The Endowment for Excellence in Education was begun in 1986 as the vision of School Board member Dean Provence. Provence, a New Albany native, was an active volunteer in both school and community activities. Through his volunteer efforts, he recognized the need for additional funding in the schools for projects and classroom materials, and was instrumental in establishing the endowment fund. Following his death, the locally supported endowment fund was renamed in memory of Provence and has continued to provide needed funding to classrooms in the New Albany Schools for more than twenty years. Since 1986, the Endowment has provided approximately $327,000 in support to the NASD.
The endowment is funded through individual and corporate contributions and fundraising events sponsored by the Endowment Board.
Contributions to the Dean Provence Endowment for Excellence in Education are accepted throughout the year and may be mailed to:
New Albany School District
Attention: Melanie Anderson
1112 Wesson Tate Drive
New Albany, MS 38652
Click here to make your donation online.
Dean Provence Endowment Grant Winners Announced
The Dean Provence Endowment for Excellence in Education Board has announced the allocation of funds totaling more than $13,000 to teachers in the New Albany School District (NASD). In an effort to maximize the effectiveness of the awards, this year grants were directed to New Albany Middle School, New Albany High School and the New Albany South Tippah Union County Behavioral Management Center. Endowment funding will be used for equipment and materials in the classroom that are not typically covered by the school budget.
The Endowment for Excellence in Education was begun in 1986 as the vision of School Board member Dean Provence. Provence, a New Albany native, was an active volunteer in both school and community activities. Through his volunteer efforts, he recognized the need for additional funding in the schools for projects and classroom materials, and was instrumental in establishing the endowment fund. Following his death, the locally supported endowment fund was renamed in memory of Provence and has continued to provide needed funding to classrooms in the New Albany Schools for more than thirty years. Since 1986, the Endowment has provided approximately $400,000 in support to the NASD.
The endowment is funded through individual and corporate contributions and fundraising events sponsored by the Endowment Board. Contributions to the Dean Provence Endowment for Excellence in Education are accepted throughout the year and may be mailed to New Albany Schools, Attention: Melanie Anderson, 301 Hwy. 15 North, New Albany, MS 38652.
Project – Applicant – School – Amount Awarded
Clay Station (Art), Teri Watson, New Albany Middle School, $6,388.39
Calculating for Success (Math), Sandra Pannell, New Albany High School, $3,906.85
Alternative Seating, Tonya Chapin, NASTUC, $787.50
Visual Aids & Posters, Collin Stubblefield, NASTUC, $291.00
Mini Science Lab, Jake McDonald, NASTUC, $61.95
Sphero Robots/Coding, Matthew Peterson, NASTUC, $1,233.63
Greenhouse Kit, Tammy Almand, NASTUC, $507.21
Teachers Receive Scholarships Through Endowment
A new scholarship for certified teachers in the New Albany School District has been created through the Dean Provence Endowment for Excellence in Education.
These funds are made possible through the Tri State Educational Foundation at the request of Tri State Educational Foundation President, Dr. Bob Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson, who was a dear friend to Dean Provence, has a passion for his New Albany hometown and especially education. He wants to see the faculty of the New Albany School District prosper by allowing them to further their education.
The competitive scholarships were awarded to teachers who are seeking to grow professionally and are in pursuit of a graduate level degree during the Fall 2021 semester.
NASD teachers who received scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year are: Beth Matlock, a dyslexia therapist at New Albany Elementary School; Shanna Campbell, a fifth grade science teacher at New Albany Elementary School; and Jessie Carman, a English Language Arts teacher at New Albany Middle School.
Pictured l-r: Dr. Bob Ferguson, Sylvia Ferguson, Jessie Carman, Beth Matlock, Grace Provence, Eli Whiteside (President of Endowment Board). Not pictured: Shanna Campbell.
