After 13 successful years as Executive Director of the Brookline Education Foundation, Skye Kramer has announced her resignation, effective June 2010. As leader of the BEF, Skye has overseen a tremendous growth in both fundraising and grantmaking. This fundraising success has enabled the BEF to expand its programs to support excellence and innovation in the Public Schools of Brookline.
As one of the first local education foundations in the country, the BEF sets the standard for community support of public education, a concept that was just beginning to take hold when Skye took over in 1997. In 2004, Skye oversaw the addition of grants that promote cooperative efforts across disciplines, across grade levels, and among schools. These collaborative grants complement the signature professional development grants that enable educators to identify and pursue opportunities that will have the greatest impact on their practice, the lives of their students, and on their school communities.
Skye’s commitment to the students and families of Brookline is reflected in the BEF’s support of author visits to the schools, yearly visits to each 3rd grade classroom by the New England Aquarium, and the annual Sciencefest. She has earned the respect of Brookline’s educators with her emphasis on best practices, her focus on innovative teaching initiatives, and her view of teachers as lifelong learners.
Clearly, the admiration is reciprocal. Skye asserts, “I have worked with some of Brookline’s finest community and school leaders, from whom I have learned a great deal. It has been a privilege and an honor for me to serve my community and I am extremely proud of the work that we have done for our teachers, our students, and our schools.”
BEF Board President Ken Maloney states, “If you think about how many donors, Board members and school district professionals have contributed to the success of the Brookline Education Foundation over the past thirteen years, you begin to realize what an enormous leadership challenge this has presented. Skye has met that challenge year in and year out with professionalism and grace. Her work has ensured an enduring and successful future for the Brookline Education Foundation. As we prepare to celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2011, we thank Skye for her enormous contributions.”
While Skye’s wisdom, energy and creative force will be greatly missed, the Brookline Education Foundation is well positioned to continue its mission of enhancing the quality of education provided by the Brookline Public Schools.
Kathleen Sheehy, BEF's Assistant Director for the last six years, will become Executive Director on July 1.
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