Education Foundation
The Roanoke City Public Schools Education Foundation inspires the community to invest in the full potential of every child. We award school-based grants for innovation and equitable experiences for students and celebrate the achievements of our extraordinary teachers and staff.
Board Members
Eleanor Kootsey, Chair
Margaret-Hunter Wade, Vice-Chair
Jamal Miller, Treasurer
Jessie Coffman, Secretary
Ruth Claytor
Emily McCahill
Tracey Wilson
Interested in joining the Education Foundation Board? Email foundation@rcps.info to learn more!
About Us
The foundation has been re-energized following a hiatus during COVID and has aligned its efforts with the current needs of the district. Focus areas include:
- Awarding grants to schools to promote innovation and equity beyond what is provided from public funding and the school’s existing budget
- Recognition of teachers and staff through the district’s teacher of the year and support person of the year celebrations
- Advocacy on behalf of the school district at the local, state and federal level to provide perspective on issues related to the success of our students and educators.
- Raising funds, awareness and engagement from the community through development and stewardship activities
In FY2025-26, we are building our organizational capacity and framework with a goal to raise $40,000 and award our first set of school-based grants while continuing to meet the needs of the district from an advocacy and awareness standpoint.
Join us!
The foundation is recruiting new Board members to advise, champion, and invest in our vision. We seek individuals with:
- A desire to promote and support Roanoke City Public Schools
- Experience with education, capacity building and/or fundraising
- Enthusiasm for innovative grant making models
- A vision for how public education can change lives
Board Responsibilities
- The Board is ultimately responsible for adherence to legal standards and ethical norms.
- The Board clearly articulates the organization’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garners support through fundraising and advocacy.
- The Board’s foremost responsibility is to secure adequate financial resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.
- Directors are expected to actively participate in the overall strategic and development planning processes and to assist in implementing and monitoring goals for these plans.
- The Board takes an active part in creating, reviewing, and approving the budget and monitoring the organization’s performance against that budget.
- Directors are expected to attend monthly board meetings as well as serve on a committee, in addition to providing financial support to the organization.
- Board terms are three years, at which point a director may elect to continue on for a second term if asked.