If you ask someone who knows and loves Decatur what makes our city great, it likely won’t be long before you hear mention of the schools. City of Decatur schools are regarded for their excellence in academic performance, quality of teachers, and student engagement. And it doesn’t happen without the support of the entire Decatur community.
Formed in 2000, The Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) began as a traditional education resource intended to raise funds for City of Decatur schools. In years since, they have adopted a more holistic approach focused on eliminating barriers to learning for kids across the city of Decatur.
“We can’t expect our kids to show up to school ready to learn and be on their best behavior when there are underlying issues that haven’t been addressed,” explains foundation Executive Director Meagan Berardi. “We recognize there are obstacles students and families face that negatively impact their ability to learn. Our goal is to help overcome those obstacles.”
Partnering with City of Decatur schools, local businesses and organizations, and individuals across the community, DEF’s work goes well beyond the classroom (although it’s alive and well there, too). They work tirelessly to identify deeper barriers to learning- food insecurity, housing instability, mental health, racism- and work with the community to provide resources and solutions to create true equity and access for every student.
To take on such a diverse set of challenges, DEF employs diverse solutions. In addition to the work of providing essential resources and materials for students- weekly meals for those who need them, tutoring and mentorship, and housing and transportation support- the foundation offers a number of unique opportunities for students and teachers alike.
Every City of Decatur school has benefited from DEF’s Teacher Innovation Grants which have provided opportunities and improvements for schools from communication tools for neurodiverse kids to cutting-edge science equipment that engages students in new and exciting ways.
There’s also no shortage of exciting community programming you can find throughout the year hosted by DEF, like the recent Battle of The Bands in Legacy Park which brought together more than 400 families for a day of fun, food, and music (congratulations to the Glenwood Elementary band “Flock of Eagles” for their big win).
“DEF is this community's foundation,” says Berardi. “If you live here, our work affects you. Yes, our mission is to help kids and youth overcome obstacles. But that only goes to benefit the entire community. There’s something for everyone here.”
To learn more about Decatur Education Foundation, donate, or get involved, visit decatureducationfoundation.org.