Decatur City Schools Foundation

In January, the Foundation received an $100,000 grant from the 3M Foundation for a Decatur City Schools Pre-K classroom for the 2014-2015 school year. You may be wondering what Pre-K is all about. The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) has released some data related to Pre-K, and the results are worth reading.  "Students who participated in Alabama's First Class Pre-K program academically outperform their peers once they reach elementary school, and the advantages conferred by Pre-K participation persist at least through the 6th grade, according to findings from an ongoing evaluation of the program... The National Institute for Early Education Research finds that Alabama meets all 10 of its benchmarks for quality, including having high learning standards in place and requiring Pre-K teachers to have a bachelor's degree and training in early childhood education." Read the full report on Pre-K here .  Decatur City Schools has partn...

The last installment of our Meet Our Staff series features DCS Foundation Executive Director, Jesslyn Reeves. Jesslyn pictured with her husband Greg, and children Audra and Colby I grew up on a small farm in Tuscaloosa County, then attended the University of Alabama after high school. With support from my parents and working my way through college, I graduated with a B.A. In Communications. During my senior year, I met my now husband of 20 years. We have 2 children, one in elementary school and one in high school.  Working at the Foundation, I have been able to use what seems like the sum total of all of my experiences and interests before-hand. I began college in early childhood education, then changed to public relations with a minor in marketing, hoping to one day work at a non-profit. Education, experience in sales, marketing, non-profit fundraising, and volunteerism all led me to this position. However, the desire to make a difference in our local c...

We continue our Meet Our Staff Series today with an introduction to our Communications Assistant, Libby Britt.  Libby has been with the Foundation since 2010. Her role includes newsletter and e-news correspondence, website management, social media, grant writing, and she also handles our classroom giving program, Fund-a-Need. Hello! Thank you for reading this blog first and foremost (job security)! I grew up here in Decatur, and then received my Journalism degree at Auburn University (War Eagle!). After college I lived and worked as a copy editor and writer in the great city of Nashville for several years. After reuniting with my high school sweetheart, Tim Britt, we got married and moved back to Decatur in 2007. After a couple of years of freelance writing and editing, I began looking for a job where I could use my skills but also be more involved in the community. This opportunity at the Foundation came along at the perfect time, and I have loved being a part ...