Sarah Marie Jette, fourth-grade Thompson teacher and grant recipient, demonstrates loom.

The Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) has raised more than $20,000 this fall for the public schools, the organization has announced following its annual fund-raiser.

Nearly 100 friends and supporters gathered for the Dec. 3 event.

Dr. Laura Chesson, Arlington’s new assistant superintendent, dazzled the audience with a multimedia presentation that showcased some recent innovation grants from AEF.  These initiatives paved the way for Chesson’s long-term vision for using technology to enhance the district’s curriculum.

Judith Packer, Ottoson eighth-grade English teacher, expressed how she was humbled last year when she received the foundation’s annual Ottoson STARS Teacher of the Year award.

Three AEF grant recipients described their grants to attendees.

Sara Marie Jette, fourth-grade Thompson teacher, demonstrated the Japanese SAORI handloom that second-, third- and fourth-grade teachers and students at Thompson/Hardy use to enliven the Japanese, early American history and Industrial Revolution social studies curriculums. 

Patrick Greeley, an Ottoson teacher and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) adviser, as well as parent adviser Ana Watson shared the GSA's accomplishments as one of the first middle-school GSAs in Massachusetts.

Peirce Principal Karen Hartley and teacher Christina Perkoski from that elementary school discussed the school’s Mining Think Tank program, which helps teachers provide differentiated math instruction.

AEF is grateful to Arlington's school administration, School Committee, Board of Selectmen and state representatives for their ongoing support.

AEF’s Board of Directors are, from left, Rebecca Steintz, Jane Biondi, Jennifer Lewis Forbes, Annie LaCourt, Marie Meteer, Lauren Jourdahl, Anita Cristina Calcaterra, Julie Lucey, Amy Speare, Julie Dunn, Kris Wilcox, Kirsi Allison-Ampe.

The foundation also thanks Fusion Taste, Swifty Printing and Liz Buchanan for supporting the annual event.

Solely through the help of community donations, AEF works to support and advance public education in Arlington.

AEF funds systemwide initiatives and creative new projects to enhance the educational experiences of Arlington’s teachers and students.  AEF has two active fundraising campaigns at the moment:  their annual fall appeal and their STARS teacher appreciation program that enables parents and students to recognize star teachers through a donation to the foundation.

For more information or to donate, visit www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org.

This story was published Monday, Dec. 10, 2012.