Public Education Foundation of Marion County

Happy birthday to our wonderful Foundation secretary, Alyssa! She brightens our days and keeps everything running like clockwork. She is the glue that holds our team together, and we are incredibly grateful for all that she does! Here’s to a fantastic year ahead for her filled with happiness and all the joy she brings to everyone around her! 🎉

Today was a celebration of what it means to be Fessenden Forever!

During Fessenden Elementary’s 5th grade graduation ceremony, we were honored to announce the new Fessenden Forever Scholarship in partnership with the Saint Bernard Foundation. Because of their incredible generosity, the scholarship will support every student who graduates from Fessenden Elementary, graduates from Marion County Public Schools, and continues on to pursue higher education — whether that be college, trade school, or a certification program.

This scholarship is more than financial support — it’s a long-term investment in students, their futures, and the lasting impact of the Fessenden community.

What made today even more special was announcing that the scholarship begins with this year’s graduating seniors who once walked the halls of Fessenden themselves.

From elementary school to graduation day, this scholarship is a reminder that their community believes in them every step of the way.

Thank you to the Saint Bernard Foundation for helping create brighter futures for Marion County students for generations to come.

Today was the final board meeting of the school year, and we got to celebrate it with good coffee and even better people ☕️

Each year, we use this meeting as a chance to show a little extra appreciation for our volunteers and board members who give so much of their time, energy, and heart to support our mission throughout the year. We truly couldn’t do what we do without them!

A big thank you to Red Riding Coffee for keeping everyone caffeinated and helping us make the morning extra special!

A huge shoutout to Vanguard High School students Shawn, Asher, and Jeet for turning their IB Program CAS Project into something truly impactful! 💙📚

Through the nonprofit they created for the project, PRVSAT, these incredible students donated school supplies to Tools 4 Teaching to help support MCPS teachers and classrooms.

We love seeing students use their talents, leadership, and passion for service to make a difference in our community. Thank you, Shawn, Asher, and Jeet, for helping create brighter opportunities for teachers and students!

Our work study students from Hillcrest School are truly the heart behind so much of what happens at Tools 4 Teaching 💙📚

Twice a week during the school year, these incredible students spend time in our store stocking shelves, organizing donations, preparing supplies, and helping us keep everything ready for our teacher shoppers. Their hard work and dedication make a real impact, and our store simply would not run the same without them!

Beyond all they accomplish, they bring so much joy, positivity, and energy to our team each week. We are so grateful for each and every one of them and proud to celebrate the difference they make for MCPS teachers and students every day!

One of the most exciting parts of each year is welcoming a new class of students into Take Stock in Children!

We are so excited to welcome our newest TSIC students as they begin a journey filled with mentorship, opportunity, growth, and bright futures ahead. These students have so much potential, and we are proud to walk alongside them every step of the way.

Welcome to the TSIC family — we cannot wait to see all you accomplish! ✨

“I’ve really enjoyed interning with Tools for Teaching because it allows me to help provide school supplies to teachers and support students who may not otherwise have access to the materials they need.” 💙📚

Hearing directly from the students who serve alongside us is such a powerful reminder of why our mission matters. Thank you to our amazing student intern, Reese, for helping support MCPS teachers and students every day!

Our TSIC Grad Night celebration would not have been possible without the amazing community partners and donors who showed up for our students in such a big way 🎓.

A heartfelt thank you to:
💙 Signature Brands
💚 Project S.O.S.
🧡 HCA Florida Ocala Hospital​
💙 Suncoast Credit Union

Thank you for helping us celebrate our TSIC Class of 2026 and to all of our amazing donors for reminding them that they have an entire community cheering them on as they step into their next chapter!

As we begin wrapping up another incredible school year, we’re taking time to celebrate some of the amazing students whose stories remind us why our mission matters so much!

We recently celebrated our Class of 2026 TSIC Seniors at our annual Grad Night as they prepare for the exciting chapters ahead🎓!

From middle school enrollment to graduation, these students have worked hard, overcome challenges, and built bright futures with the support of mentors, families, and our community — and we could not be more proud!

Surf’s up… and so is our list of Teacher Appreciation Week Chance Drawing Winners! 🌊☀️

Congratulations to:
🐚 Kim Dunn from Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary
🌴 Brittany Schofield from Howard Middle School
🐠 Rebecca Oliver from Hillcrest School

Thank you to every single person who helped us shell-ebrate MCPS teachers this week by sharing nominations, kind words, and appreciation for the educators who brighten our schools every day

Winners, keep an eye on your inbox for a message from PEFMC staff with prize details coming soon!