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Excellence in Education Foundation highlights grants, Chromebook campaign and Tahoe Outdoor School support
Summary
Anna Yarbrough, the new executive director of the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation, outlined the group’s grant programs, recent Chromebook campaign during the pandemic, a $15,000 router for Truckee High’s router-based class, and a $100,000 contribution toward bunk beds for the Tahoe Outdoor School.
Anna Yarbrough, executive director of the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation (often referred to in remarks as “Excellence in Education” or AccentEd), told the Truckee Chamber she aims to continue and expand the foundation’s support for teachers, students and districtwide initiatives.
Yarbrough said the foundation invests “over $250,000 annually” in classroom grants, teacher awards and student scholarships across the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, which serves more than 4,000 students. She described the foundation’s model of listening to teachers and funding needs identified at the school level.
She gave examples of recent support: a router for Truckee High School’s “gong boarding” class (an applied design class for skis, snowboards and paddleboards) that cost more than $15,000 and will increase class capacity; climate‑action kits for sixth graders; and a $100,000 grant for bunk beds and mattresses for the Tahoe Outdoor School outdoor‑education facility being developed at the former Ride Out school site in Kings Beach.
Yarbrough reviewed the foundation’s pandemic work, noting it led a campaign that raised funds to provide Chromebooks to every student in the district during distance learning. She said that campaign was completed in one month and described it as an example of the foundation filling gaps that district budgets could not immediately cover.
Looking ahead, Yarbrough said the foundation expects increased needs if federal and state education funding tightens. She specifically cited a 10% cut in career and technical education funding tied to reductions in the Perkins grant and said AccentEd will pursue additional grants and community partnerships to mitigate funding shortfalls.
Yarbrough asked for community input and pledged to increase the foundation’s visibility and fundraising to continue districtwide support.
