CCPS Education Foundation spotlights its impact at luncheon

After launching last year, the Christian County Public Schools Education Foundation hosted its Champions of Education Luncheon on Tuesday to share how the foundation supports students and educators and how the community can too.  

The foundation is a nonprofit independent of the school system but supports the needs of students and educators. At the luncheon educators, students and parents provided testimonials about how foundation has impacted them.

In 2024 the foundation supported developments such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Early Learning Center, the Teacher Corner and the Big Ideas Grant Program.

In August, the foundation and the school system cut the ribbon on the early learning center. Parents Russ and Mandy Guffey talked about how the early learning center has positively impacted their 4-year-old son Cannon. Last year, Mandy Guffey says they found out that Cannon had a speech delay and possibly ADHD and would become overstimulated which made learning difficult.

Once he started attending the early learning center, Mandy Guffey says teachers were able to address Cannon’s needs. He is now meeting and exceeding the benchmarks he was once struggling to reach. Mandy Guffey says there are more students like Cannon and she is thankful for the early learning center.

Last year, the foundation awarded 27 Big Idea Grants, and Crofton Elementary School Teacher Jessica Grace was one of the recipients. Grace teaches second-grade math and used the grant to have transformation days in class. On transformation days, Grace says she decorates her classroom and hosts a fun activity that helps students review what they have been learning.

In August, the foundation and the school system cut the ribbon on the Teacher Corner, which offers free school supplies to teachers with a point system. Freedom Elementary School Music Teacher Abby Hess says she teaches around 500 students, so it’s important to maximize her budget, and the corner has been an additional resource.

To conclude the luncheon, Christian County School Board Chair, Tom Bell urged attendees to donate to the foundation to benefit more students and teachers.   

In 2025 the foundation plans to expand its prior developments and find new ways to support students, teachers and parents.