by Barbara Nash, APR - Board of Directors

To The Schools Foundation, nothing is more important than the students in Huntsville, Madison County, and Madison City Schools. 

As a non-profit organization supporting the three public systems in Madison County, Alabama, The Schools Foundation aims to be the driving force for educational excellence with a mission to create higher expectations and widespread community support for Madison County schools, leading to world-class performance of principals, teachers, and students.

The Foundation believes that parent and community involvement are essential; that education can’t depend solely on local, state or federal governments for funding and programs; that teachers must have personal and career development opportunities that equip them to prepare students for success; and that everyone in the community has a stake in the success of education.

As the go-to organization for individuals and businesses wanting to support local public education, The Schools Foundation offers multiple programs to involve the community in providing the best that education has to offer.  Funds are distributed proportionately based on enrollment in each system, and provide programs such as grants, conferences, and administrator forums to enhance local efforts and meet unfulfilled needs of students and educators.  

Many area companies and other leadership organizations in the community are already partnering with The Schools Foundation to improve educational performance in the three school systems.  Since the organization’s founding in 2000, the combined investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars has produced significant impact on excellence in our education system. 

Dozens of teachers have benefited from scholarships for continuing education.  Hundreds of grants for individual classroom projects have sparked imaginations and reinforced critical concepts.  Thousands of educators have experienced training on cutting-edge education techniques through professional development seminars.  And tens of thousands of students have been affected.

Along with the business community, individuals have also been making a difference by taking advantage of the Foundation’s partnership with Huntsville Utilities and Sign Up to Round Up – a program that provides a simple way to turn pocket change into a powerful mechanism to support education by rounding up monthly utility bills to the next highest dollar. 

In 2008, The Schools Foundation and its new Executive Director – Debbie Beaupre – are leveraging the organization’s success to build communication channels and greater strategies for incorporating community inputs into expanding the quality of education in Madison County.  Established programs and solid vision are guiding increased activity for even greater benefit.

Board Chairman D. Scott McLain said, “The Schools Foundation is committed to enhancing the excellence in education we enjoy in all three of our school systems.  It has often been said, but has never has been truer – our students are our future. We and our partners will continue to help shape the future for all 50,000 of our students. ”

The Schools Foundation offices are located at 115 West Clinton Avenue, Huntsville, AL.  For more information, call 256.503.3213, or visit www.theschoolsfoundation.org.