Nearly one hundred friends and supporters gathered for Arlington Education Foundation’s (AEF) annual fundraiser event on Monday, December 3rd.  Through the community’s generosity, the foundation has already raised over $20,000 this fall.   Dr. Laura Chesson, Arlington’s new Assistant Superintendent, dazzled the audience with a multi-media presentation that showcased some recent innovation grants from AEF.  These forward-thinking initiatives paved the way for Dr. Chesson’s long-term vision for using technology to enhance the district’s curriculum.  Judith Packer, Ottoson Eighth Grade English teacher expressed how she was humbled last year when she received the Foundation’s annual Ottoson STARS Teacher of the Year award.

Three AEF grant recipients participated to share their grants with attendees.  Sara Marie Jette, fourth grade Thompson teacher demonstrated the Japanese SAORI handloom that second, third and fourth grade teachers and students at Thompson/Hardy use to ‘bring alive’ the Japanese, early American History and Industrial Revolution social studies curriculums.  Ottoson teacher and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) advisor Patrick Greeley, as well as parent advisor Ana Watson, shared the GSA’s accomplishments as one of the first middle school GSA’s in Massachusetts.  Principal Karen Hartley and teacher Christina Perkoski from Pierce Elementary school discussed the school’s Mining Think Tank program that helps teachers provide differentiated math instruction.

AEF is grateful to Arlington’s School Administration, School Committee, Board of Selectmen and State Representatives for their ongoing support.  The foundation would also like to thank Fusion Taste, Swifty Printing, and Liz Buchanan for supporting the annual event.

Solely through the help of community donations, AEF works to support and advance public education in Arlington. AEF funds system wide initiatives and creative new projects to enhance the educational experiences of Arlington’s teachers and students.  AEF has two active fundraising campaigns at the moment:  their annual fall appeal and their STARS teacher appreciation program that enables parents and students to recognize star teachers through a donation to the foundation.  For more information or to donate, visit http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org.