We award grants to teachers in the TTUSD through an application process, partner with the school district on key initiatives that are designed to have high impact on student learning, and recognize exceptional teachers and classified staff through the Linda Brown Fellows and Star Award programs.
The Foundation is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Board of more than 40 community members with a broad range of experience, representing all geographic areas of the community.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Excellence in Education Board of Directors represents businesses, schools, community leaders and parents. If you are interested in serving on the board or a committee, please contact our staff.
- Bill Austin, CFO
- Stephanie Bragg
- Kari Chalstrom
- Katja Dahl
- Elena Deluna
- Cindy Flores, Vice President
- Erin Flynn
- Nancy Gisko
- Jerusha Hall
- Jenna Hilton
- Jooly Hopkins
- Nathan Kendall
- Reine Jensen
- Lisa Laliotis
- Haakon Lang-Ree, Past President
- Victoria Mercer
- Kirsten Pekarek, President
- Shelly Purdy
- Karen Roske
- Karsten Swenson
- Lauren Tapia
- Kelli Twomey
- Lauren VanLoon, Treasurer
- Jessica Weaver
- Barbara Wilkinson
Advisory Board
- Linda Brown
- Ann Holmes Delforge
- Alison Elder
- Jan Ganong
- Ed McGargill
- Michael Graham
- Cindy Gustafson
- Roger Kahn
- Bob McClintock
- Donna Morgan
- Scott Ryan
Benefactor Board 2017 - 2018
- Homewood Ski Area
- Northstar California
- Resort at Squaw Creek
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
- Tahoe Mountain Club
- Tahoe Donner Association
Of Counsel
- Michael Graham
TTUSD Liaison
- Robert Leri
Staff
- Laura Abbey Brown, Executive Director
- Beth Pascalli Hirsh, Coordinator
ENDOWMENT FUND
Building an Endowment Fund has been a priority of the Foundation since inception, and was created with the intention of stabilizing the organization and providing interest that could be used to award future grants. In 1990, Excellence in Education Foundation board members made a commitment to set aside a portion of annual fundraising revenues to grow an Endowment to $1.5 million.
Under the leadership of past President, Scott Ryan, the Endowment House was built at Northstar, largely with the donation of materials, labor, and money, realizing over $600,000 to the Endowment.
Despite fluctuations in the economy, the Foundation met its $1.5 million goal in 2005 and has continued to grow its Endowment while also gifting up to 4% of the three-year trailing average investment balance. The Endowment Fund is currently held at the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and has grown to over $2.5 million.
TAHOE TRUCKEE READS
Excellence in Education is the lead organization for this Collective Impact Model where TTUSD and several community organizations are working together to improve grade level reading proficiency in our community.
As a result of our collective commitment to this campaign, Tahoe-Truckee received the 2012 All-America City Award from the National Civic League based on our ambitious plan to ensure that more children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
In 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, the National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading recognized Tahoe Truckee as a Pacesetter Community for our implementation efforts. For more information, visit www.TahoeTruckeeReads.org.