OFE News Release
National School Foundation Consultant To Speak At Regional Meetings For Foundation Leaders
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, through its Local Education Foundation Outreach Program, is offering a series of free regional meetings this fall for Oklahoma public school foundation leaders and school administrators interested in developing or improving their local education foundations.
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Dr. Elaine Free |
Elaine Free, a nationally recognized consultant to public school foundations, will be the featured speaker at each of the regional meetings. She will discuss best practices for operating successful public school foundations. The meetings will also provide time for participants to exchange ideas, ask questions and share what’s happening in their foundations and school districts.
The regional meetings are scheduled from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Lucy Smith Activity Center, 1 Buffalo Drive, McAlester; 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 in the Ranger Room of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 2007 34th St., Woodward; and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Stillwater High School, 1224 N. Husband St. A session is also planned from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Miami Activity Center Auditorium, 2000 E. Central. Participants are asked to make reservations by contacting Karen Rose, director of Local Education Foundation Outreach, at (918) 743-5533.
“Regional meetings are an excellent way for local education foundation volunteers to network and learn from each other and share their experiences,” Rose said. “Participants may register for whichever regional meeting fits their schedule.”
Through its outreach services to local education foundations, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has helped build one of the nation’s largest and most effective networks of public school foundations, with nearly 220 established to date. Together, these citizen-led nonprofits have raised millions of dollars to promote academic excellence in their districts and have encouraged community involvement in their local schools.
Dr. Free is the founder of Successful Ways Inc., which is devoted to education foundation enhancements. A sought-after speaker with appearances at national education conferences, Free draws from a 31-year career in public education as a teacher, an administrator and public information director.
In more than a decade of consulting with school districts and foundations, Free continues to guide districts as they create foundations and counsels foundation boards through policy and procedure construction. She also facilitates foundation leaders in developing five-year plans. A Dallas resident, Free has been instrumental in establishing an annual state conference for education foundations in Texas.
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence provides free training, resources and networking opportunities for new and established public school foundations. Among its services, OFE offers regional networking and training events; board member retreats; e-news updates and online resources. The foundation also presents $1,000 Outstanding Program Awards for Local Education Foundations, recognizing innovative programs sponsored or administered by public school foundations. The Local Education Outreach Program is underwritten with support from Claremore community leaders Frank C. and Ludmila Robson. An additional Regional Meeting is being planned in the Claremore area in spring 2010.
For more information, contact Karen Rose at (918) 743-5533 or e-mail krose@ofe.org.