April 23, 2008

News Release

TISD Foundation Director Receives Certification in School Foundation Management      

            The first National/State Certification course in School Foundation Management was held recently in Friendswood ISD with approximately 40 foundation representatives from across the state attending.           

            Larry Goddard, Executive Director, of the Tyler Independent School District Foundation, attended the workshop and received certification.  He was joined by other representatives from the state including school district/foundation representatives in Lewisville, Navasota, Round Rock, San Antonio, Frisco, and the Greater Houston Metroplex area. 

                        "Being part of a charter group of certified education foundation administrators is an honor and shows how the citizens of Tyler have supported the Tyler ISD Foundation for almost 20 years," said Goddard.
 

Topics included leadership, operations, marketing, fundraising and support.  At the workshop, participants examined the purpose, performance and growing value of K-12 foundations, analyzed the desired leadership qualities of school foundation directors, studied the value of strategic planning as a key to success, and the value of constructing a mission and viable vision to help set directors for the organization. 

            Also discussed were the challenges in the community facing foundations and their boards, the structural, legal and organizational principles of K-12 foundations, and the effective marketing principles matched with the foundation’s community.

             Leading the workshop were three individuals with expertise in foundation work. The group consisted of National School Foundation Association (NSFA) Project Director Jim Collogan of Des Moines, Iowa, and   Michelle Lange, president of Silvertree Marketing in Michigan.  TSPRA Director Judy Farmer worked with Collogan in coordinating the workshop.

             “Working with Jim Collogan and NSFA is a great benefit to our TSPRA Education Foundation Division members. This certification workshop has been a terrific opportunity for their ongoing professional development. We hope to provide additional opportunities for further study,” Farmer said. 

The workshop was sponsored by Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) and the National School Foundation Association (NSFA). Both groups work closely together and TSPRA members are affiliate members of NSFA. 

            The Education Foundation Division of TSPRA started four years ago. Each year membership in the division continues to grow. Farmer has been seeking a way to offer the foundation members professional development programs that would meet the need of both the new directors and those with many years of experience.           

            TSPRA’s background is centered around the public relations field. The addition of the foundation division has been a seamless addition that fits.

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