Foundation for Excellence | Athens, GA

10/13/2026

Congratulations to Meredith D***s! Nurse D***s, the School Based Health Center Coordinator for the Clarke County School District, is the recipient for this year's Foundation for Excellence in Public Education's Howard B. Stroud Community Service Award!

The Foundation for Excellence's Howard B. Stroud Community Service Award is presented each year to a Clarke County School District employee who puts the well-being of the school district and its students above the advancement of self.

Congratulations, Nurse D***s!

Join us to honor Nurse D***s and our other award recipients at our annual Awards Reception to be held on October 26 at the Athens Community Career Academy.

Keep following us the next few days as we spotlight our other award winners!

10/12/2026

Congratulations to Chris Batson, the Girls Soccer Coach from Clarke Middle School as he is the recipient for this year's Foundation for Excellence in Public Education's Michael Peter Horvat Secondary Coaches' Award!

Endowed in memory of Cedar Shoals High School student, Michael Peter Horvat, the Michael Peter Horvat Secondary Coaches Award seeks to honor and recognize secondary athletic coaches who inspires and motivates student athletes to excel and who promotes the values of teamwork and sacrifice that Michael modeled.

Congratulations, Coach Batson!

Join us to honor Coach Batson and our other award recipients at our annual Awards Reception to be held on October 26 at the Athens Community Career Academy! Tickets can be purchased at our website: www.athensffe.org

Keep following us the next few days as we spotlight our other award winners!

10/02/2026

Join us for our Awards Reception to honor and celebrate our 2026-27 award recipients!

Hosted at the Athens Community Career Academy on Monday, October 26, 2026. Doors open at 5:30 pm, Program starts at 6 pm.

Catered by the Culinary Arts Pathway students from the Athens Community Career Academy.

Music by the Cedar-Central Chamber Orchestra.

Floral arrangements by the Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central High School's Agriculture departments.

Event managed by the Entertainment, Sports, & Event Management Pathway students from the Athens Community Career Academy

You can purchase tickets at our website: www.athensffe.org

09/11/2026

08/31/2026

The Foundation for Excellence's Carrie Fischer Siegmund Grant for Classroom Innovation is a $500 grant will be awarded to a Clarke County School District educator who seeks to inspire students through innovative, interdisciplinary, and applied learning opportunities that result in a long-lasting impact on students. This year, the Foundation for Excellence is will be offering TWO Carrie Fischer Siegmund Grants for Classroom Innovation.

The Carrie Fischer Siegmund Grant for Classroom Innovation is named in memory of Carrie Fischer Siegmund, the Foundation for Exccellence's 2004 Frieda M. Thomas Teacher of Promise winner. Mrs. Siegmund was also the 2006-2007 Clarke Central Teacher of the Year, Clarke County School District Technology Specialist, and also the Director of Innovation and Learning at NEGA RESA.

To apply for the Carrie Fischer Siegmund Grant for Classroom Innovation or any of our other classroom grants, visit our website: www.athensffe.org

08/21/2026

If you are a Clarke County School District staff member working towards your teaching certification, apply for our June Baldwin Turnell Aspiring Teacher Grant!

This $500 grant can help you pay for expenditures as you prepare to achieve your teaching certification.

Apply at our website: www.athensffe.org
Look for the "Aspriring Teacher Grant" tab
Deadline is September 30, 2026

08/19/2026

Clarke County School District teachers! Do you have an activity or project you want to do with your students this school year? Do you need funding? Apply for one of our classroom grants! Accepting proposals until September 6th. Apply today on our website: www.athensffe.org

08/03/2026

The Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Foundation for Excellence Teaching and Staff Awards!

Earlier this spring, we invited the entire community to nominate Clarke County School District teachers and staff members who are making a remarkable impression on Clarke County students and community. We received over 200 nominations, nominating over 190 different individuals within the school district.

Over the summer a team of community volunteers read over all the completed nominations and scored the applications to determine the winners.

Congratulations to these phenomenal educators and staff members! We hope their example will be inspiring to their students, colleagues, and community. We look forward to celebrating these winners at our annual Awards Reception in October.

Pictures coming soon!

08/02/2026

Clarke County School District teachers and staff!

We have money to help fund activities with your students this school year! Apply for one of our classroom grants! Go to our website: www.athensffe.org and see how we can help you with bringing fun and exciting activities to your students.