Testimonials

Four years ago, Wilkes County Schools set out with a bold, and some said, unattainable initiative to provide laptops for all students grades 6-12 and Interactive (SMART) Boards in all 632 classrooms. This initiative was complicated by the school system ranking 100/115 in per pupil funding. We knew we would need significant private investment. Our first presentation was to the Mebane Foundation, and soon, Mr. Mebane and the Foundation committed $300,000.00 (later, another $100,000.00 was committed) toward achieving our goal…the first to invest in us. Like so many other fundraising initiatives, it takes someone to start the process along. Mebane Foundation did just that and today we have reached our goal, almost all through privately raised funds. We will forever be indebted to the Mebane Foundation for believing in the children and educators of Wilkes County.

- Dr. Steve Laws, Superintendent, Wilkes County Schools

Davie County Schools has been very fortunate to partner with the Mebane Charitable Foundation over the past several years, providing numerous opportunities for the staff and students in our school system. Through this partnership, our students have benefited from a wide range of initiatives, from interactive classrooms in all schools, to access for staff training with researched based programs supporting growth in reading, to the Mebane Masters program focused not only on staff training to optimize the technology rich environment, but to use that same environment to support development of the next generation of teachers as they learn during their student teaching.

Cooleemee Elementary was also the beneficiary of an additional Mebane Charitable Foundation grant that helped to support implementation of Successmaker and Waterford computer based learning programs school wide and a summer reading program. All students were able to benefit from Successmaker and Waterford with site licenses to access in sixty-station and sixteen-station computer labs, respectively, and in all regular classrooms. This grant also helped to provide a summer reading camp, including transportation for the past three years. Data from each of these areas indicates the significant benefits received by students. Another more recent grant provided the opportunity for our students to become involved in Robotics, planting the seed for a now flourishing Robotics program.

The interest and generosity of the Mebane Charitable Foundation in Cooleemee Elementary and our school system had provided opportunities that will continue to impact the lives of our staff and students into the 21st Century.

- Mrs. Carol Cozart, Principal, Cooleemee Elementary School, Davie County Schools

The Mebane Charitable Foundation, along with a partnership through Davie County Schools and Appalachian State University, provided me the opportunity to become a Mebane Master in my school, William R. Davie Elementary. This opportunity allowed me to be one of fifteen teachers in Davie County to further their education at ASU, each receiving a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology. This program provided me with knowledge to expand and implement engaging 21st century lessons and activities with my students. At the same time, I was able to collaborate with other teachers in our district, sharing technology resources.

Through the last several years, the Mebane Charitable Foundation has been part of our second grade Community Day field trip at WRD. The Foundation has hosted sessions to share with the students about philanthropy and being good stewards of our community.

As a 2012 Kenan Fellow, the Mebane Foundation provided a grant allowing me to experience the externship, Logistics: More than Trucks and Trains. During this adventure, I was able to learn first-hand how logistics is part of the economic supply chain. My students continue to learn more about logistics through a variety of interactive lessons that I am creating relating to this endeavor.

I truly appreciate the variety of partnerships that the Mebane Charitable Foundation has personally provided my students and me. The experiences, activities, and increased knowledge have enabled the children and me to continue our growth as 21st century learners.

- Mrs. Diane Ireland, Mebane Master Teacher, William R. Davie Elementary School, Davie County Schools

The opportunity to collaborate with the Mebane Foundation will enhance our ability to design an innovative model of professional development to support the teaching and learning process. The STEM Infusion protocol will enable teachers to work together to plan lessons and design student work based on the new Common Core and Essential Standards. The investment in our teachers will ultimately impact the academic achievement of our students. We are thrilled with our partnership and look forward to observing our students excel.