OUR MISSION

 

The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization founded to protect and advance quality education for the children of the Pacifica School District (PSD). PEF's mission is to ensure all the children of Pacifica receive a high-quality education in the arts, music and science by providing an equitable and enriching educational experience for all our students at all schools in the PSD.

 

HISTORY

 

PEF was founded in 2008 as a community-driven non-profit organization to support PSD.  In its initial year, PEF engaged many sectors of the community to raise $250,000 to launch the foundation.  Since then, the Foundation has raised over $130,000 per year from Patrons, Members, grants and events to cover the annual costs of PEF-funded programs. 

PEF's first funding initiatives were in 21st Century Education.  In 2008-2014, PEF funded the research, design and implementation of 21st Century Education programs and practices in every grade level in every school of the PSD.  The programs included the Kindernet and classroom iPads for the lower grades, Design Challenges and Innovation Lab field trips to the Children's Creativity Museum for 3rd graders; Math Explorations and Gearbots for 4th graders; and the immensely popular Slam Poetry unit for 5th graders.  Middle school students across the district were given Chromebooks, Algebrabots and other technology to learn aspects of architectural design/drafting, math and video documentary; they were also taught to use Google Docs and build e-portfolios of their best work.  In addition, PEF funded teacher training and coaching to integrate 21st Century skills into classroom practices.

In 2011, PEF began providing supplemental funding for the Middle School instrumental music program with the support of a committed group of parents, Music Matters in Pacifica (MMiP).  The funding sustains and enhances the PSD's middle school band program.

By Spring 2014, the 21st Century Education practices initiated with PEF funding had become so integral to the PSD's practices, that PSD no longer needed outside funding to support them.  This success meant that PEF could find new gaps in the PSD's funding to fill.  After careful consideration of PEF's mission and program criteria, strategic planning, research and  input gathering from teachers, parents and administrators, the PEF Board of Directors decided to support two new program areas that fit with both PEF's mission and the school district's priorities:  Elementary Music and Middle School Music.  PEF is currently funding music instruction for all Tk - 5th graders across the PSD.  PEF is also funding the development of a computer science curriculum and the purchase of equipment for grades 6-8 across the PSD.