Excellence in Education - Charleston, IL

05/22/2026

05/13/2026

Congratulations to this year’s grant recipients! 🎉

We loved celebrating these innovative ideas at this year’s banquet and are excited to see the impact they will have on our students and schools.

Thank you to all who submitted applications and to the administrators who continue to support and encourage these efforts! 🍎✨

04/25/2026

The Excellence in Education Foundation is proud to carry forward the legacies of incredible educators in our district through scholarships and educational trusts. 💙

📚 Many students still benefit from the generosity of beloved librarian Penny Price Rinefort, whose trust provides books for our elementary schools each year.

🎓 We also manage the Leslee McGinness Scholarship, honoring a dedicated CHS teacher who inspired generations. This scholarship supports students pursuing careers in Communication, Education, Journalism, or English.

We’re honored to help these legacies live on.

The McGinness Scholarship will be awarded at the CHS Awards Ceremony on May 12th.

04/18/2026

📢 Update from the Excellence in Education Foundation! 🎉

Each year, the Excellence in Education Foundation proudly awards $25,000–$30,000 in grants to teachers and administrators within the CUSD #1 school district. These grants support innovative, creative, and enriching classroom environments, while expanding educational opportunities for students beyond what can be funded through the regular school budget.

The 2025–2026 grant cycle has come to a conclusion! We were so excited to the many innovative and inspiring ideas our educators submitted.🍎✏️

We can’t wait to celebrate these outstanding projects and the people behind them at our upcoming banquet in May! 💙

Thank you to everyone who applied and continues to make a difference for CUSD #1 students!

04/11/2026

🌟 What is the Excellence in Education Foundation? 📚✨

Did you know that the Excellence in Education Foundation (EEF) has been supporting education in our community since 1993?

EEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, originally made possible through a generous gift from Consolidated Communications. 💙

While EEF works to enhance educational opportunities, it is completely separate from the Charleston Unit School District and is guided by its own dedicated Board of Directors.

🎯 Our Mission:
Enhancing Educational Opportunities for Students by Supporting Creative Options for Teachers

Their goal is simple but powerful—to make a meaningful difference in education and help students and teachers thrive! 🍎📖

Stay tuned to learn more about how EEF is impacting our schools! 🙌

02/27/2026

CUSD1 teachers, the clock is ticking! ⏰ Grant applications are due at the District Office by March 2nd. Have a great idea? Let us help you make it happen! Charleston CUSD 1

02/21/2026

Visual aids make a powerful difference in our schools! Posters in the hallways have evolved far beyond poster board and markers. With creative online tools like Canva, sharing information can be both easy and beautiful. However, printing those designs can be costly and time-consuming.

Thanks to Mary Ann Crome, Media Specialist at CMS, who applied for and received a grant for a poster printer, staff and students can now create eye-catching posters for classrooms, activities, and events—all while reducing outside printing costs.

We’re excited to partner with CMS and all of ou@charlestoncusd1 schools. Thank you, Ms. Crome, for always thinking outside the box!

02/14/2026

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” 🤔
At CMS, CTE teacher Kim Sherwood helps students explore that question through hands-on learning. Students partner with Mark Twain Elementary and local businesses like the Micro Market to gain real-world experience—from teaching others to running a small business.

These experiences help students make confident choices about their future. EEF is grateful to support this work and thankful for Ms. Sherwood and her community partners!