About The Mountain Education Foundation
As the private fundraising arm for Signal Mountain’s public schools, MEF serves all students at Nolan, Thrasher, and SMMHS—striving to be Tennessee’s premier model for education and youth development. With your support, we elevate minds, empower futures, and strengthen our Signal Mountain community.
Board of Directors
The MEF Board of Directors is comprised of twelve to twenty-one members, each serving a three year, renewable term.
Mission & Purpose
MEF enables Signal Mountain educators to go far beyond what a school can do with public funding alone. Over the last 25+ years, the foundation has provided more than $6 million in funding.
MEF's History
The Mountain Education Foundation’s (MEF) roots extend back more than 30 years. While the structure has changed, the goal remains the same – to raise funds for peak performing schools on Signal Mountain!
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board works with principals and parents to identify funding needs for Signal Mountain public schools.
Our Mission and Purpose
The Mountain Education Foundation (MEF) is a nonprofit public education foundation focused on improving public schools and enhancing educational and developmental opportunities for students in the Signal Mountain community, a suburb of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Organized in 1991, the foundation serves approximately 2,800 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade at three public schools.
MEF is the private fundraising arm to support our community’s aim for educational excellence. The foundation enables Signal Mountain educators to go far beyond what a school can do with public funding alone. Over the last 25+ years, the foundation has provided millions in funding to achieve excellence in education.
Vision
To be Tennessee’s premier education and youth development community.
Mission
The Mountain Education Foundation (MEF) elevates minds, empowers futures, and cultivates a thriving Signal Mountain community through education and resources that inspire whole-life success.
Community Investment Priorities
We recognize the power of community investment in our students, and prioritize funding based on our belief in the impact of:
- People, including salaries for positions identified as local priorities that are not covered by public funding
- College access
- Exceptional education
- STEM
- Performing, Visual and Related Arts
- Extra-curricular activities and clubs
- Athletics
- Professional development
- Technology
- Student life
- Parent engagement
- Staff appreciation
- Beautification/building/grounds
Board of Directors
The MEF Board of Directors is comprised of twelve to twenty-one members, each serving a three year term that is renewable. The board is responsible for fundraising, outlining the strategic direction of the foundation, setting policies and goals, and managing the foundation’s budget including granting funds to schools.
Executive Board
Catherine Fore, Chair
Doug Griswold, Past Chair
Travis Hutchinson, Treasurer
Pamela Rivers, Secretary
James Story, Development
Board
Casey Robertson
Katherine Womack
Cara Hennings
Gabe Whitmer
Rusty Posey
Amanda Bruce
Brittany Fulmer Ennen
Emily Lehman
Hannah Silverman
Robb Bettis
Ashley Hurst
Nolan PTA President: Tricia Henderson
Thrasher PTA Co-President: Maggie Akridge
SMMHS PTSA President: Amanda Mull
Our Advisory Board
The Mountain Education Foundation (MEF) Advisory Board works with principals, parents and educators to identify priority funding needs for each Signal Mountain public school. Advisory Board members meet together and serve as a “think tank” for collaboration and best practices in our schools.
Advisory Board Members
Amanda Mull, SMMHS PTSA President
Tricia Henderson, Nolan PTA President
Maggie Akridge, Thrasher PTA President
Brittany Styga, Nolan MEF PTSA Representative
Courtney Leon, Nolan MEF PTA Representative
Marie Lawrence, Nolan MEF PTA Representative
Emily Harmon, Thrasher MEF PTA Representative
Jena Story, Thrasher MEF PTA Representative
Julia Coffin, Thrasher MEF PTA Representative
Katy Holland, SMMHS MEF PTSA Representative
Hannah Silverman, MEF Board of Directors Liaison
Melissa Coffelt, Thrasher Elementary Principal
Ashley Alridge-Wilson, Nolan Elementary Principal
Carson Michael, SMMHS Principal
MEF's History
Protect the Promise
The Mountain Education Foundation’s (MEF) roots extend back nearly 35 years. Over the course of time, the structure, events and priorities have changed, but the goal remains the same – to raise funds to support Signal Mountain schools and create peak performing schools in our community!
1991: Mountain Education Fund Created
The Mountain Education Fund (MEF) was formed by concerned parents and educators in response to statewide funding cuts for education. Funds were raised to preserve art education and enrichment programs, while also purchasing new computers and technology for the Signal Mountain Schools. MEF served Bachman Elementary, Signal Mountain Elementary, Signal Mountain Middle School, Thrasher Elementary and Red Bank High School.
1992: Board of Directors Installed
The MEF founders adopted a mission statement and bylaws to govern the organization. The first Board of Directors was selected. Board members included:
- Chairman: Less Lee, Jr.
- Vice Chairman: Ken Connor
- Directors: Fred Decosimo
Lawrence Hulbert
Anne Caldwell
Margo Gardner
Bome Patten
1994: Funding Process Formalized
MEF formalizes its funding process with the Signal Mountain schools.
1999: Schools Open and Close
Nolan Elementary opens and Thrasher Elementary begins serving students in grades K-5. Bachman Elementary and Signal Mountain Elementary schools are closed.
2006: The Founders Fund
The Founders Fund is established to raise money to equip the new Signal Mountain Middle/High School.
2008: Mountain Education Foundation is Formed
MEF is transformed into the Mountain Education Foundation an independent 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. The purpose of the organization has remained unchanged, to provide ongoing financial support to achieve and maintain excellence in Signal Mountain public education.
MEF’s transformation included the creation of a new Board of Directors to manage and oversee the daily operation of the organization and an Advisory Board, charged with the task of assessing the needs in the Signal Mountain schools and allocating funds.
Signal Mountain Middle/High School opens and Signal Mountain Middle School (formerly known as Signal Mountain Junior High) is closed. The Founders Fund raises more than $3 million to equip Signal Mountain Middle/High School and is slated to merge with MEF at the completion of its mission.
2009: A New Era of Fundraising
MEF set a new fundraising record and provided more than $200,000 to support the Signal Mountain schools. MEF Endowment Fund is created.
2010: Final Founders Fund Disbursements
The Founders Fund made the final disbursements to equip Signal Mountain Middle/High School and merged with MEF. Strings program established at SMMHS. MEF provided more than $300,000 in funding to the Signal Mountain public schools including three grants for $25,000 to Thrasher, Nolan and SMMHS for technology upgrades, school curriculum and improvements. SMMHS receives authorization as an International Baccalaureate School for the Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10). First graduating class at Signal Mountain High School.
2011: IB Programme Approved
SMMHS receives authorization as an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme School (grades 11 & 12). K-12 Enrollment on Signal Mountain exceeds 2,500 students. MEF sets goal to raise $200 per child to meet the growing gap in funding for education. SMMHS PTSA and MEF partner to implement new Learning Center to provide tutoring and other academic services at the school. MEF hosts Mrs. Leigh Anne Tuohy, subject of the hit movie The Blind Side and raises $201,091 in one night to support the Signal Mountain schools.
Funding provided by MEF between 1991 – 2014 (rounded to the nearest thousand):
- Bachman Elementary (91-99) $77,000
- Nolan Elementary (99-14) $1,099,000
- Red Bank High (91-10) $102,000
- Signal Mountain Elementary (91-99) $79,000
- Signal Mountain Middle & Signal Mountain High* (91-14) $4,064,000
- Thrasher Elementary (91-14) $1,180,000
*includes Founders’ Fund disbursements and disbursements to Signal Mountain Jr. High.
2019: Achieved Forward Funding
Funds are raised in advance of granting them
2018-2022: 100% Increase in Grant Funding to Schools
2024: 100% of All Donations Directly Impact Students and Schools
MEF Endowment reached level of self fund operating costs
