When I first began my role as a Community School Facilitator for BCPS, I was eager to make a difference but unsure where to start. That’s when Debbie from The Education Foundation stepped in. In our first meeting, Debbie shared invaluable insights about building partnerships, fostering connections, and strengthening the foundation of our school. Her guidance gave me the confidence to approach potential partners and think creatively about how to serve our students and families. Debbie’s passion and expertise set the tone for the transformative work ahead.
One of the first major steps forward was utilizing The Exchangeree, an incredible resource hub, as a meeting space to bring together area Community School Facilitators, our county councilman, and the county outreach coordinator. This gathering created a platform for open dialogue and collaboration, solidifying a stronger partnership between local government and our community schools. The Exchangeree provided not only the perfect physical space but also the sense of unity and purpose needed to amplify our efforts. These discussions laid the groundwork for sustainable initiatives that continue to benefit our students.
The Foundation then successfully secured two pivotal grants for my school. The first, a literacy grant through the Baltimore Community Foundation, allowed us to implement programs that significantly improved our students’ reading skills, incorporated and celebrated diversity, and fostered a love for learning. The second, an anti-bullying initiative funded by the Foundation’s own 21st Century Learning Grant, transformed our school climate by increasing students’ sense of belonging and positively impacting attendance and behavior. Words cannot fully express the profound impact that The Education Foundation, through its mission-driven leadership, has had on our school and our community. Debbie, Heather, and Cindy are true champions for education, and their work changes lives every day.
The Education Foundation is a wonderful partner of the BCPS CTE programs. Several of our programs and teachers have received small grants to support additional projects in the classroom. The Education Foundation of BCPS events are also a special way to showcase our programs and all the products and services created and provided by our students. The CTE office and the Education Foundation have collaborated on several projects. THANK YOU EDUCATION FOUNDATION of BCPS!
Through my work as an architect and a designer of schools, I consider myself amazingly fortunate to have the opportunity to both observe the efforts of, and collaborate with, the Foundation. As the child of educators, and someone who has a passion for learning (still) and creating dynamic learning environments for student, I find the tireless efforts of the Foundation to champion and support public education in Baltimore County both necessary and inspiring.
The leadership and the community that the Foundation surrounds itself with, and welcomes with open arms, are a tremendous asset to the greater Baltimore area!!
From fundraising events (the golf outing is one of my favorite days of the year) to collecting items for the Exchangeree, I am grateful to be a part of their story and the opportunity to help tell it!!
From the very first conversation between Debbie Phelps, Executive Director, and our company President, Jim Jones, to discuss the creation of The Exchangeree at Windsor Mill, we knew this was the start of something very special. We knew that this center was going to make a difference. We got to work immediately offering design services and providing all the furniture to ensure this first location offered what the foundation needed. A space where teachers and administrators can gather and receive the support and supplies to get the job done. When the second location, The Exchangeree at Rosedale/Golden Ring, we were thrilled to see other companies and organizations joining forces with us and BCPS to make even a bigger impact. We quickly realized that the foundation was laying a pathway to ensure that every school has the tools for success.
Whether we are supporting the Foundation through our talented design staff or donating furniture for them to utilize, or sponsoring one of their fundraising events, we see the hope this foundation brings to the county. It’s the hope that teachers who need supplies for their classrooms will have them…it’s the hope that a child who is cold has a warm coat….it’s the hope that grants and funds are available to build stronger schools and programs…it’s the hope that every child has access to a book to read …it’s the hope that together our support will give every child the opportunity to academically thrive in life and provide teachers with the supplies they need to successfully run their classroom.
American Design Associates is honored to be a partner with the Education Foundation of Baltimore County. We are inspired and driven to help in any way we can to make sure that every school, teacher and student has what they need to thrive. We would like to thank the Foundation for giving us the opportunity to help and be part of their amazing community.
I began my relationship with The Education Foundation and the Exchangaree many years ago when the Education Foundation was offering a Microsoft Class on a Saturday in Windsor Mill. The class was offered a sneak peek at what this thing called the “Exchangaree” would look like. Throughout my 3 separate roles and 2 different schools, the Education Foundation has always been my go-to resource for practically everything. Conversations with Debbie Phelps and later, Heather Wooldridge, usually would lead to innovative ideas for our schools. Between the Putting Students First Grant in partnership with First Financial Federal Credit Union and the 21st Century Instructional Initiative Grants, both of my schools have been able to offer extras to our students and families. Through these grants we have had STEM Family nights, Family Engagement nights, had a Lego Wall built by the Students at Kenwood HS, established Pen-Pal Meet & Greet Breakfast (with Kenwood HS students), and we purchased a very popular Book Vending Machine for which over the past two years’ have used grant funds to stock the vending machine with diverse books. This past Fall we were also awarded the Purpose Centered SEL Grant. All these programs and supplies have allowed us to uplift our student learning and family engagement. In addition to the Grants, I am also a big proponent of the Exchangaree. When our students need supplies, or when I need to refill my classroom supplies’ the Exchangaree is the first place I visit. When staff members are looking for supplies, my answer is always “visit the Exchangaree.” Both the Windsor Mill and Rosedale locations offer a wide variety of items for the classroom. Many times, you leave with materials you don’t even know you need. A phone call or email to Debbie or Heather has never gone unanswered. A “could I possibly get” has never been unfulfilled. From dolls to books to pencil cases, the Exchangaree has just about everything. Over the years I have learned that the word “no” does not exist within the volunteers and staff of the Education Foundation/Exchangaree. They absolutely make magic happen for everyone who is associated with BCPS. Thank you for all you do! S. Schnell
Sandalwood has been blessed by the Education Foundation of BCPS on multiple occasions! On two occasions they have provided us with brand new sneakers for our students that needed it the most and additional sneakers to add to our CARES closet. The pride a child has when getting new shoes because theirs were too small or unfit to wear goes beyond the physical pair of shoes. In addition to shoes, they have provided our students with winter gear. These items not only keep our students warm, but it lets them know there are others out there that care about them. For their parents it frees them from having to choose between buying their child a basic need like shoes/winter gear or paying an important bill like rent or BGE.
They have also provided our school with a Little Free Library grant. We are the first school in our area to host a Little Free Library. It promotes literacy and gives students access to books at any time. There was concern that something negative would happen to the library but there have been no issues, and the community seems to protect and take pride in this resource.
Finally, the Education Foundation of BCPS has provided our school with supplies that we were able to use for our Trunk or Treat. It’s not possible to use grant funds that our school has to buy items for this event our community loves. We had around 800 community members attend and they were so excited about the treats and resources we offered our families!
The Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) program has been supporting new educators in Baltimore County Public Schools since the fall of 2013. In that time, Consulting Teachers (CTs) have supported thousands of new educators in every community across Baltimore County. The Education Foundation has been a steadfast support for our program through its business and community partnerships and its Exchangeree locations. Whether it be meeting space, teacher appreciation items, professional development needs, or classroom supplies, the Education Foundation staff and Exchangeree volunteers are always ready to help. The PAR Program champions the Education Foundation and its free activities and shopping opportunities with teachers across BCPS.
Our CTs also provide a vital link between BCPS’ newest educators and the Exchangeree, acting as personal shoppers by selecting supplies new teachers need in the classroom. CTs look forward to our fall and spring shopping days as do the teachers they support. New teachers are often surprised by the breadth of books, supplies, enrichment items, winter clothing and instructional aids that are available free of charge! This small act of receiving teacher and student supplies can mean the world to any educator, especially those just starting their journey in the classroom. After receiving their Exchangeree goodies, many new teachers inquire about open Exchangeree hours and venture out to locations for themselves.
CTs have been able to connect over 1,000 new educators with the Education Foundation and Exchangeree locations through our bi-annual shopping days and hope to continue this support and service long into the future. Being a great educator takes time, dedication, perseverance, and a belief in yourself and the students in front of you. The Education Foundation understands that this is a tall order and is there to let BCPS educators know they have our back!
Submitted on Behalf of Consulting Teachers and the new educators they support.
Andrew Peregoy, Supervisor
Chandea Rowley, Elementary CT Co-Lead
Frank Soda, Resource Teacher
Stella Yi, Secondary CT Co-Lead
The Education Foundation, under the leadership of Executive Director Deborah S. Phelps, has expanded its impact on Baltimore County Public Schools exponentially. As just one example, many years ago, we recognized the need to better support teachers by providing them with school supplies for their students. Too many teachers were digging into their own pockets to ensure that students had notebooks, backpacks, etc. BCPS worked with The Education Foundation to collect supplies from the community and distribute them to teachers at the start of the school year. But The Education Foundation saw the opportunity to do something more and worked with its partners to establish two resource centers, open year-round, where BCPS educators can "shop" for free school supplies for their students and resources for their classrooms. In addition, the centers offer space for meetings and workshops and provide volunteer opportunities for students with special needs.
And this is just one example of what The Education Foundation does. It is deeply supportive of BCPS and its teachers and students -- offering grants for innovative projects, scholarships for higher education, Little Free Libraries focused on books celebrating diversity, and support for projects like the annual BCPS back-to-school festival and Champions for Children event.
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools Inc. truly is a great -- and valued -- nonprofit.
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools has truly been a wonderful partner to Logan Elementary. We have been so fortunate over the past 2 school years to work hand and hand with them on a grant that benefits our student’s literacy skills. On many different occasions they have been our thought partners, discussing programs, services, and supports that benefit our children. Leading with compassion and always putting students first by providing us with what we need to educate the whole child is what makes them so special. With the support of the foundation, we have been able to secure culturally appropriate books for our students, provide after-school writing programs to struggling learners, access to a Little Free Library, and bring in published authors to speak and motivate our students. Logan Elementary is a better place because of our work with the Education Foundation and we are grateful for their support each and every day.
I have been so grateful for the Exchangeree and the BCPS Foundation. I have been awarded the 21st Century Grant several times in the past which helped to fund field trips to Ford's Theater and Travelling History Trunks from the Maryland Historical Society to make history come alive for my students. I have shopped week after week at the Exchangeree for supplies for my students and teachers on my team and for books to build classroom libraries for my entire school. All that and still I have another reason to be grateful. The Exchangeree has provided my son, a BCPS graduate with autism, the opportunity to volunteer and learn some workforce readiness skills. Finding opportunities for students like him is not easy and the BCPS Foundation has welcomed him with open arms. Each week he reports for "work" and has an opportunity to learn and be part of a working community.
The Little Free Library nonprofit organization has partnered with The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. for several years. We continue to be impressed by their commitment to providing a brighter future in which all students, educators, and school communities have the resources they need for success. No only does their staff care deeply about their community, they are some of the most thoughtful, smart, easy-to-work-with, and driven partners we have. It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside their team to flood Baltimore County Public Schools with accessible books that reflect the community.
As we continue in our partnership with the Education Foundation, we are extremely grateful for the engagement, dedication, warmth, and openness they share with us. We are so proud of this partnership and excited to see how we can strengthen the impact of Little Free Libraries in Baltimore County.
Since partnering with The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, our school has had so many doors opened to us. As an alternative center, we do not have the space or staffing for a library, but the Education Foundation afforded us a Little Free Library. They also helped us set up a special project, G.E.M.S. (Giving for Education and Meaningful Support), so that community partners can donate to our program. The Education Foundation also takes time to know all of the schools and their needs. Whenever a grant or program begins that might benefit our students, Debbie and Heather reach out to make sure that we are aware and how to take advantage of the opportunity. The Foundation does so much important work for schools and the school system. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to them for all they do!
My first year teaching was difficult. I had a department chair who refused to provide me resources from her budget. I had to spend hundreds of dollars on pencils, pens, paper, the basic stuff that any competent school system should be able to provide. I was only making 39k a year. I wish this nonprofit had existed back then. It would have saved me so many headaches and financial burdens. Today I have an abundance of BASIC resources - pens, pencils, paper, erasers, markers, etc., all thanks to the Educational Foundation of Baltimore County. This org is instrumental in teacher retention.
I am so proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools! This is a great non-profit! The team here is small but MIGHTY! The impact that they make on the students and educators in the school system is tremendous! The care and concern that they have for the students and educators is outstanding! Since all three of the administrative staff of the Foundation have a background in education, they understand education issues and the needs of our diverse community; and they put in the work to make sure that there are appropriate programs and resources available - whether that is grants for schools and educators; scholarships for students; or resource centers where educators and schools can receive the supplies and materials they need for their students to succeed. The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools is truly one of a kind (and the BEST kind)!
In 2023, I was trying to think of an additional PBL for my multilingual learners. After consulting with them as to what they would like to learn, it was decided. We would have a fundraising "club". It wasn't technically a club, it was my planning time converted into an additional ESOL pull out time. The difference from their regular pull out time is that it would be open to third through fifth grade students to learn financial literacy and the technical academic language that accompanies the topic. I engaged parents by having them sign a "permission slip" for their child to be in the club. It was really just a notification of this additional pull-out time and informed parents that it was voluntary and not mandatory.
Nonetheless, we set two goals in this club. We aimed to raise money for a buddy bench and a Little Free Library. At the time, I only knew the Education Foundation because of the Exchangeree and had no idea about the Little Free Library grant. They kids got to work on thinking of ideas for raising funds and presented them to our administration. They really put the work into making smart goals, learning financial vocabulary, and assigning tasks for the 13 students who joined the "club". It was so student-led that I really felt like an advisor. I didn't think it was possible at the elementary level. These kids really speak to the Funds of Knowledge that multilingual learners bring to school. It really blows out the water any stereotypes about so-called Limited English Proficiency. They used translanguaging and created something beautiful.
Then I came across an email about the Read in Color Grant. I got so excited that we could win a Little Free Library. The club had been going for months and although the students were learning a lot, they hadn't raised any money. This was an aspect of the club I hadn't really thought through. So I presented the proposal to the students that we shift to just learning about fundraising and not actually trying to do it. Furthermore I told them, I'd gather a team of staff members and apply for the Read In Color Grant so that we may actually still get a Little Free Library for our community.
Fast Forward our LFL-RIC grant writing team met and worked to apply for the grant. The Education Foundation was so supportive every step of the way. We were beyond excited when we found out we were one of the grant recipients. The students and I celebrated and of course we planned for them to be there for the ribbon cutting in June 2024. I would like to thank the Education Foundation of Baltimore County for all of their continued support. I'd like to thank the 23-24 Woodmoor Fundraising Club for their inspiration. Finally I'd like to thank the Woodmoor LFL-RIC grant writing team. For those reading this thank you and please support this nonprofit. They are really helping schools like Woodmoor Elementary Magnet Community School and subsequently out entire community who now benefit from the Little Free Library we planted.
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools is a trusted partner that has done so much to benefit the educational experiences of our boys and girls in Baltimore County Public Schools.
Since 2019, they have funded four of my proposals (A Conservation Trail and Ornithology program; Hammerheads: Teaching STEM and Sportsmanship through Croquet; Writen Words Painted Sounds: A Music and Literacy Integration program, and Orffestrating Student Success: An Orff Approach to Literacy and Music.)
I cannot share my appreciation enough for their work. I often say "I am not like normal folk in education." At times that makes teaching lonely and difficult. In funding these "Sparks of Madness" and allowing me to pursue new, creative, and (sometimes crazy) Ideas they keep my job fun and validate that there is a place for me in Public Education. Additionally, their efforts have made measurable contributions improving student engagement, time on task, and primary literacy and musicianship skills.
As leaders, I can confidently say that neither Ms. Phelps nor Dr. Wooldridge (nor the board) tolerate fools, but if you impress them, their enthusiasm and support cannot be contained. If you get an award from this organization, you know it's been vetted, viewed with a critical eye, and you've earned it. I will also tell you that they and their board will do whatever they can to see a worthwhile proposal funded, even increasing the number of awards given when appropriate, or expanding the application and funding parameters.
The application process is streamlined, approachable, and straightforward. With notification dates of less than a month from the submission deadline, they are the most prompt of any grant application program to whom I have applied. Quite the feat, considering they are serving one of the nation's largest school systems.
In short, I wholeheartedly endorse the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools. The work they do for our students, teachers, and school system is beyond measure.