As Excellence in Education celebrates four decades of investing in local schools, longtime board member Scott Ryan reflects on the importance of community involvement, the Endowment House, and recognizing exceptional educators.
When architect Scott Ryan began working on school facility projects in the Tahoe Truckee region in the early 1990s, he noticed that music rooms, art rooms, and other spaces that supported a well-rounded education were missing from the plans. When he asked why, he learned that those programs had been cut.
At the time, California ranked in the bottom third of states for per-pupil education funding. Scott, who worked closely with local school officials, including Facilities Director Tony Hesch, was quick to notice the disconnect between the state’s wealth and its investment in education.
His professional work had given him insight into the challenges facing local schools and a desire to give back to the public education system.
“Be a part of harnessing social and economic capital to put the cream back on top of the milk bottle,” Scott recalls of his motivation. “The cream had been siphoned off. I wanted to be a part of putting it back. Make it ‘whole milk’ again, make education whole again, to ensure a complete, well-funded education for every student.”
That commitment would lead Scott to become an important part of the Excellence in Education Foundation’s history.
The Seeds of an Idea
Founded in 1986 in response to reductions in public school funding, Excellence in Education began with approximately $30,000 raised by concerned community members. As the foundation grew, its board established an endowment to provide long-term financial stability while continuing to fund teacher-identified classroom needs.
By the time Scott became involved, the endowment had grown to approximately $200,000 to $300,000. The board had an ambitious goal of reaching $1 million, but getting there would require some creative thinking.
Scott remembers a fellow board member expressing doubt that they could ever reach that milestone. The challenge inspired an idea as he recalled a development project in Mammoth Lakes where a developer had donated a condominium unit to the local school district. What if the Tahoe Truckee community could come together to build and sell a house, with the proceeds benefiting the foundation’s endowment?
The Endowment House
The idea became the Excellence in Education Endowment House, one of the most significant fundraising efforts in Excellence in Education’s history.
The project began with a commitment from Northstar California to donate half the value of a $150,000 parcel of land. Joe McGinity oversaw construction and execution, while Linda Brown provided project stewardship, coordination, and advocacy. Local contractors, tradespeople, and suppliers contributed donated materials, discounted supplies, and reduced labor rates.
In all, more than 220 contributors participated in the three-year effort.
When the house sold in 1999, it generated a gain of more than $450,000, bringing the foundation’s endowment to $1.2 million. It was a remarkable example of what a community could accomplish together.
Today, the endowment continues to support the foundation’s mission to enhance public education within the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District to strengthen the learning experiences for students.