Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation launches endowment initiative Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation launches endowment initiative (June 08, 2005)

**Challenge grant kicks off community fundraising to reach $2 million.

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

The Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation celebrated "excellence in teaching" last week in a million-dollar way.

The foundation launched an endowment -- believed to be the first in the state -- to provide sustainable funding for professional development of teachers in the Menlo Park City School District.

Called "The Endowment for Excellence in Teaching," this new initiative has raised $1 million during a two-year private phase, thanks to donations from charter members.

As part of the launch, Jeff Child, foundation treasurer, announced 10 families in the district are funding a challenge grant of $250,000 to kick off the second phase of fundraising to help enable the foundation to reach its $2 million goal in 2006.

The endowment is expected to earn annual interest that will fund programs to enhance the professional skills of the district's 137 teachers. For example, teachers may participate in summer leadership training, receive support as they work to attain National Board Certification, and use summer study grants to expand expertise. Funds also will be used to provide time for teachers to plan and collaborate.

The celebration honoring the district's teachers at Laurel, Encinal, Oak Knoll and Hillview Middle schools took place June 2 in the Atherton garden of Charlot and Dennis Singleton's home.

Ms. Singleton, a former foundation president and education supporter, is the co-chair of the Endowment Fundraising Committee that includes Lynne Young and Ted Schlein.

"Our donors, many of whose children are graduates of our public schools, believe this endowment is unique because it can make a difference for our children today and in the future," said Ms. Singleton.

Foundation co-presidents Carol Fields and Peggy Propp welcomed the teachers and guests, including charter members and challenge grant families, other supporters of the foundation and schools, officials from Atherton and Menlo Park, and the president of the California Consortium of Education Foundations.

"Teachers are our most powerful educational resource," said Carol Orton, president of the Menlo Park school board.

"Already we have seen the critical importance of having a dedicated professional development program in recruiting new teachers to our district," said Ms. Orton.

"The MPAEF Endowment is investing where it counts for children --in our teachers," said Linda Darling-Hammond, professor of education and director of School Redesign Network at Stanford University, who has consulted with the foundation.

"If teachers are to ensure successful learning for students, they must be prepared as diagnosticians, planners and leaders who know a great deal about the learning process and have a wide repertoire of tools at their disposal," she said.

Superintendent Ken Ranella honored groups of teachers for their commitment and leadership.

"The endowment directly supports the number-one initiative of the district strategic plan: To employ highly qualified and inspired staff," said the superintendent. Jill Parker, foundation president, applauded teachers for their innovation in writing and carrying out the Jeanie Ritchie Grants Program that have expanded learning possibilities for students for the past 20 years.

The endowment advisory board, chaired by Dr. June Flora, former MPAEF President, includes five members and two ex-officio members. They are Dr. Ray Pecheone, director of the Stanford School Redesign project and faculty member of the School of Education at Stanford University; Dr. Floyd Gonella, former San Mateo County superintendent of schools, and former interim Ravenswood City School District Superintendent; Terri S. Bailard, former Redwood City School board member and board member of the Cleo Elau Center, dedicated to programs for high-risk children and teens; Char Singleton; and ex-officio members Superintendent Ken Ranella, and Menlo board president Orton.

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