The Newburyport Education Foundation is a non-profit organization created to offset the financial pressures put on the Newburyport School System. These pressures include rising operating costs because of government mandates, technology needs and rising special education costs.
The inequity between government funds and costs is a result of the per-pupil spending goal from the Education Reform Act of 1993 and rising school costs. Without help meeting these costs, the school system is reducing services. The Newburyport Educational Foundation’s main goal is to raise funds especially to finance programs that might not get money from the government.
We both do fundraising, but the NEF focus is typically a multi-year campaign with different goals. For example, our 2008-2010 Campaign focused on fundraising for technology upgrades/renewal, Literacy Closets for grades K-8, and Virtual High School and resulted in $600,000 in allocations to the Newburyport Public Schools. Learn more about the PTO on their website.
The Alumni Association does not raise money directly for the school. Membership fees support scholarships and the Alumni reception. Alumni of Newburyport High School who meet eight times per year, produce and distribute a bi-annual newsletter, host a high school teachers’ appreciation breakfast and award scholarships.
The mission of the Newburyport Education Foundation is to generate financial resources and community involvement to enhance education in the Newburyport Public Schools.
Formed to enhance educational opportunities for the city’s public school children, the goal of the Newburyport Education Foundation is to supplement funding for programs which are already supported by public financing at a basic level, but which can be substantially improved by additional private sector financing, and to finance programs that might not receive funding from traditional sources such as the district budget or state aid.
The NEF is governed by a Board of Directors made up of members of the community — including two students — working in concert with, but independent of, the Newburyport Public Schools.
The Board of Directors is accountable for designating how the funds raised through our campaigns and events are to be used for the benefit of Newburyport schools.
Carrie O’Donnell joined the Newburyport Education Foundation in March 2018 as the new Executive Director. Carrie brings 20+ years of marketing, corporate sponsorship and donor relations experience through previous roles as the Manager of Corporate Partnerships at the SeaFestival of Trees/Blue Ocean Music Hall and Marketing Manager at Verizon Wireless.
Barb Bailey, Teacher
Danielle Baptiste, Onto Innovation
Brian Callahan, Newburyport School Committee
Alissa Cough, Independent Marketing Consultant
Nick DeKanter, Former Newburyport School Committee Member
Kristine Enes, Amazon Web Services
Ray Felts, Google
Sean Gallagher, Superintendent, Newburyport Public Schools
Sam Hartford, Student, Newburyport High School
Lizzy Homer, Student, Newburyport High School
Gina Ikemoto, EdRD, Education Research and Development
Madeleine Jackman, Class of 2026 Representative
Cindy Johnson, Publishing Services
Lisa Langis, The Atlantic Group
David Marroncelli, Johnson O’Connor Feron & Carucci LLP, CPA
Matt McCann, Year Up
Allie Morris, Creative eLearning, LLC
Brian Nickerson, Teacher, Rupert A. Nock Middle School
Kasey Oreal, The MITRE Corporation
Deb Pare, Genworth Financial
Teresa Pastore, Parent
Kathleen Petrie, Teacher, Molin Upper Elementary School
Stephanie Phillips, College and Career Counselor, Newburyport High School
Kristin Spinney, Teacher, Bresnahan Elementary School
Rosemary Turgeon, Community Giving Tree
Andrea Weetman, The Atlantic Group
Andrew Wulf, Principal, Newburyport High School
President Kristine Enes, Amazon Web Services
Treasurer David Marroncelli, CPA, Johnson O’Connor Feron & Carucci LLP
Clerk Cindy Johnson, Publishing Services
Secretary Barb Bailey, Teacher
Allocations Cindy Johnson
Business Coalition Nick DeKanter
Donor Relations Rosemary Turgeon
Golf Tournament Scott Cuticchia and Mariana Lynch
Lighthouse Auction Nicole Nadeau and Kristine Enes
Development Matt McCann
Outreach & Communications Kristine Enes
The NEF provides resources for our public school students through our connections with all parts of our community.
The programs that the NEF offers to students wouldn’t be possible without the involvement and effort of parents. Below are links to opportunities that your child(ren) may be interested in, and opportunities for you to get involved as well. We appreciate all you do to help our students to get involved in their schools, community, and in building their skills and experiences for the future.
Students may also honor teachers who’ve made a difference through our Teacher Tribute program.
The NEF has built successful relationships with a variety of businesses throughout the community. Information about the NEF that business owners or representatives might find most useful can be found at the links below:
Our Mission
NEF Annual Reports & Financial Information
The Business Coalition and Partnership Grants
Sponsorship Opportunities
Ways to Donate
The NEF supports opportunities for faculty to engage students in activities to enhance their education, and build their skills for the future.
Faculty can be a reference for a student applying to serve on our Board of Directors.
Each Fall and Spring, faculty can apply for partnership grants to explore meaningful educational experiences that allow students to see how their skills apply to the world at large.