(COLUMBIA, MO) – The Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF) announced New Educator Grants for educators new to the Columbia Public Schools (CPS), surprising each with a $100 gift card. The Foundation made the announcement at the CPS New Educator Breakfast held at Gentry Middle School last week.

This is the fourth year for the Foundation’s New Educator grant program. Each new educator received a $100 gift card to help establish their classrooms. In total, the Foundation is expected to give out about 225 gift cards to new educators, or about $22,500. The Foundation’s board members were at the breakfast to distribute the gift cards to the new educators.

“Surprising our new teachers at the new educator breakfast is one of our favorite days of the year as a Foundation,” said Katie Harris, executive director of CPSF. “We get to welcome our new teachers and show them our community support.”

New teachers can use the gift cards to set up their classrooms, for everything from supplies to books. New Paxton Keely Elementary fifth grade teacher Beth Cannon will be using the gift card to purchase student mailboxes and book bins. “Thank you to the Columbia Public Schools Foundation for providing this award to teachers new to the district,” Cannon said. As a new Hickman High School teacher said, “Thank you for supporting new teachers. This gift is one of the many reasons it is clear that this community supports public education.”

The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is a private foundation established by community volunteers dedicated to the enrichment of public education through community giving. The Foundation has funded projects in every school, allocating more than $1.8 million to enhance education in the Columbia Public Schools. CPSF was founded in 1996 and has supported teachers and students for 30 years.