Milestones
1996 – Mrs. Kathryn (Kay) W. Leonard, Greeneville City BOE Chair, and Dr. Ernest Martin, Director of Schools, spearheaded a movement to form a foundation whose focus would be to serve and support the continuance of the “Tradition of Excellence” in the Greeneville City Schools. On September 16, 1996, a group of private citizens, working closely with the Greeneville Board of Education and the Greeneville City Schools administration, established the Greeneville City Schools Education Foundation as a 501(c)(3) organization, and elected a Board of Trustees*.
1997 – The Education Foundation pledged $375k in support of the “Enterprise Network” and sought to secure financial contributions from the community. The organization began its tradition of sponsoring an Art Show in the fall, a Science Fair in the spring, an annual spelling bee, and a student mentoring program called “Partners for Kids.” A scholarship fund was established to benefit GHS graduates on a technical path.
1998 – A GHS Alumni Directory was printed and sold to interested parties in an effort to raise additional funds for the Education Foundation. The Greeneville Schools In Action (GSIA) began a multi-year fundraising effort selling Greene Cards and pledged a portion of the profits to help offset the expense of the “Enterprise Network.”
1999-2000 – The Education Foundation continued to explore various fundraising strategies and successfully supported the organization’s established programs.
2001 – The organization began its tradition of celebrating students for their exemplary character virtues. The Annual Character Education Awards Luncheon honors 2 students from each school for their outstanding character virtues. The Education Foundation fosters the practice of community reinvestment by providing $100 donations to a charity of each student’s choice in their honor.
2002 – The Education Foundation established the American Education Week Grant program. Over the years, this grant initiative (now called the SEED Grant) has introduced over $40k into the Greeneville City School System to help fund classroom materials or curriculum, enhancing programs researched or designed by its teachers.
2004 – The organization adopted a motion by Dr. Don Henard to offer primary support of locating the State Department of Education Professional Development Center (PDC) in Greeneville. With staffing support provided by GCS, and a facility provided by the Niswonger Foundation, Greeneville became the site for the PDC.
2006 – The Education Foundation raised an additional $145k to update the GCS Instructional Learning Software and expand the school system’s information technology program. The first annual Daddy & Daughter Dance, co-sponsored by the Education Foundation and the GSIA, took place in the GHS Commons with nearly 300 in attendance. The event has doubled in size and is considered to be a family tradition for daddies and daughters. The Education Foundation began an annual co-sponsorship with the Niswonger Foundation to support the system-wide Cherokee Day event.
2007 – In honor of her memory, the family of Kay Leonard donated the building at 129 W. Depot Street to the Education Foundation. Today, the Kathryn W. Leonard Administrative Office Building is home to the GCS administration, Professional Development Center, and the GCS Education Foundation.
2008 – The organization adopted the Burley Stadium Artificial Turf project. Mr. Scott M. Niswonger stepped forward as the project’s lead benefactor and provided for the renovation of GHS’s Burley Stadium in addition to the installation of its artificial playing surface.
2009 – The Education Foundation launched the FOCUS Grant program, funding small programs for classrooms that provide a big impact. To date, this grant initiative has funded over $14k of innovative ideas that enhance the students’ classroom learning.
2010 – In an effort to help satisfy a growing need for public school advocates in our community, the Education Foundation provided advocacy training for its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees participated in a strategic planning session that resulted in its current mission and beliefs statements.
2012 – The Education Foundation identified a need for an expanded presence in the community and hired a full-time executive director to facilitate that effort. The organization adopted its tagline – “Beyond The Basics”, and rebranded with its current logo, designed by graphic design artist, Ben Clark (GHS Class of 2009). The organization opened an office in the Kathryn W. Leonard Administrative Offices building at 129 W. Depot Street in Greeneville.
2013 – In September, the organization launched Reach4IT – a $750k initiative aimed at providing computer devices (electronic notebooks, laptops, etc.) for student use in GCS classrooms. Thanks to a generous response from local businesses and industries and our community members, Reach4IT reached 100% of the goal within 18months.
2015- In February, the beloved Daddy & Daughter Dance celebrated its 10th Anniversary with over 750 participants in attendance at Greeneville High School.
*Charter Board of Trustees of the Greeneville City Schools Education Foundation:
Kathryn (Kay) W. Leonard Dr. Ernest Martin
Kay Puckett Brandon Hull Bob Keasling Ray Adams
Stan Puckett Pam Moore Nikki Niswonger Steve Hendrickson
Teresa Estepp Mike Roberts Gayle Greene Nat R. Coleman Jr.
A Sampler Of Our Successes
The GCS Education Foundation has provided funding for these programs and equipment:
· United Streaming – a web-based subscription used in classrooms system-wide
· GCS Science Alliance
· Character Ed Awards
· Early Structure STEM Lego Sets
· Scholars Bowl Training
· Flip Video Cameras
· “Native American Day” (co-sponsors with the Niswonger Foundation)
· Voice Recognition Software
· GCS Spelling Bee
· “The Greene Scene” – an outdoor gardening classroom at GMS
· LCD Projectors
· Flight Simulators (for JROTC at GHS)
· Virtual Field Trip Program
· Geometers Sketchpad Software
· HomeLink – providing home internet connectivity to GCS students in-need
· Kindle E-Reader Pilot Program
· TI 30XIIS Scientific Calculators
· U.S. Tennis Association Curriculum & Equipment (at all elementary schools in the system)
· Literacy Circle Library
· Listening Lab For Early Literacy
· Digital Document Cameras
· Pasco Lab Equipment
· Reach4IT – providing electronic notebooks & laptops for student use in classrooms in all 6 Greeneville City schools
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