The Decatur Education Foundation has supported the arts in our school through the Arts-Infusion Grants by providing us with a set of steel drums and a set of ukuleles so that all of our students can learn to play a musical instrument. DEF is always there supporting our work!
Decatur Education Foundation provides resources for families in need and hope, joy, and encouragement for everyone they serve.
I am incredibly thankful to the Decatur Education Foundation for their response to emergency requests when there are no other options for support. DEF’s response is always, “How can we help, and when is it needed?”
As a journalism major with a concentration in public relations and a minor in communication, I now have the opportunity to be part of many different occupational fields. And that’s just the start of it! I hope to further my education and attain a social work or counseling degree.
I want to use my bachelor’s degree in journalism and minor in communications to help immigrants and refugees in the U.S. assimilate and prosper. As an immigrant, I want to use my knowledge and experiences to help those in the same circumstances as I was 16 years ago.
You have no idea how much this has helped our students. Today we were able to provide breakfast for students who hadn’t eaten. DEF and Mr. Goode are saving the day and school year!
Getting this Teacher Innovation Grant from DEF to create a Game Center has been so impactful on meaningful play in our school community.
Decatur Education Foundation supports special projects that make our schools stand apart from the rest. They allow teachers to imagine and implement innovative and creative projects that inspire students. Teachers with access to resources are more likely to ask, “What is possible?” Thanks to the DEF, our teachers don’t ask “whether” but “how?”
Mentoring for me is akin to what Newton claimed about achievement: ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ Being a mentor has allowed me to pass along what I have seen. Each person has seen different perspectives in life, and we each have a moment to share experiences that can change the life of one or many.
When I arrived at Decatur High School, most of our instruments were over 40 years old – intermediate instruments are supposed to last seven years! We encourage students to buy or rent their own instruments as much as possible, but we are still barely maintaining our current instruments based on the number of students taking band classes. The music grants from the Decatur Education Foundation have helped IMMENSELY.
The experience [of DEF’s diversity training] will powerfully change your personal perspective. The training equips you with a framework and vocabulary that enables open, honest, and productive dialog around racism and its destructive effects on our community.
While in college, changing my major three times was not an issue because I had the support of the DEF scholarship! It’s always been a backbone throughout my college life because I would have been stuck majoring in an unfulfilling field without it.