As classroom doors open this month, the Arlington Education Foundation is planning for a busy year ahead.
AEF is a community-led nonprofit whose mission is to enhance the educational experience of students in the Arlington Public Schools. We support teachers and administrators who want to deepen their knowledge or try out creative initiatives, such as maker tools in the middle schools and a native plant learning garden at the Brackett School. We also provide larger grants to support district-wide endeavors, such as this summer’s training in an approach to student discipline called Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS).
Lauren Hague and Stephanie Murphy are co-presidents of AEF’s volunteer board, which operates independently from the school district and the teachers’ union. As the school year launches, Hague said she’s eager to hear how teachers received the CPS workshops, which emphasize empathy and problem-solving skills over punishment. “I am also excited to follow up with our awesome teachers that applied for grants and hear how those opportunities supported them professionally and how they will bring them into the classroom,” she said. “And I look forward to more collaboration with the superintendent, principals, teachers and staff this year to fund new and innovative projects across the district.”
Hague encourages residents and school staff interested in learning more about AEF to sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us online at www.aefma.org, or drop by our Town Day booth on Saturday, September 20.
