They asked for document cameras and flexible seating, intervention tables and circuit kits. And at the end of the evening (10.1.19), 22 teacher grant requests were fulfilled by the Lakeland Education Foundation (LEF) to Lakeland teachers.
In its fifth consecutive year of granting awards, the LEF provided about $24,000 in funding to purchase wishes for teachers at Lakeland Elementary School and Lakeland Middle Preparatory School.
(High school students in Lakeland attend Arlington High School through an interlocal between the two cities until a first high school is built in Lakeland, estimated to open in August 2022.)
Teachers, school principals and LEF Board members met at the LMPS library for the announcements. Also on hand was Lakeland School System (LSS) Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell who thanked LEF members for continuing the tradition of the grants.
Recipients, their requests and descriptions:
LSS has been in the news of late with August announcements of the System’s high standing in the state. The Tennessee Department of Education announced LSS as an Exemplary District, one of 20 such districts in the state. Both schools were ranked as Reward Schools and LSS was #1 in the state for the K-5 band and #2 in the state for 6-8 band.
Amy Foster, president of LEF, said, “I am very proud we were able to grant every teacher request again this year.” She said LEF received two software requests which were already scheduled to be purchased by the School System.
Link to other photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3nyJgNxWe1Efv8BRA
“Lakeland Education Foundation is one of the lesser known school support organizations,” said Mrs. Foster. “But we aim to change that. It’s been in existence and supporting our School District since 2014. Like our District, we have plenty of exciting growth ahead.”
She said LEF cannot grant wishes without community, corporate and Shelby County support. “Please save the date for our 5K (April 4th). Feel free to send any sponsorships or donations our way. It’s for a great cause.”
Mrs. Foster offered a special thanks to Yehuda Netanel of The Lake District and the Cookstons with Memphis Barbecue Co. for their $10,000 donation in May with the Pop-Up BBQ fundraiser at Lakeland City Hall. “We were able to grant twice as many grants with the contribution.”
Link to Pop-Up BBQ story: https://lakelandcurrents.com/yummy-fundraiser-for-lef-tonight-memphis-barbecue-co-the-lake-district/
LEF Board members
Amy Foster – President Jenny Kiesel – Vice President
Sherrye Willis – Secretary Jon Lewis – Treasurer
Jeremy Burnett -School Board Liaison
Directors:
Tonya Carson
Lou Ann Vaught
Mike Martin
Ursula Roman
Matthew Wallace
Link to the website: https://supportlakelandschools.org/home/
… Photos by Anna Stonestreet Smith
