While I knew a lot of what to expect when I took the job as DEF’s first executive director in 2009, I did not know how enriched my life would be from some of the people I would get to know. A bright light in these past 13 years has been getting to know Jimmy Moore of the DHS Class of 1960. I met Jimmy early on in my tenure as I was being introduced to our scholarship donors. The…
Sometimes you read a book that really sticks with you and shifts the way you see the world. I am somewhat of a seeker, I look for podcasts, books and other resources that help me grow as a leader and as a person. Last year, with DEF’s 20th anniversary looming, I began to think about what the future held for this organization. I was completing my 12th year as executive director and felt proud of our community and all we…
Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of having many mentors and guides. These people have come into my life at various times and showed me what I needed to learn, sometimes directly through recurring deep conversations, and sometimes through the modeling of a life well lived. Last week, after a long road and several tough years, my friend and mentor Bill Funk left this world. His wife Gayle, another true gift in my life, had been sending me…
Today, as Decatur families gather to celebrate their seniors from the Decatur High school Class of 2022, I wanted to share these words that I shared on May 17th at DEF's Celebration of Excellence where we honor our scholarship recipients. Given the state of the world, and the most recent tragic events in our country, the honoring of joy alongside pain seems very relevant. -------------- Good evening – I am Gail Rothman, the executive director of the Decatur Education Foundation…