Clay Education Foundation

06/02/2026

Thanks to the generosity of National Gypsum Company, we were able to award several STEM grants this year. Mr. Nelson's classes at Oakleaf Junior High School took a deep dive into science and engineering by using digital CAD tools to design intricate, multi-colored 3D models of plant cells, animal cells, and atoms, and then brought those exact concepts to life using 3D printers.

"I learned that it was super hard to make a 3D model, and it took a lot of work. But I also learned so much more about the model of a plant cell." – Kylie

Thank you, for supporting this learning opportunity!

06/01/2026

It's that time again, Clay County! School is OUT, and it's time to stock the shelves of Tools for Schools!

If you'd like to hold a supply drive at your business, church, etc, please fill out the form by scanning the QR code.

Save the date- we'll be stuffing the bus with school supplies with First Coast News again this year on July 31st at the Staples in Orange Park!

05/28/2026

Fifth-grade science students at Orange Park Elementary School got their glow on while reviewing important science concepts during Ms. Geeser's “Science That Glows and Grows Confidence” Grants for Great Ideas project. Ms. Geeser said, "The glow activities brought so much excitement and energy into our classroom while also helping students build confidence, teamwork, and a love for science."

Thanks to Community First Cares Foundation and Consortium of Florida Education Foundations School District Matching Grant Program for investing in our students and helping make science come alive!

05/26/2026

This school year, your plate purchases helped fund 40 classroom STEM and literacy grants, supplied almost 800 classrooms with school supplies, and supported 12+ college readiness and financial literacy events!

05/22/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Your hard work, perseverance, and dedication have paid off. The future is yours to shape; make it amazing!
Thank you to all CCDS teachers, staff, and parents for your support and guidance to our graduates.

05/22/2026

Ms. Oddy's classes at Coppergate Elementary used their Grants for Great Ideas materials to restore the school's butterfly garden and install a weather station! Thank you to Community First Cares Foundation and Consortium of Florida Education Foundations School District Matching Grant Program; this opportunity was made possible with your support!

05/20/2026

Hey teachers!
As you pack up your classrooms and get ready for summer, don't forget that Tools for Schools will take any extra classroom supplies off your hands! These are especially useful for the brand-new teachers who will be stocking their classrooms with us in July.
You can drop items off at the Tools for Schools store throughout the summer. Send us a message if you have any questions!

05/18/2026

Thank you, Clay Today Newspaper!

CLAY COUNTY – Even as the school year comes to an end, the work by the Clay Education Foundation continues.     While students head into summer, we are ramping up efforts to …

05/18/2026

Thanks to the generosity of National Gypsum, we were able to fund several innovative new STEM projects this year.
Ms. Grimm's Early Childhood Education classes at Fleming Island High School designed and managed a Junior STEM lab. High school students gained real-world experience in product design and educational engineering. At the same time, the pre-school students received early, high-quality exposure to physics, fluid dynamics, biology, meteorology, and spatial geometry through hands-on play. This project was truly a win for all of the students involved!

05/15/2026

Grants for Great Ideas in action!
Check out Ms. Marsh's learners at Shadowlawn Elementary School! They've been studying the Wonderful World of Water. So far, they've tested absorption and surface tension, along with how different soils affect the permeability of water. The highlight of the study has been building the crazy tube contraptions to pump water!
Hands-on learning opportunities like this are possible through support from Community First Cares Foundation and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations School District Matching Grant Program.