Foundation donates $10K in gift cards to area schools
Gift cards were presented to teachers and staff at Camden and Luther Branson elementary schools by the Madison County Schools Education Foundation (MCSEF) to help offset the cost of gas and encourage teacher retention.
Superintendent of Education Charlotte Seals said that dedicated teachers are what make the district a “Mark of Excellence.”
“Both Luther Branson Elementary and Camden Elementary have a long history of earning A ratings on state testing,” Seals said. “It’s so important to recognize the incredible value of all our teachers and show appreciation for the extra distance teachers at these two stellar schools travel to get to their classrooms each day. We hope these gas cards are a wonderful reminder to teachers of how much their extra travel time is appreciated.”
The district covers roughly 40 square miles, and many teachers drive at least 35 to 40 miles each way to reach Camden and Luther Branson, which are located in northeast Madison County.
The gift cards were funded by a $10,000 donation from the Madison County Community Trust, Inc.
Members of the MCSEF and representatives from Madison County Community Trust surprised Camden and Luther Branson faculty and staff with a special presentation on Feb. 1 by handing out $200 gift cards to certified teachers and $50 gift cards to non-certified teachers and staff. These cards were supplied by Craddock Oil, which partnered with the MCSEF by preloading the cards.
The MCSEF was launched in March 2019 to raise additional funds to invest in the schools, students, and teachers within Madison County Schools. Their mission is to enhance the quality of education by promoting academic excellence, fostering innovation and creativity, initiating programs that increase motivation to learn, recognizing success and accomplishments among faculty, staff, and students, and providing sustained financial support for Madison County Schools.
Seals said a critical piece of teacher retention is making sure faculty members are supported and valued.
“We are grateful to the Madison County Community Trust and Madison County Schools Education Foundation for their generous gift of gas cards to recognize the extra miles our hard-working teachers travel each day to make a difference for students in the Falcon Zone,” Seals said. “We hope these gas cards will be a reminder to teachers at Camden and Luther Branson that we see their extra effort and value their dedication.”
In addition to teacher retention, MCSEF’s goals include promoting the accomplishments of Madison County Schools faculty, staff, and students
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.mcsef.org.