April 16, 2025 Dear Chatham County Schools Staff and Families, I am writing to share an important update regarding a recent directive from the U.S. Department of Education, requesting that school districts reaffirm their compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This directive follows the U.S.
With a grant from the Chatham Education Foundation, Perry Harrison Elementary and Moncure Elementary were able to come together for the first time on March 5, 2025, for an in-school field trip called Science Fun for Everyone. First grade students were all given their own individual science kits and they
New Horizons Downtown has given $7,500 to the Chatham Education Foundation (CEF). Catherine McLeod, store owner, said the impetus for the gift came because she had been wanting to turn her attention to supporting a few organizations financially and CEF board member Howard Fifer had been in the right place
CEF is seeking a professional photographer to donate their services to photograph students and volunteers during our upcoming Books on Break – free books fairs at our Title I and rural elementary schools. Email cate@cefmail.org if you are interested.
Here is what we know. The Department of Education is responsible for ensuring our most vulnerable students receive a quality, accessible education. This order will have far reaching impacts in our rural and low-income communities and on children with disabilities and special needs. In Chatham County, 16% of our school
Lindsay Gaines, an English teacher at Chatham Central High School, purchased equipment for her students to create podcasts with a grant from the Chatham Education Foundation. Called Podcasts and Possibilities, this project is allowing her students to listen as consumers and also create as producers. As she explains, students in
Sherry Thurman is a middle school teacher of exceptional children (EC) at Bonlee School. Her daughter, Leann Dunn, is an EC teacher at Chatham Central High School. (Students in the Exceptional Children program may have a disability or are gifted but need special education services.) Together, the mother/daughter duo submitted a grant
The Chatham Education Foundation (CEF) welcomes its newest addition, Heather Bochicco, who will serve as the Chatham Reads program associate supporting the collection and distribution of book donations through our community partners. Heather is a longtime educator and literacy specialist and has taught high school English and middle school Language
Each year, the Chatham Education Foundation awards Creative Teaching Grants to teachers across the county seeking to bring innovative resources, not available through the district’s budget, to their students. This year, CEF received 31 applications–a record number–totaling more than $36,000. CEF was able to fully or partially fund 29 of
Photos courtesy of Self-Enhancing Education and Development Services (S.E.E.D.S.) On Saturday, November 23, Chatham Reads, a program of the Chatham Education Foundation and Chatham County Schools, gave away 130 children’s books at the Holiday Hub. The event was held at Washington Park in Siler City and was a collaboration of
