"Quality education has always been an important part of what makes our community so strong and successful. The Bloomington community has always stepped up to support public education and the Education Foundation of Bloomington has shared that support through generous donations and participation in our fundraising events by our neighbors." – Mary Udseth
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Patrick Porter never stopped motivating and encouraging his students to achieve their highest potential in his 34 years as an educator, 30 as an art teacher in Bloomington Public Schools.
Retired since 1995, Porter still motivates students through one-on-one mentoring and guidance. Through the years, he has seen how financial and social hurdles have impeded students from pursuing post-secondary education. Now, he plans to make it a little easier for students to achieve their college dream, as long as they are willing to demonstrate a desire and effort to overcome those difficulties.
Porter recently pledged $60,000 per year to fund 12 new scholarships annually for students who wish to attend a two-year vocational technical or community college, and three new scholarships annually for students wishing to pursue post-secondary schooling in music or the performing arts. The annual scholarships have renewal incentives for students who meet continuing education requirements.
The Education Foundation of Bloomington (EFB) will administer the Patrick Porter Scholarship Program.
Porter recently hosted a luncheon for District leaders, secondary school principals and counselors to share his vision for the scholarship program.
"I am passionate about helping students achieve their goals, particularly those who haven't been able to pursue post-secondary education due to resources or other family issues," Porter told the 30 attendees.
But Porter is not interested in just handing money over to students. "Overcoming adversity is not easy, I get that. I was there. So, students need to show determination to be self-supporting and I will help those who are willing to put forth the extra effort it takes to continue their education," he said.
Porter hopes other school employee groups will follow his "pay it forward" lead and create scholarships for students, or volunteer to mentor kids struggling in school. "Teachers and school employees should have one goal, 'I'm going to save one student this year.' If every employee embraced this goal, it will add up. It will keep kids from falling through the cracks," Porter added. "I live by one slogan, 'Make it work.' "
Bloomington's middle and high schools will be erecting student achievement showcases to recognize students throughout the school year in honor of Porter and his generous contributions.
Bloomington’s unique store offering free thrifts to local teachers was inspired by one mother who took her PTA observations up a level
A mother of two children at Bloomington’s public schools, Cary Weatherby is no stranger to he classroom. From volunteering her time to being involved with the PTA, Weatherby has been at her children’s sides for years, witnessing their educations firsthand. In fact, this experience likely has some bearing on her current position as executive director of Bloomington’s not-for-profit Companies to Classrooms.
Before having children, Weatherby worked in retail realty construction (she had a hand in downtown Minneapolis’ fabulous Gaviidae Common). She has been a stay-at-home mom for 14 years now, and it was while fulfilling her duty as a PTA mom that she felt the itch to return to the working world. Becoming frustrated with trying to cut with a dull, broken, school-sanctioned scissors led Weatherby to the notion that there might be something she could do to aid the solution. Download full article.
Ann Tillotson began a quest to raise money and replace peanut butter sandwiches with the nutrition kids truly deserve
There are a lot of things about grade school that are hard to forget, but school lunches might rein supreme. The aroma of hot dishes, delicious desserts and the occasional food fight linger in our memories. But what many don’t remember—probably because we never knew—are the kids in the lunchroom whose families couldn’t afford hot lunches, and instead munched on peanut butter sandwiches day after day. Unable to stand the thoughts of these children settling for cold and unfulfilling morsels of food, Bloomington resident Ann Tillotson knew she had to help prevent any more children at school from going without a proper meal.
Tillotson is no stranger to volunteering she previously took part in Junior Achievement and helped head the United Way campaign at Piper Jaffray where she worked as an investment banker for more than 13 years. After her sons, Max, 8, and Jack, 10, were born, Tillotson decided to stay home fulltime to take care of “her guys,” which includes husband, Chris, a radiologist. She became involved with her sons’ activities and schooling at Normandale Hills Elementary in Bloomington. When she caught wind of the school lunch situation, she answered the call to begin working for a cause. Download full article.