Council Rock Education Foundation is helping fund experiential learning opportunities throughout the school district
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
It’s been said time and time again, but the message stands true — children are our future. Despite this reality, many students don’t have the opportunity to explore their interests due to lack of school resources. Luckily, this isn’t a concern for those in the Council Rock School District. Thanks to initiatives by the Council Rock Education Foundation, young people are able to recognize their talents and start on an early path to reaching their full potential.
The Council Rock Education Foundation, or CREF, was founded 10 years ago by former CRSD superintendent Mark Klein, who wanted to provide support to public schools beyond the annual budget. His sole mission behind CREF was to help fund projects that would enhance education and introduce students to potentially new areas of interest. Until that point, any teacher who wanted to implement a project outside of the budget had to fund it from their own pocket.
Thus, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit was created. Through an annual grant process, teachers can request up to $5,000, with the chosen projects announced the following school year. Since 2007, CREF has awarded more than 100 Innovative Learning Grants, totaling approximately $215,000.
Projects are selected by a dedicated board and staff, including Kevin Beauparlant, who recently renewed his appointment as co-president for another two-year term. The vice president of Customers Bank in Newtown will serve alongside fellow co-president Jill Shurtleff, a retired principal of Council Rock South High School.
As the father of three children in the school district, he sees firsthand the impact CREF can make.
“I am honored to work with our board members and staff to bring more awareness to our community about the work of the foundation so we can increase more experiential learning opportunities for our kids,” he said.
A primary focus for the foundation is STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). According to Gail Acosta, executive director of CREF, statistics show that students who study these areas in middle or high school usually continue on at the higher level. The foundation’s goal is to bring an element of fun to these new subjects, sparking curiosity and showing all students they can be successful.
During a fourth-grade embryology project, incubators were placed in the classroom, allowing students to witness firsthand the hatching of baby chicks.
“It goes beyond what the school district does,” Acosta said. “The children are inspired and want to learn more.”
There is also a strong focus on creative areas, such as literature. At Churchville Elementary, every student and faculty member read the same book over a span of 30 days. At the end, thanks to CREF funding, the school was able to Skype with the author.
Each year, anywhere from 12–15 Innovative Learning Grants are awarded, with CREF continuing to grow and gain momentum. Funds are available to all K-12 public schools in the district for the purpose of fostering experiential learning projects. According to Acosta, a large number of public schools nationwide have formed foundations like CREF to account for recent cutbacks on educational funding. As stated by the National School Foundation Association, there are more than 6,500 school foundations in 14,500 school districts in the United States.
“There’s a huge need for education funding across the country,” Acosta said.
To help raise money for its grants, CREF goes beyond traditional fundraising efforts. Widely known is its Raising Great Kids Speaker Series, a student and parent-friendly initiative that takes place regularly throughout the year. Most recently, Bucks County’s own Richard Kind hosted a special evening of stories and anecdotes from his award-winning acting career.
“Expanding a child’s imagination and creativity helps to develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills,” Kind said. “The Council Rock Education Foundation promotes that out-of-the-box thinking every day for our kids, which is vital to learning and self-expression.”
The Mad About You, Spin City and Curb Your Enthusiasm star dedicated all event proceeds to CREF.
Upcoming events include College 101: Finding the Right Fit on Jan. 24, which will be hosted by Francine Block, president of American College Admissions. The seminar will help plant the seeds for what comes after high school, while exploring what both students and parents are looking for in a college.
CREF’s annual spring fundraiser, which usually attracts more than 300 attendees, will take place March 9 at The Fuge in Warminster. Guests can participate in a silent auction and enjoy a performance by rock band Bonehead, which will be back by popular demand. The success of this event largely determines how many grants will be awarded the following school year.
For more information on the Council Rock Education Foundation and upcoming events, visit creducationfoundation.org. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
