Because adults need recess, too—and when Montclair comes together, everyone wins. The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence is staging another town-wide event to build community and support our public schools. This spring’s fundraiser – “Minute to Win It” – promises an evening of fast-paced party games and friendly competition, all in support of the 6,000 students who attend Montclair Public Schools.   The event will take place on Thursday, May 28, from 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

How do you get students excited about reading? Make it an event.  That’s what Bradford Elementary School second grade teachers  Jessica Michaud and Kristen Freeh  are doing with their weekly book chats, supported by a grant from the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence.  Each week, parent or community volunteers come into their classrooms and read aloud with students in a small-group setting. Kids get to dig into context clues, learn new vocabulary words, and build readi

Sixteen  Montclair Public School teachers and one counselor will each be awarded $2,000 MFEE Board Member LeAnne Korbel presents the 2025 Inspired Counseling Award to MHS counselor Chanda D. Fields. Photo: Erik Ekroth for MFEE. The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence is calling for nominations for the 2026 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching!  Now administered by MFEE, the awards were established by Josh and Judy Weston  in 1991 to acknowledge and celebrate Montcla

As part of our 2025-26 Annual Appeal , the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence is asking members of our community to reflect on how the Montclair Public Schools helped shape the people they've become. We asked them to complete this sentence: "Montclair makes us ____.” Check out the below spotlights, and donate to ensure that ALL Montclair students have a strong foundation from which to grow. Montclair Makes Us Hopeful & Proud "'A Mountie born, a Mountie bred, and when

An innovative project that unites architecture, printmaking, and civics is among the first educator grants awarded by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence for the 2025-26 school year. The interdisciplinary project, dreamed up by Buzz Aldrin Middle School art teacher Deborah Guzman Meyer , in collaboration with social studies teacher Jessica Eden-Mintz , will help more than 120 middle school students engage deeply with the Bill of Rights and the Amendments to the U.S

Hillside elementary school science teacher Susan Bartol first saw “ Observe r” at a national convention for science educators in Philadelphia last year.   The film focuses on the power of observation, how scientists and artists look differently at the world, and how paying attention can spark discovery and reframe knowledge and understanding. “To be an observer, you must find your portal into the wonders of the world. There is a universe everywhere you turn,” the film's trail

The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence is thrilled to announce that Sarah Hudson-Plush  is joining MFEE this January as Deputy Director, overseeing day-to-day operations and working closely with the Executive Director to drive strategic growth.  Having served on the MFEE Board of Trustees for seven years, Hudson-Plush is deeply familiar with MFEE’s work to nurture teachers and promote equity and classroom innovation across the Montclair Public Schools. She has served a

MHS 10th grade English students with new books provided by an MFEE grant. When Katelynn Costello and  Elizabeth Voltman , teachers at Montclair High School, wanted to incorporate more Indigenous women’s voices into their classroom, they turned to the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence for support.  MFEE awarded them an Educational Excellence grant  – the first of the 2025-26 cycle – to purchase new books for the English 10 curriculum. The teachers told MFEE they hope t

It was another record year for Sabor Montclair ! Thanks to our generous community, we raised more than $45,000! These critical funds allow us to continue our work, including programs that serve 200 multilingual students who attend Montclair Public Schools. We sold 279 meals, including 40 that were donated to Toni's Kitchen. A special thanks to our sponsors: * Matthew and Lisa Russman * Ray Vars and Masiel Rodriquez-Vars * Jennifer Odell and Robert Nossa * Jennifer Caldarella

2025 Peer Inspiration Award Winner This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week to learn more about the impact these educators are making in the Montclair Public Schools. +++ The Peer Inspiration Award is unique in that it is based on nominations from colleagues. Those who nominated Watchung Elementary School's Brittany Kramer for this honor see first-hand the impact that she has on ev

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week to learn more about the impact these educators are making in the Montclair Public Schools. +++ Montclair High School counselor Chanda D. Fields believes in her students.  She believes in their ability to persevere.  She believes in their potential to succeed.  And, most importantly, she never gives up on them, even in the face of incredibly

Masiel Rodriquez-Vars celebrates 10 years of leadership with MFEE staff. October marks an important milestone for the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence: Masiel Rodriquez-Vars  is celebrating 10 years as executive director!  Founded almost 35 years ago as a non-profit dedicated to supporting public schools in Montclair, MFEE has grown significantly in the past decade. Under Rodriquez-Vars’ leadership, the organization has piloted programming for students and teachers,

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week...

It's time to celebrate  Sabor Montclair!  MFEE asked students at Northeast and Edgemont elementary schools: "What's at your family...

+ This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week...

. This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week...

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week...

Reserve a delicious takeout dinner and support public education Reserve your meal today! Join the Montclair Fund for Educational...

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week...

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners  of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week...