The Foundation for Rural Education Excellence, a registered 501 (C)(3) organization, was founded in 1998 to facilitate philanthropic support for rural school districts of the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC): Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union Counties as well as Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and PK Yonge Developmental Research School. Working collaboratively, our mission is to enhance academic success and career opportunities for rural students in northeast Florida.

Nearly 30 teachers from Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Putnam School Districts attended the New Teacher Network training on October 19^th.

The training agenda included the Science of Reading, Behavior Management 101, a deep dive into data, and reflections on a teacher’s first year in the classroom.

Elementary and Secondary Administrators attended a professional learning community in Union County on October 14th and 20th respectively.

PLC topics included a dive into the B.E.S.T. Mathematics Standards, Collegial Conversations on Florida’s Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), and Implementation of the B.E.S.T. English Language Arts Standards.

These administrator networks provide school leaders the opportunity to meet, learn, and collaborate on current topics relevant to the profession.

FREE's annual golf tournament is scheduled for March 25, 2022, at The Palatka Golf Club. Stay tuned for additional information and registration.

Summer Leadership Conference