Teachers who work in Title I traditional and charter public schools in Duval County are eligible to apply for funds to support creative problem-solving projects that will create a warm, loving environment for students and drive student achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples include flexible seating options to help students social distance, purchasing individual supply caddies so that students don’t need to share materials and games and hands-on activities to make sure students have fun learning. JPEF has established a community review process that will carefully vet projects for need and impact. Each teacher can apply for up to $1,000. Teachers can learn more at jaxpef.org/community-first.
“This partnership continues on a long tradition of collaboration between JPEF and Community First to support Duval County educators, and we could not be more proud to stand alongside teachers during this difficult time,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “We are so grateful for the vision and generosity of the Community First Cares Foundation.”
”As an organization founded by educators, we are proud to support teachers in our community achieve more in the classroom than traditional funding provides,” said Missy Peters, executive director of the Community First Cares Foundation. “This program is even more critical now given the severe impacts of the pandemic.”
In addition, the Community First gift will support JPEF’s Teacher Leadership Initiative, which equips Teachers of the Year with best practices to support leadership in schools across Duval County. JPEF has developed a robust professional learning experience for teachers to learn equity-focused best practices in cohorts to support colleague-led learning and leadership across the school year.
Contact Stephanie Garry Garfunkel, Director of Marketing & Communications, at (352) 359-2393 or stephanie@jaxpef.org for more information. Interviews with JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune and the Duval County Teacher of the Year, Leena Hall-Young, are available upon request. To learn more about JPEF’s Teacher Leadership Initiative, please contact Warren Buck, Director of Teacher Leadership, at warren@jaxpef.org.
