The height of midsummer is transition time in the academic world, including for MEF, whose fiscal year ends June 30. As we wrap up fundraising for one year and begin the next, we also transition leadership on July 1. MEF, as with all non-profit organizations, is led by a volunteer Board, with each Board member holding the title of Director. The Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for the organization, which is carried out or “executed” by the nonprofit’s Executive Director, assisted by staff that varies depending on organization size.
For MEF, Hilarie Robison has held the position of Executive Director since November 2017, currently with a team of two part-time contractors: Marketing & Event Coordinator Emily Odeh and Bookkeeper Jennifer Waycaster. Additionally, a host of volunteers generously give of their time to MEF in support of our schools, from serving on the Board, to leading planning committees, to working a booth at an event, and much more.
As of press time, the following community members are serving as the MEF Board of Directors for 2023-24 and/or 2024-25:
Doug Griswold, Incoming Chair
Catherine Fore, Chair-Elect
Cara Hennings, Outgoing Chair
Sarah Provonsha, Secretary
Travis Hutchinson, Treasurer
James Story, Development
Jonathan Welch, Past Chair
Charlotte Witry
Casey Robertson
Katherine Womack
Kurt Keene
Pamela Rivers
Gabe Whitmer
Rusty Posey
Amanda Bruce
Brittany Fulmer Ennen
Emily Lehman
Hannah Silverman
Nolan PTA President: Tricia Henderson
Thrasher PTA Co-President: Anna Branam
SMMHS PTSA President: Erin Regrutto
Directors serve 3-year terms that are renewable, with approximately one-third rotating off the Board each year.
For the first time ever, PTA/PTSA presidents from each Signal school will serve on the MEF Board for 2024-25. This marks a significant step toward fostering a closer collaboration between MEF and the Parent Teacher Organizations, ensuring that the voices of parent leaders who are deeply connected with each school campus, are directly represented in decision-making processes. Furthermore, incoming PTA/PTSA presidents will now serve as Board observers during their terms, participating in discussions as they prepare to serve as voting members when they become presidents the following year.
In addition to the Board of Directors that governs the organization, the MEF Advisory Board provides valuable insight about needs and opportunities at Signal schools. Facilitated by MEF and with membership that includes all three school principals and PTA/PTSA presidents, along with additional parent and community representatives, it serves as a think tank around how to best partner and leverage MEF resources to benefit Signal students. Innovative ideas for maximizing the impact of MEF funds (including sharing MEF-funded personnel across schools), creatively solving problems, and new donor outreach have all come from conversations at the MEF Advisory Board meetings.
“I really enjoyed serving our community as the Board Chair for MEF and working with such a great group of Directors to engage and unite our community for strategic investment in our students and schools,” said Chair Dr. Cara Hennings. “We have been able to significantly increase funding to our schools the last five years in a row, and it’s incredible to see what a difference that community investment makes for all of our children. I am very grateful, as a parent and local businessperson, to all who support MEF in any capacity.”
The financial commitment our schools need is made possible by both community investment and community leadership. Even if you don’t have children at Signal Mountain public schools, your support is still needed. Our families all interact and benefit from local children receiving a high-quality education. Our community is highly desirable largely because of the caliber of our schools, whether you use them or not. It’s no secret that good schools lead to higher property values, lower crime rates and an economic boost to the community.
MEF’s roots extend back more than 30 years when parents first organized to fill gaps in public funding for our schools and give our kids a top-notch education. In 2008, Signal Mountain finally became a community that provides K-12 education to its children with the opening of Signal Mountain Middle/High School (SMMHS), and multiple funding and support groups merged to form the Mountain Education Foundation as we know it today. While the structure has changed, the goal remains the same – to raise funds in support of peak performing schools on Signal Mountain.
Today, MEF is the private fundraising arm to support our community’s aim for educational excellence beyond what public funding provides. Donations to MEF currently fund fifteen staff positions at Nolan Elementary, Thrasher Elementary and SMMHS. These positions include reading interventionists, math interventionists, tutoring, Spanish teachers, STEM lab, and technology instruction. MEF also provides funds for ACT testing, technology equipment, college fair, teacher appreciation, student academic and enrichment activities, and more. Every year, principals and PTA/PTSA leadership make decisions about how to use the MEF funding (which is granted on a per-pupil basis) at their school. All of these resources are only possible because of people like you. With your investment, MEF enables Signal Mountain educators to go far beyond what a school can do with public funding alone.
