Dare Education Foundation

09/04/2026

Congratulations to Dare County Schools on an incredible year of academic growth! 🎉👏

We’re proud to celebrate the incredible academic progress happening across Dare County and the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff. Way to go, Dare County Schools! 💙

09/01/2026

What’s new at DEF? Come find out! 👋

We’re inviting the community to join us for one of our three Community Update Events this September! Stop by, grab a bite, and chat with us about what’s happening at the Dare Education Foundation.

Learn more on how we support Dare County students & teachers, our upcoming teacher housing expansion, new grant opportunities, and our 25th Anniversary Gala! 🎉

📅 Check out the flyer for dates, times, and locations. Come hang out and learn more about DEF! We'd love to see you there 💙

08/25/2026

🚌✏️ We had so much fun at the “Stuff the Bus” event at Staples last week!

In partnership with Outer Banks Health, Dominion Energy, and Dare County Schools, we were able to help collect school supplies that will be distributed to Dare County students throughout the school year. 💙

A big thank-you to everyone who donated and helped make this event a success! We’re so grateful for a community that continues to show up for our students. 📚🎒

08/24/2026

We hope everyone had a great first day of school! 🍎📚 We’re looking forward to another great year of supporting the teachers and students of Dare County Schools. 💙

And a quick reminder: all of our grant cycles are now open! 🎉 Be sure to visit our website for details and to apply.

08/20/2026

It was a great day at Dare County Schools’ Convocation and we were excited to join teachers and staff on August 18 at First Flight High School! 🎉

📣 Our Executive Director, Ben Sproul, announced that all grant cycles are now open, including two new opportunities this year: a Supplemental Grant and a Whole-School Grant! We can’t wait to see the creative ways these grants support our schools and educators. 💙

And, of course, everyone’s favorite part: the raffle! 😉 We gave away 10 gift cards, and we couldn’t have done it without our generous board members who provided cards from local businesses (B***y Treats, Noosa Beach Grille, Vicki B’s, Target, Barrier Island Bagels, and Walmart)!

Special thanks to the ladies of Delta Kappa Gamma for donating all of the awesome school supplies! ❤️

Thank you for helping us celebrate and support Dare County Schools! We’re looking forward to another great year. 🍎📚

08/13/2026

Welcome back, teachers! We've got some GREAT news! 📣

Today is the first teacher workday, and we’re kicking off the new school year with ALL of our grant cycles officially OPEN! 🎉

This year, we’re offering more ways than ever to support the incredible work happening in our schools:

📚 Instructional Grants — funding for classroom instruction and resources
✨NEW! Whole-School Grants — funding that benefits your ENTIRE school
✨NEW! Supplemental Education Grants — funding for opportunities like field trips, academic competitions, clubs, guest speakers, and MORE!
🎓 Professional Development & Course Tuition Reimbursements — support for your continued growth

Have an idea that could make a difference for your students, classroom, or school? We may be able to help make it happen.

👉 Applications are open today! Visit dareeducationfoundation.org to learn more and apply!

We’re excited to partner with you for another amazing school year! 💙

08/10/2026

DEF’s very own Board Vice-Chair Kip Tabb will be at Buxton Village Books on Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 11-1 signing copies of his book “Finding the OBX.”

Stop by to meet Kip, get your copy signed, and learn more fascinating history of the Outer Banks! 🩵

Author Kip Tabb book signing at Buxton Village Books
https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2026/08/06/author-kip-tabb-book-signing-at-buxton-village-books/
Buxton Village Books
47918 Highway 12, Buxton Landing, Buxton
Wednesday, August 12, 11 a.m. -1 p.m
Author Kip Tabb will be at Buxton Village Books, Inc on Wednesday, Aug. 12, signing, from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. signing his treasure trove of uncovered stories, “Finding The OBX,” which includes each of the OBX’s four lighthouses — and another that no longer exists — as well as the story of legendary lighthouse builder Dexter Stetson. Plus many others. Stop by and get this fascinating book!

07/30/2026

Dare County has some incredibly talented art teachers, and now you can see their creativity at Beyond the Lesson Plan, an exhibit featuring original paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, digital art, and more! 🎨

The exhibition runs July 28–Aug. 28 at Glenn Eure Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head 💙

Our talented art educators inspire creativity in students each school day. Now it is their turn to share their own artwork and talents with the community!

Make plans to attend "Beyond the Lesson Plan," an exhibition featuring original works by Dare County Schools art teachers. The exhibit showcases a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media and digital art.

📅 Exhibition: July 28–Aug. 28 | Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10-4, Friday 11-4
🎉 Opening Reception: Aug. 2 | 2–4 p.m.
📍 Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery, Nags Head

We hope you'll stop by to support these incredible educators and experience the creativity they bring both inside and outside the classroom! Learn more at: https://www.daretolearn.org/our-schools/home-header-update-23/new-page/~board/district-wide-posts/post/art-educators-exhibition-coming-to-ghost-fleet-gallery

07/22/2026

Thanks to Outer Banks Life for sharing this exciting news! We’re excited for this opportunity to keep supporting our teachers through affordable housing, and so grateful for the support of our community partnerships. 💙

In a historic milestone for local education, the Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $1.15 million capital commitment to help fund the expansion of the Dare Education Foundation’s (DEF) 12-unit teacher housing development at Run Hill Ridge in Kill Devil Hills. This landmark c...

07/16/2026

The Dare Education Foundation has reached a major milestone in its mission to support local educators with workforce housing.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a historic $1.15 million capital investment to help expand DEF's teacher housing community at Run Hill Ridge, adding 12 new apartments and increasing the Foundation's housing inventory from 36 to 48 units.

Combined with financing and a generous gift from TowneBank, the project represents a powerful public-private partnership that will strengthen teacher recruitment and retention across Dare County. 💙

Construction is expected to begin soon, with completion anticipated in less than 18 months. Read the full press release below for additional details.👇

Kristi Fellenstein 7/9/26 Kristi Fellenstein 7/9/26 Historic Win for Dare County Educators The Dare Education Foundation has reached a major milestone in its mission to support local educators with affordable housing. The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a historic $1.15 milli...