Empowering Futures: Flagler County Education Foundation Programs
The Flagler County Education Foundation plays a pivotal role in supporting the educational landscape of Flagler County, Florida. Through a variety of programs, the foundation strives to enhance opportunities for students, remove barriers to achievement, and prepare them for future success. These initiatives range from providing scholarships and essential supplies to fostering career exploration and recognizing excellence.
Investing in Higher Education: Senior Scholarships
Paying for college or trade school can be financially daunting for families. The Flagler County Education Foundation actively works to alleviate this burden for graduating seniors. In 2021, despite the constraints of COVID-19 restrictions, the Foundation organized a "Drive & Surprise" event, with over 150 Flagler Schools staff and community members visiting recipients at their homes to award scholarships. The close-knit Flagler Community continues to support the development of our youth with their generosity. In 2025, more than 50 local businesses and organizations came together, awarding 175 scholarships totaling over $450,000 to seniors pursuing college and trade schools.
The 2024-2025 Senior Scholarship Program timeline emphasizes the importance of starting the application process early, with a deadline of January 20, 2025.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Take Stock in Children
Established in 1995, Take Stock in Children is a Florida non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for deserving low-income youth to escape poverty through education. Flagler County, with a significant percentage of students on free or reduced lunch (over 65%), recognizes the importance of this program. The Take Stock in Children program also received a large donation from Peter & Sue Freytag in 2017 and expands educational opportunities by removing obstacles that prevent student achievement. The generosity of donors like Peter & Sue Freytag has enabled the program to reach more students, with the goal of supporting 100 students achieved in the 2020-2021 school year.
The Flagler County Education Foundation's Take Stock in Children program has been consistently recognized for its effectiveness. In the 2023-2024 school year, 28 students graduated in May 2024. For the past two years at the state Take Stock in Children conference, the Flagler County Education Foundation has received an Excellence Award, being recognized as one of the best and most effective programs. The Peter & Sue Freytag Take Stock in Children program was awarded the Gold Level in Excellence Award again this year, but also received the Luminary Award for the 2022-23 year. Caitlin Peterson, a 2013 graduate of Matanzas High School and Take Stock In Children scholarship recipient, is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Media Production at Florida State University. She credits Take Stock with enabling her to strive for success and pursue her dream of becoming a filmmaker.
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Mentoring plays a crucial role in the Take Stock in Children program. Mentors provide guidance and support, helping students grow personally and academically. The Flagler County Education Foundation recognizes the profound impact mentors can have on a child's life.
Connecting Classrooms to Careers: Flagship Programs
The Flagler County Education Foundation actively supports Flagler County’s Classroom to Careers Flagship Programs. Each public school offers a unique Flagship Program, which allows students unique opportunities to discover paths that lead them from the classroom to career success. Recognizing that children will drive the future, these programs aim to prepare them for the workforce by providing relevant, hands-on learning experiences. These programs span a diverse range of fields, including:
- iRecs (innovation, robotics, engineering, and computer science): Sparking interest and curiosity in young students to prepare them for future career opportunities.
- Agriscience and green technologies: Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental solutions.
- Marine Science: Providing students with an understanding of marine ecosystems and related career paths.
- Medical science, health & fitness: Encouraging healthy lifestyles and preparing students for careers in the healthcare industry.
- STREAM (including robotics and everything revolving around STEM studies): Integrating science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and mathematics to foster innovation and problem-solving skills.
- Agronomy, engineering, and entrepreneurial leadership: Providing students with an understanding of agronomy, the use of plants and soil to produce healthier foods, extract energy from plant life, and manage the impact of agriculture on the earth. Engineering is the process by which products are developed, tested, modified, and improved over time.
- Engineering and applied robotics, outdoor sciences as well as business and computer science education: Providing students with skills in various fields.
- Technology, aerospace, fire leadership, medical, and teaching & learning: Exposing students to high-demand career fields and providing relevant training.
- Culinary arts, finance & corporate services, law & justice, and construction technology: Offering practical skills and knowledge for students interested in these vocational areas.
These Flagship programs demonstrate a commitment to providing well-rounded education and relevant areas of study to not only help our environment but advance science.
Providing Essential Resources: The S.T.U.F.F. Bus
The S.T.U.F.F. Bus, an acronym for Supplying Things U Find Fundamental, addresses the needs of students and families facing economic hardship by providing essential supplies and clothing. Supplies include, but are not limited to: new and gently used clothing, jackets, hygiene products, shoes, undergarments, and school supplies. The main goal is for students to focus solely on achieving their highest educational goals while they are with us here in Flagler Schools. Each year the Flagler County Education Foundation assists thousands of families through the S.T.U.F.F. Bus initiatives. This program seeks to nurture students' social, physical, emotional, and academic well-being by providing essentials to all students, ensuring they don't feel ashamed for needing assistance.
Since 2010, the S.T.U.F.F. Bus has served over 30,000 students and distributed thousands of pounds of clothing and supplies. The impact of this program is evident in the words of a recipient: "Life can change in the blink of an eye. I’m so thankful for the STUFF Bus and the 'giving' community that we live in. 'Thank you' feels inadequate for the help that we received this year. We are very grateful!"
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Given that Flagler County reported over 600 identified homeless children last year, and with close to 70% of all students on free or reduced lunch plans due to living below the poverty level, the S.T.U.F.F. Bus plays a vital role in the community. The program has implemented a teacher referral system to identify and serve more children, helping to alleviate absenteeism, reduce the challenges faced by transient students, and boost self-esteem. Studies have shown many students do not come to school because they do not have appropriate clothes, school supplies, or basic hygiene necessities, remove this barrier to their academic and emotional success at school and in the community. The S.T.U.F.F. Bus Supply Drive is launching soon, providing essential tools for local students to thrive.
Supporting the Foundation
The Flagler County Education Foundation relies on the support of the community to continue its valuable work. Donations are gratefully accepted and used to fund various programs and initiatives. The lists used to send you product and service offers are developed and managed under our traditional standards designed to safeguard the security and privacy of all personal information provided by our users. If you have made an error in making your donation or change your mind about contributing to our organization please contact us. Refunds are returned using the original method of payment. Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue to contribute to projects over time.
Volunteers are also essential to the success of the Foundation's programs. Individuals interested in volunteering with the S.T.U.F.F. Bus can download a volunteer application.
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