The Schools Foundation announced today the creation and development of The Educators Institute. The Educators Institute was developed in recent months as a voluntary, non-profit, unincorporated association established by and composed of members of the Schools Foundation and other volunteers.  The Educators Institute is an organization within The Schools Foundation. 

The purposes of The Educators Institute are: to develop, plan, and implement educational initiatives that support the three public school systems in Madison County, Alabama; to implement and collaborate on strategies that maximize resources and opportunities of the school systems; and, to  identify and develop partnerships with local, state, and national organizations in the support of public education and its programs.

“The board of directors of The Schools Foundation has worked very hard to accomplish many different functions for the three public school systems here in Madison County,” said D. Scott McLain, president of the organization.  “We needed to create a division with its sole purpose being to provide programs and assistance for educators. The Educators Institute and its volunteers will be focused on implementing the programs, events, and activities aimed at assisting teachers, principals, and schools, and of course, students,” McLain said.

“The Schools Foundation board will continue to concentrate its efforts on raising funds to support The Educators Institute programs, scholarships, teacher grants, and the many other programs that require funding throughout the year,” McLain said.  “This division of effort will allow the Foundation board to concentrate on education policy and fundraising, and let the many dedicated volunteers with classroom and education backgrounds and interest focus their efforts on development and management of programs for educators,”  McLain said.             

The first responsibilities of the Educators Institute include implementation of programs that The Schools Foundation board and volunteers have historically managed.  Those programs include:  Principally Speaking Network , where principals from the systems gather for discussion of best practices, Team America Rocket Challenge , where students design, build, and launch rockets, A+ College Ready, which encourages schools to offer and students to take advance – placement courses, Laying the Foundation, a preparatory program for A+ College Ready, and administering scholarships and grants to teachers in the three public school systems.  Volunteers interested in joining the work of The Educators Institute may contact The Schools Foundation at 256-503-3213 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

EDUCATORS INSTITUTE BOARD MEMBERS:

Avis Williams, Chair; Principal, Williams Middle School, Huntsville City Schools

Dr. Stephanie Ledbetter, Vice-Chair, Monrovia Elementary School, Madison County Schools

Susan Still, Community Volunteer

Amanda Wallace, Community Volunteer

Jeanne Welt, Madison City Schools

Ellen Thompson, Science Specialist, Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI)

Cindi Koopman, The Boeing Company

A.J. Smith, Coldwell Banker Commercial McLain Real Estate

Louis Berry, Principal, Johnson High School, Huntsville City Schools

Sue Esslinger, Huntsville Hospital

Dr. Willie Corlew, Community Volunteer

Cathi Curtis, UA Huntsville       

The Schools Foundation

The Schools Foundation is a not-for-profit local education foundation that supports Huntsville City Schools, Madison County Schools, and Madison City Schools through a variety of programs including student scholarships, teacher grants, staff development, technology deployment, and other educational programs.  www.theschoolsfoundation.org.