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New board members for Lake Tahoe Education Foundation

Sarah Gonser

An infusion of energy is revitalizing the Lake Tahoe Education Foundation, said Del Laine, the board’s vice president.

The 10-year-old, nonprofit organization recently appointed Donna Barker, Sue Bartholomew, Kevin Cole, Manuel Jimenez and Craig Schorr to join the 20-member board.

“We welcome them and look forward to working with them,” said Anita Vieites, honorary board president. “They come to us from very different areas of expertise within the community. We are very appreciative of them devoting their time to the children of South Lake Tahoe.”



The Lake Tahoe Education Foundation was founded in 1989 to assist and improve the educational environment for students and teachers from kindergarten through high school. This was done through Quality Education grants, designed to support innovative educators by providing $1,000 grants, fellowships for students pursuing teaching careers, and honoring retiring outstanding teachers.

“Our purpose is to recognize educators that augment the typical educational experience and support student-teachers who which to remain in the district,” Laine said.



The foundation was the brainchild of Laine, Jessica Ledbetter and Barbara Koenig and was implemented by a 21-member board. The organization was first called the Anita Vieites Educational Foundation, a name which was soon changed to Lake Tahoe Education Foundation.

Funding for the grants and fellowships come both from private and corporate grants, gifts, donations, and proceeds from the annual Feb. 11 Sierra-at-Tahoe Merchant’s Day. With the new board members and a renewed commitment to the original goals of the foundation, Laine said change is in the air.

“I foresee an increase in the commitment to the existing programs,” she said. “As educational dollars from the state become more restricted, I see an even greater need for a foundation to support schools where funding is not readily available.”

Laine said a long-range goal for the foundation is support for local educators during their tenure in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, showing them some of the appreciation and support felt toward them by the community.

“I’ve had the benefit of a very good education. I feel that without quality education one is denied a lot of life’s opportunities,” said Laine, whose four children, and now grandchildren, have gone or are going through Lake Tahoe’s public school system. “How can one avoid a commitment to education?”

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