A group of prominent community leaders have come together to form a foundation to support Alba-Golden ISD.

The Alba-Golden Education Foundation has announced their focus to enhance community support and to expand resources that enrich teaching, inspire learning and maximize opportunities for all students in the district.

The foundation was formed as an independent, non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board. The sole purpose is to benefit the district by providing funds for educational programs and activities which are not funded by the normal operating budget.

These funds will be used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence and to expand community involvement from individuals, businesses and civic organizations.

Funding priorities will also include funds for innovative teaching grants that will provide resources directly to the classroom for teachers to implement exciting new educational programs.

The grant process has been established, and teachers and staff will be eligible to participate in requesting funds this fall.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and contributions are tax deductible.

According to Tabitha Rutledge, foundation secretary, the idea for the foundation grew from a need for supplemental funds and awareness of a growing number of education foundations serving East Texas school districts.

“We brought in Foundation Innovation LLC, a firm which specializes in developing foundations, to ensure that we meet our first year goals and objectives,” she said.

Foundation Innovation has worked with many communities and school districts in Texas and other states to establish foundations to benefit public school systems.

According to Shawn Callaway of Foundation Innovation, “Following in the footsteps of public universities and colleges, K-12 school districts and their local communities are establishing their own foundations to leverage private dollars and expand opportunities for their teachers and students. There are currently hundreds of education foundations set up in Texas and the number continues to grow.”

Foundation President Rustin Hass said, “The Education Foundation board of directors is dedicated to our community and educational excellence, and I am proud to serve with them to support and enhance the tools available to the district. We are very excited that community members have organized to help attract private funds to benefit our schools.”

Board members include Macie Thompson, Angela Albers, Teresa Burns, Kelley Cole, Rustin Hass, Lori Kindle, Karyn Margos, Jeanette Peel, Deborah Perry, Tabitha Rutledge, Leah Sherwood, Hope Gaskill and Cheryl Collins.