded 45 classroom, school, and district-wide grants to support innovative and creative instructional ideas. Awarded 37 achievers fund grants for out-of-school learning and enrichment for low income or low borderline proficient k-12 students. Awarded 29 student scholarships for higher education. Students enrolled in such schools as appalachian state university, central carolina community college, chowan university, durham tech, guilford college, howard university, nc a&t state university, nc central university, nc state university, unc-greensboro, and unc-chapel hill. Honored 9 recipients of psf endowed teaching chairs; a total of 79 awards were presented to teachers and staff who demonstrated outstanding performance. Awarded 24 scholarships for teachers pursuing initial certification and 12 for recertification from the national board of professional teaching standards. National board certification is a self-initiated, rigorous certification standard beyond the required state certification. To date, psf has awarded national board certification scholarships to 257 teachers. Supported 19 teachers who were selected to present their work at national or state conferences in their field. Each received a travel stipend and 1-day substitute coverage. Awarded 1 international teacher travel grant to support educational experiences in iceland for a middle school science teacher. Funded 13 professional development impact grants to address high need areas for improvement at each school or district-wide. Partnered with the east chapel hill rotary club to provide free school supplies valued at over $50,000 to 625 teachers in all pre-k through 5th grade classroom teachers, avid coordinators, novice teachers, international faculty, and school social workers. Funding for the project was provided by the east chapel hill rotary club and psf's teachers first fund. Hosted 2 grant writing workshops to provide professional development and guidance on grants and funding resources to teachers and community members. Managed over $793,000 in restricted and pass-through funds for individual school or district programs, including blue ribbon mentor advocate. Held the 7th annual 5k race for education in the spring with more than 1,400 participants, raising more than $30,000. Hosted the 10th annual novice teacher tea where 30 novice teachers received a small grant and gift boxes of school supplies to start off their new careers. Held the 15th annual "teachers first breakfast and roses" benefit, raising $105,000 to support the teachers first initiative. The proceeds provide grants for national board certification fees for teachers, classroom and student enrichment grants, as well as support for novice teachers, the psf-east chapel hill rotary teacher supply store, the educator extra credit card discount program and other programs designed to attract and retain outstanding teachers. Established the newly endowed mary u. Andrews chair for excellence in teaching literacy -- now fully funded -- with plans to make the first award in 2019.
