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Conference 2006
View pictures from the 2006 Conference.

CTCEF held its 7th Annual Conference on October 17, 2006, at the Crowne Plaza Hartford-Cromwell Hotel.  Special thanks go to the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund for generously supporting this conference and to Harris Connect, Kilakwa Associates, and eTapestry for sponsoring the Continental Breakfast.

Report on CTCEF’s 7th Annual Conference

Liz Stokes, president, welcomed everyone to CTCEF’s 7th annual conference for education foundations.  Connecticut now has 75 education foundations and about 21 towns are in various stages of starting an education foundation in communities of all sizes.  CTCEF has completed its second survey with 25 responses.  These 25 education foundations have raised a total of $8,211,169 since inception, which is an average of $328,447 per foundation.  For 1995, they raised from less than $5,000 to almost $450,000.  Nineteen of the respondents raised a total of $1,518,728 for 1995, which is an average of almost $80,000.

CTCEF board member and Watertown Public Schools superintendent Joe Erardi presented the 2006 CTCEF  “Celebration of Excellence” award to the Brookfield Education Foundation for its outstanding work with its local school district.

Highlights of the celebration included both a student and staff perspective on how the foundation’s generous grants benefit Brookfield’s students.  Specifically, the “Capturing Kids Hearts” program was detailed for all those in attendance.  The Brookfield Education Foundation symbolically represents the work that is done in every local community.

George A. Coleman, Interim Connecticut Commissioner of Education gave the opening remarks. Here are a few highlights of George's remarks:

  • "Education is not just about educators; it's about community."
  • State priorities are pre-school and family support for education. Parents need to have expectations of what their children will learn.
  • Expose children and teachers to programs like Capturing Kids' Hearts.
  • Prepare students for international learning/experiences

Linda Froschauer, the 2006-2007 president of the National Science Teachers Association, presented a talk on Supporting Excellence in Science Teaching: Essential to America’s Future.  She gave a history of science teaching and what has influenced it in the U.S.  Linda said, “The development of conceptual understanding is vitally important to all students, whether they enter STEM careers or not.”

Here are some of Linda’s suggestions for equipment and materials that can turn students onto science:

  • Interactive White Board
  • Video Microscope
  • Electrophoresis Equipment
  • Water rockets and launching equipment
  • Lab probes – for even elementary school students
  • Video projection system – even more critical in science due to the need for accurate color and perspective

Linda talked about mini-grants, creativity grants, expert-in-residence grants, and professional development.  One example of a mini-grant is the “pay it forward” grant.   Teachers and their students develop ideas that will help the community as they learn – thus “pay-it-forward.”  Stream analysis is one example of this type of initiative. Creativity grants can provide the seed money needed for a school to conduct their first science fair or develop an invention convention.

Some professional development ideas are:

  • Support attendance at professional conferences, including those held by NSTA.
    Provide opportunities for teachers to go into laboratories to work.  Most teachers have never had experience as a working scientist.  Yet, they must communicate to students daily about the Nature of Science and the scientific enterprise.

  • Provide teachers with an opportunity to conduct field work.  An example is Earth Watch, which provides this type of opportunity.  A grant for a teacher to attend an Earth Watch expedition will have an incredible impact on student learning as they bring back their knowledge and enthusiasm for science.

Linda gave us all a homework assignment:

Find a science teacher and ask these questions:

  • What is the most difficult concept for your students to comprehend?
    What could you use to make it conceptually understandable?

  • What interests your students the most?
    What do you need to teach that concept?

Special Training Workshop:
Foundations 101: A Blueprint to Success

This two-hour workshop offered an in-depth session on the “how to” of moving the concept of starting an education foundation to reality. Panelists included Liz Stokes and Marty Rauch, CTCEF president and vice-president and founding education foundation board members in Weston and Cheshire, respectively, who have helped groups around the state; Sue Bertolini, founding president of the more recently formed Avon Education Foundation; and attorney Gary Attmore, an expert in the details that education foundations need to file the state and federal forms for incorporation and other necessary filings. Liz, Marty, and Sue explained how they got started, what worked, and some pitfalls to watch for and Gary covered the legal issues. The panelists were available both during the break and after the workshop to answer every individual question. The overwhelming reaction from the audience was that the presented information was timely, easily understood, and applicable to their needs.

Workshops:
A1  Supporting the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Pipeline
This workshop addressed how schools and education foundations can partner with local businesses, large and small, to spark and encourage student interest in the STEM subjects.  The panel members were keynote speaker, Linda Froschauer; Lucy Brakoniecki, Research and Policy Analyst, CT Women’s Education and Legal Fund; Evan Koslow, Founder and CEO, KX Industries; and Marge Anderson, SMART! Education Outreach Coordinator, Pfizer.

A2  Small Town, Big Dreams: Engaging Small Communities in Annual Appeals and in Capital and Endowment Campaigns
Gail Rice, advisor to the Cape Elizabeth (ME) Education Foundation, told attendees how strategic planning, partnership with the local school district, and community support led to successful annual appeals and capital and endowment campaigns in a town of under 10,000.  Handouts included Tips on Donor Solicitation, an Outline of “Flow” of Telephone Call for a phonathan, a Schedule of Gifts Needed to Achieve a Goal of $750,000, and other materials.

A3 How to Create Effective Marketing and Information Materials
Ira Yellen, Chairman of the Glastonbury Education Foundation, presented the strategies and tactics for marketing of education foundations to get community involvement.  They included research of community composition, discussion of board composition and committees, annual report, communications structure, link-ups with specific community agencies and statewide private firms, events, and multiple forms of thank-yous.  A handout outline listed the marketing strategy and effective tools, with focus on outcome.

B1  Technology Considerations for Education Foundations
Bill and Ginny McGee of McGee Partners, Professional Services, led this workshop.  Ginny is an Avon Education Foundation board member.  The workshop focused on four areas of technology:

  • Launching a Web site
  • Building your database
  • Selecting a desktop applications
  • Financial software

The workshop was a practical and hands-on description of how to determine your needs and, then, how to find the right applications for your education foundation.  Questions pertained mostly to how to determine what was the right fit within each area, taking into consideration size, staff /volunteers, and need.

B2 Alumni Relationships Can Pay Huge Dividends
Presenter Tom Bradley is currently the director of public relations for the Altoona, PA, school district, as well as the executive director of the Altoona Area School District Foundation. The AASD Foundation was established in 1988 and has raised more than $1.5 million from alumni, current employees, retired staff, and the business community.

Why do you need a relationship with your alumni?

  • Alumni are great advocates for the schools, especially as they get older.
  • Your alumni are looking for services you can provide, such as assistance with reunions, finding yearbooks, providing tours of the schools, etc.
  • Graduates can be enticed to share their resources to benefit the schools.

Altoona High School also has an Alumni Association ($5 annual membership), which publishes newsletters that feature information about the AASD Foundation. Much of the Foundation support comes as a result of alumni’s connection to the Alumni Association.

Key steps for establishing alumni relationships:

  • Have one point of contact for alumni.
  • Identify names, addresses, and telephone numbers of key person from each graduating class.
  • Maintain an accurate list of upcoming reunions.
  • Offer tours of your school on reunion weekends. Speak at large class gatherings.

B3  The Alchemy of High Performance Boards
Cornell Wright, president of the Parker Wright Group, covered the following topics in his presentation:

  • SWOT Analysis--Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
  • Board Culture is the Key
                How does the board operate
                Enter with fanfare
                Welcome new members with fanfare
  • Engagement and Growth as soon as possible
  • The Lunch
  • Exit with Dignity and Grace
  • Sunsetting vs. Returning
  • The Alchemy of High Performance Boards--The Seven Capitals
    • Financial Capital--Money
                  To give
                  To get
    • Social Capital--Personal Google
                  Six degrees of separation
                  Recognition of opportunities
    • Political Capital--Know people in the right places
                  Low
                  High
    • Process Capital-How to get things done
                  Internal
                  External
    • Knowledge Capital--Specific skills
                  Traditional
                  Non-traditional
    • Determination Capital
                  Can do attitude
                  Personality
    • Organizational Capital--The organizational glue
                  Fun
                  Failure
                  Success
  • The Alchemy of High Performance Boards
    Board Structure>> Organizational Needs>>Organizational Mission>> Organization>>Board Structure
    • Each board is unique to its circumstances
    • Everyone must bring their combination of capital to the board
    • No one capital shall remain “trump”
    • Capital requirements must move in synergy with the larger environment

Following the workshops, attendees adjourned to lunch. Each luncheon table had a facilitated discussion topic, which provided further opportunity for learning and networking. Topics ranged from girls and STEM, today’s e-philanthropy, and after-school programs to fundraising through workplace campaigns, questions about starting an education foundation, and key considerations in defining a database.

View pictures from the 2006 Conference.

Previous Conferences: 2005