Oxford School Kids Need Your Help

The Oxford Endowment for Public Education is working with teachers to find news ways to teach more students, more effectively.

Every day, about 4,000 students climb on buses, pack into cars or walk their way to Oxford schools.  Hundreds of teachers step up to inspire, coach, mentor and motivate, but they want to do more.

“Our goal is to help every student in every school,” said Meridith Wulff, president of the Oxford Endowment for Public Education (OEPE). “Whether it’s audio books to help struggling readers, a kiln for the middle school or a vacuum pump for teaching physics.”

Wulff is one of a small group of Oxford school system supporters who have been raising money to help teachers get the extras they need to give students more hands-on and experiential learning.  Last year alone, they provided $19,000 in grants.

“It was one of the neatest lists,” said OEPE membership chair Allyson Best.  “Grants ranged from guitars to help teach music to non-band or orchestra members to books designed to interest boys, specifically.”

This year’s goal is $30,000 and OEPE has two ways for you to help them reach that target.

“Whether you give $25, $50 or $100, all of that money goes right into the classroom,” Best said.  Right now there are 79 members of OEPE and Best is on a mission to hit 100 members by December 31 — just in time for new members to get the tax benefit. All it takes is a click and a credit card to join online.

And if you’re one of the many parents, alumni and friends of Oxford schools that wants to show your support for the district, Wulff says she’s got the perfect Christmas gift — an Oxford Charger license plate.

The plates cost $31 — $24 of that amount will be used to fund special learning-centered projects in the schools.  The target is to get 300 people to sign up for the plates before Jan. 1.

“Show [your] Charger pride each and every day while, at the same time, supporting our teachers’ efforts to continually improve classroom learning,” said Wulff.

OEPE has been around for more than 25 years and has granted more than $300,000 to local teachers. Wulff says the organization is for anyone who values education.

“It’s all about giving teachers the resources they need to provide truly exceptional learning experiences for their students.”