DeSoto County Education Foundation

06/16/2026

DHS Class of 2026... CAPS OFF! 🎓

We are proud to support DeSoto County High School's graduation each year by providing a professional photographer to capture this special milestone.

A big thank you to educator and photographer Kayla Patton for helping preserve these memories for our graduates and their families.

📸 View the complete graduation gallery here:
🔗 https://clickin-inthe-sticks.photoshelter.com/gallery/2026-Graduation/G00004oV16tX.8cI

Help us make sure everyone sees their photos by tagging a graduate or parent in the comments below! 💙

Congratulations again, Grads! 🎓
We can't wait to see what the future holds! ✨

06/12/2026

🤍 Celebrating Years of Service and Impact 🤍

One of the hardest parts of board service is saying goodbye to dedicated leaders who have given so much of their time, talent, and heart to our mission.

At our final board meeting of the fiscal year, we recognized three outgoing board members whose service has helped shape our Foundation.

A special thank you to Bill Hackney, a founding board member who has helped guide DCEF since its inception in 1997. For nearly three decades, Bill has generously shared his time, leadership, and expertise to help ensure the Foundation’s success and growth. His impact on our organization and community is immeasurable.

We also celebrated Heather Nedley, whose dedication to the Foundation spans more than 13 years. Heather has been a constant champion for education, always willing to lend her time, expertise, and support wherever needed. Her commitment to students, teachers, and our community has made a lasting difference, and we are incredibly grateful for all she has contributed.

We would also like to thank Ashley DeLuca for her contributions to the Board of Directors. Ashley jumped in with enthusiasm, supported our mission, and helped move the Foundation forward during an exciting season of growth. We are grateful for her dedication and the impact she made on the Foundation and those we serve.

Bill, Heather, and Ashley: thank you for believing in the power of public education and for investing your time in making opportunities possible for our students and educators. We are better because of your service.

Please help us thank them for their dedication and commitment to the DeSoto County Education Foundation. 🤍

06/11/2026

🔬 Hands-On Learning. Real Results.

Thanks to a DeSoto County Education Foundation Educator Grant, Mrs. Cespedes' 4th grade students at Memorial Elementary had the opportunity to explore science through hands-on lab stations and inquiry-based learning.

Students conducted experiments, made predictions, recorded observations, and worked collaboratively to deepen their understanding of science concepts.

The impact was clear: the percentage of students scoring 80% or higher on weekly science quizzes increased from 46% to 78%. 📈

Even more importantly, students gained confidence and enthusiasm for science.

💬 “I understand it better because I get to do it.”
💬 “Science is my favorite now.”
💡 Have an idea for your classroom? Applications for the 2026-2027 Fueling Innovation Educator Grant Program are open through August 29. Learn more and apply at desotoeducationfoundation.com/teachers/

DeSoto County Education Foundation’s Educator Grant Program is made possible through the State of Florida’s School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program and the generous local match from The Mosaic Company and Suncoast Credit Union.
Consortium of Florida Education Foundations

06/09/2026

Scholarship Night is one of our favorite traditions because it showcases the very best of DeSoto County... students working hard to achieve their goals and a community that believes in investing in their future.💙🎓

This year, local businesses, organizations, families, and individual donors came together to provide scholarships for members of the DeSoto High School Class of 2026. These scholarships represent more than financial support; they represent encouragement, opportunity, and the confidence of a community cheering our students on as they take their next steps.

To the donors who trusted us with administering and awarding your scholarships, thank you. We are honored to help connect your generosity with deserving students and to serve as a bridge between our community's investment and our students' futures.

📸 We're excited to share photos from the evening! If you see someone you know, tag them and help us celebrate the students, donors, presenters, and families who made Scholarship Night 2026 so special.

💙 Together, we build the future of DeSoto County.

06/04/2026

The DeSoto County Education Foundation is seeking a passionate, community-minded leader.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a growing organization dedicated to supporting students, empowering educators, building community partnerships, and strengthening public education throughout DeSoto County.

If you’re looking for meaningful work with purpose, influence, and plenty of variety, this may be the opportunity for you.

For more information and application details, visit desotoeducationfoundation.com.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them below or share this post to help us find the right person to lead the next chapter of our mission.

Our nonprofit fosters innovation and opportunity in DeSoto County, FL—offering educator grants, senior scholarships, and teacher recognition since 1997. Support brighter futures today.

06/04/2026

Today we wrapped up our final Board Meeting of the fiscal year! 🎉

As we reflected on the past year, one word kept coming to mind: growth.

Together, we’ve built incredible momentum through expanded programs, stronger partnerships, increased support for educators, and more opportunities for students across DeSoto County.

We are proud of what has been accomplished this year and even more excited about what lies ahead.

Thank you to our Board of Directors, donors, educators, volunteers, and community partners for helping move our mission forward.

Here’s to another year of making a difference for DeSoto County students and educators! 💙

06/01/2026

🚨 NOW OPEN! 🚨

The 2026–2027 Fueling Innovation Educator Grant Program is officially accepting applications!

The DeSoto County Education Foundation Educator Grant Program helps educators bring bold, creative ideas to life. Whether it's advancing literacy, exploring STEM, building student resiliency, supporting teacher growth, or creating engaging learning experiences, we want to help fund it!

💡 Up to $1,000 for Individual Teacher Grants
💡 Up to $5,000 for Grade-Level Grants
💡 Up to $10,000 for School-Wide Grants

📅 Application Window: June 1 – August 28

Great ideas deserve a chance to grow. These grants help educators move beyond “what if” and bring meaningful opportunities directly to students and classrooms across DeSoto County, creating innovative learning experiences that have impacted thousands of students over the years.

📲 Apply at: https://desotoeducationfoundation.com/teachers/

Need inspiration? Search to explore previously funded projects and see the impact these grants are making across our district.

💙 This grant program is funded through a partnership between the State of Florida's School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, administered by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, and generous local matching support from The Mosaic Company and Suncoast Credit Union.

05/24/2026

A small treat for those [pouring] into our schools all year long. ✨

Cheers to summer! 🥤

05/22/2026

Last night we had the honor of celebrating the DeSoto County High School Class of 2026 and awarding $76,000 in scholarships through the generosity of our amazing donors and community partners. 🎓

Each scholarship represents more than financial support. It’s encouragement, opportunity, and a community investing in the future of our students. 🤍

A heartfelt thank you to the scholarship donors who made these opportunities possible:

💙 5 From 85 Scholarship

💙 Anson G. & Bernice G. Raymond Jr. Scholarship

💙 Arcadia Literary Club Scholarship

💙 Arcadia Moose Lodge Scholarship

💙 Arcadia Police Department Waller/Field Scholarship

💙 Arcadia Rodeo Association William “G” Kayo Welles Memorial Scholarship

💙 Bobby & Barbara Mixon Scholarship

💙 Bodacious Memorial Scholarship

💙 Bucky Waldron Memorial Scholarship

💙 Carl McKettrick Memorial Scholarship

💙 Carol McQuay Memorial Scholarship

💙 DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

💙 DeSoto County Watermelon Association Scholarship

💙 DeSoto Math Scholarship

💙 DeSoto Republican Executive Committee Scholarship

💙 Dorothy Dubois (Bushell & A Peck) Memorial Scholarship

💙 Dr. Vaidy Nathan Family Trust

💙 Jill Adams Scholarship

💙 L & E Club Scholarship

💙 Leadership DeSoto Scholarship

💙 Mann Family Scholarship

💙 Robert Womack Sr. “Hard Work & Determination” Scholarship

💙 Robert Womack Jr. “Hard Work & Determination” Scholarship

💙 Suncoast Credit Union Scholars Scholarship

💙 Susie Brewer Memorial Scholarship
Congratulations, seniors! We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see what’s ahead. 🎓

✨ Professional photos from the evening coming soon!

05/21/2026

🌟 May RISE Above Award Winner 🌟

Help us celebrate our final RISE Above winner of the school year, Jenny Rivera, 1st Grade Teacher at West Elementary! ✨

Mrs. Rivera has made a meaningful impact on her students through her dedication, care, and commitment to helping young learners grow and thrive each day. Teachers like her remind us how much heart goes into shaping the lives of our students.

Congratulations, Mrs. Rivera, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

A special thank you to Live Oak RV Resort for sponsoring this month’s RISE Above award and helping us celebrate the incredible educators making a difference in our schools.

To our community... thank you for helping us spread love and encouragement to our teachers all year long. We cannot wait to continue growing this initiative and spread even more love next year! 💙

DeSoto County School District