I think that ELEEF is a great organization and I want to thank its members for their efforts. ELEEF enabled me to obtain resources for my classroom that I otherwise would not have. Thanks to ELEEF, I was able to purchase Classroom Jeopardy (the electronic version of Jeopardy), as well as computer simulation software for my Law classes and a stock market game for my Stock Market classes. For years now, I have been using these materials to enhance my students' classroom experiences. These extra materials funded by ELEEF make the course material come alive and I believe that they help increase student learning. Thanks again ELEEF!
As a member of the School Committee I see first hand how difficult it is for our administration to meet the demands of state unfunded mandates while allowing our teachers to stay creative. ELEEF has granted books for our literacy closet, microscopes, science kits, graphing calculators, and many other teaching tools. Many of our most creative and successful programs have been funded through ELEEF. Our school system, thanks to ELEEF and a dedicated music director, has a new orchestra program which was an instant success. Original funding for our robotics program along with an amazing advisor and other funding, has created an award winning program. Some of the grant requests have helped the administration determine the importance and need for technology within our schools. A wonderful example would be a request for MimioTeach, a product that makes a simple whiteboard an interactive teaching tool. After granting this technology to a group of innovative teachers the administration found additional funding to make Mimio a reality district wide.
The East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund has been an integral part of how we teach our children, they are invaluable!
This organization has allowed me and countless others to put our teaching dreams into action. They have funded hundreds of projects that allow teachers to realize their vision in the classroom and change the learning experience for all the children that attend the public schools in East Longmeadow. This is the kind of grassroots, community-oriented fund that goes directly to the projects and thus directly to the students. It has been a pleasure to complete the user-friendly grant application that they have put together, and it has been such a thrill to be able to dream big and see those dreams come true!
This organization helped make a difference in the lives of the students I teach by filling in the space that a public school may not be able to fund. They allow teachers to make a difference by thinking outside the box and fund locally to the schools. They listen, are thoughtful and provide support to the local public schools.
I have been a board member for several years. ELEEF is a great organization. We are dedicated to raising money to fund grants to the very deserving teachers in our town. The school budget only goes so far, and with the constant changes in technology and educational materials, teachers are left to either do without or pay themselves. ELEEF gives the teachers a chance to try and keep up, by funding projects through our grant process.