Best Interests | Consulting & Advocacy for the Best Interests of Texas Children

We are EEF @ FTE ✓ We Fund Teachers! ✓ Bust the Gap!

In the video below we imagine a school without funding for music teachers, art teachers, or a school nurse, and see what happens when the kids are left to figure things out for themselves. In the end, Forest the Falcon saves the day in our story and brings those staff back to the campus. It's a lighthearted take on a important cause. Note that no administrators were harmed during the taping of the video, however they might be a little tired from more boogieing than usual.:)

View HD video

View video on Vimeo

Gapbusters! from Christie Schultz on Vimeo.

 ✓Online donations COUNT through midnight on October 23rd


Welcome to
EEF @ FTE!


We are the Eanes Education Foundation Committee at Forest Trail Elementary, and our mission is to inform the parents at Forest Trail and our community at large of the huge impact that EEF has right here in our school. 

Donation Day is
Friday, October 23rd!
 

DONATE TO EEF NOW!
What is EEF?: Super-informative EEF Video!
Just for fun: EEF @ FTE "goat" video!

Frequently-Asked Questions

I just donated to the Booster Club.  Isn't this the same? 
No!  Booster Clubs fund "stuff", while EEF funds staff.  Booster Clubs supply the school with much-needed supplies and provide experiences such as field trips for students. EEF literally hires staff members to work on campuses directly with students. They are both needed, and different.
  
 
I have more than one child at FTE.  Which grade level gets the credit for my donation?
Each grade in which you have a child!

I have a child at more than one EISD school.  Which school gets the credit for my donation?
All of the ones attended by your children!

I donated already- does my donation count toward these incentives?
Yes!  Donations up to and including October 23rd count!

I wish I could fund the entire gap.  Will a smaller amount help?
Yes!  Every single cent counts!

Top 10 Reasons to Donate to EEF by October 23, 2015

(#6-10 cited by kids)

10. "I wanna slime the Principal!" 

9. "We want our trophy back from Cedar Creek"
 
8. "Free ACL taping tickets will buy you a LOT of points with me," said 95% of FTE moms.  

7. "Kids come home really tired and well-behaved after FTE PE parties," agreed 100% of 2nd graders who want to win this prize.

6. "We want that trophy!". said a 5th grader when asked why we should try to win the EEF Spirit Award.

5. 32 additional teachers across 9 campuses = difference between all kids having a chance to excel vs. kids falling through the cracks

4. More teachers with graduate degrees = better preparation our kids' futures

3. Librarians, Counselors, 5th grade class size limits, Art teachers, Music teachers, PE teachers, School Nurses, Campus Tech Coordinators, Gifted & Talented Teachers, Intervention Specialists = valued and NECESSARY, not optional in Eanes ISD

2. We choose excellent vs. adequate. 

1. We love our kids and want the best education we can provide for them.  Together we can.

Incentives Galore!

Qualify for three levels of incentives just by donating to EEF on or before Friday, October 23rd!

✓Perks for FTE Grade-Levels:

Sliming Mr. McCasland!
In keeping with our “GAPbusters” theme, the grade level at FTE with the highest percent participation through October 23rd gets to “slime” Mr. McCasland!  More than one FTE student in your household?  No worries, your donation will be counted towards participation for every child in your family.   If you have students at other campuses, those campuses will be credited with your participation as well.

✓Perks for FTE:

~ Bragging Rights:  the EEF Spirit Award  
The elementary school with the highest percentage of families who donate to EEF through October 23rd receives the highly coveted EEF Spirit Award trophy!  Make a donation to EEF anytime BY FRIDAY to be counted as one of FTE's participating families. Remember, it’s the school's % participation that wins it for us…so the only gift too small is no gift at all! 

✓Perks for Individuals:

~ FTE PE Party
All FTE donors who make their gift by 10/23/15 will enter a drawing for a free PE party after school. These are always a hit with the kiddos and no "special occasion" is needed.

~ Win Tickets to a Taping at Austin City Limits
FTE families who are NEW donors, or who INCREASE their gift this year will be entered to win tickets to an upcoming taping at ACL.  These are stage level tickets and you can pick which show in the remaining season!

So, on behalf of EEF, we ask that you please consider donating to the EEF Teacher Fund Drive by 10/23/15.  Let’s show the district that FTE values our teachers and let’s do what we can to help fund the $1,305 gap per student so that our students can have an EXCELLENT education rather than an ADEQUATE one. 



What is the Eanes Education Foundation (EEF)?

The Eanes Education Foundation (EEF) is the fundraising arm of the Eanes Independent School District (EISD). It raises funds to help ease the burden that recapture ("Robin Hood") and "hold harmless" laws place on Eanes.  Eanes focuses on excellence, rather than mere adequacy that the state provides.  Therefore, EEF attempts to fund the gap between adequate and excellent.  EEF has granted millions of dollars to EISD in recent years. 

✓This 2015-16 school year, EEF is funding the salaries of 32 staff members across 9 campuses!

✓This 2015-16 school year, EEF is providing substantial scholarships to EISD teachers to help them get their masters degrees!


The impact is staggering! Read more about EEF's funding history and the Partnership for Teacher Excellence Program (PTEP) scholarship opportunities on their website.

Teachers at FTE Funded by EEF for the
2015-16 School Year

Lindsey Creel - Music
Rebecca Harrell - Art
Stephen Presley - PE
Linda Kimbrough - Nurse

EEF @ FTE 2015 Committee

Co-Chairs: Liz Seade, Grayce Parker, & Alison Strelitz

Kindergarten: Robyn Gaskamp, Julie Philp
1st Grade: Paige Darby, Celina Mankey, Christie Schultz
2nd Grade: Meredith Duncan, Allison Johnson, Liz Seade, Alison Strelitz  
3rd Grade: Diane Anderson,
Shannon Harvey, Carrie Lindsay, Carrie Wilkin
4th Grade: Karen Flaherty,
Jennifer Grimes, Grayce Parker, Tana Southard  
5th Grade: Dawn Breyfogle, Cristen Daniel, Laurel Sockwell

What FTE Parents are saying:
"I support EEF because..."

I support EEF because furthering the learning of our Eanes teachers is non-negotiable #ptep - Janet Couvillion, FTE teacher & parent

We are so fortunate to live in a community where parents step up and donate to EEF.  EEF funds teacher/ staff positions that are no longer deemed necessary by the State, but that are so important for the growth of our kids. Amazing community! Brilliant kids! - Cami Dato, FTE parent

I support EEF because those that can SHOULD!  All of our kiddos benefit from extra staff and that is priceless! - Jennifer Hutson, FTE parent

My daughter literally could not imagine school without Art class. EEF lets us show that we value and support both our students and our staff, and that translates into a positive learning environment where everyone benefits! - Melissa Howitt, FTE parent
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