Chamber Spotlight: Albemarle Foundation for Education

Albemarle Foundation for Education
Albemarle County, VA
www.k12albemarle.org/our-division/albemarle-foundation-for-education

Shared by Tessa Ashoff, Executive Director. You can reach Tessa at tashoff@k12albemarle.org.

What does your organization do?
Albemarle Foundation for Education's (AFE) mission is to generate a community commitment to helping each student thrive. As Albemarle County Public School’s designated 501(c)(3) partner, AFE leverages philanthropic support to invest in new ideas, propel promising ventures, and scale proven practices across the division.

What's the most important thing you want people to know about your organization?
At the heart of a strong community is a thriving public school system. The Albemarle Foundation for Education is dedicated to building private partnerships in support of each student in Albemarle County Public Schools.

At a time when public education is facing many challenges such as closing the achievement gap, equity in access, and teacher shortages, many community members and businesses are considering how they can be an effective agent for change in our region. How we prepare and invest in our students today will have a huge impact on the community members they become tomorrow. If you seek to invest in public education in Albemarle County, AFE is here to partner with you.

Tell us about something new and exciting your organization is doing.
As Albemarle County Public School’s designated 501(c)(3) partner, the Albemarle Foundation for Education (AFE) leverages philanthropic support to invest in new ideas, propel promising ventures, and scale proven practices across the division. AFE works to generate a community commitment to helping each student in ACPS thrive by focusing on three priority areas: Outstanding Educators, Empowered Communities, and Thriving Students.

Tell us about one of your recent success stories.
The school counseling team at Journey Middle School developed a program to address mental health challenges of female students. This pilot program combines self-care and social-emotional learning practices with the aim of increasing attendance and attention in class and improving self-confidence. This project was supported by AFE's Community Access Fund, which is designed to allocate supplemental funding to schools who need it most.

What Chamber benefits do you appreciate as a member?
Being a member of the Chamber allows us to connect with and learn from residents and businesses of Albemarle County that are committed to supporting public education.