OUR HISTORY
Valley Alliance for Education (VAE) is a voluntary, non-profit, community organization that was formed in 1990 for the purpose of promoting public school education in Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro. VAE builds partnerships between educators and the business community to promote initiatives benefiting students in their classrooms.
VAE’s programs and projects are administered by a volunteer board of directors, whose members represent a diverse group of local businesses, professions, and industries, as well as school divisions and educators.
VAE’s primary focus is its Creative Classroom Grants program, which awards approximately 30 grants per year totaling $30,000 to area teachers to fund innovative educational initiatives. These Creative Classroom Grants have funded items like iPods, microscopes, composition software, books, games, and other educational tools that have touched thousands of students in our community.
VAE relies on corporate and individual donations to fund the annual Creative Classroom Grants. VAE also maintains an endowment through the Community Foundation; interest income through this account covers VAE’s part-time personnel and operating costs.
VAE also participates in a number of other notable educational initiatives:
- VAE members serve as mentors in school mentorship programs (founded by VAE), which provide valuable work experience and career opportunities for high school students.
- VAE provides $1,000 to the affiliated school of the Teachers of the Year for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro at its annual reception. These awards have been sponsored by nTelos Wireless Foundation.
- VAE members participate in the Community Foundation’s Dawbarn Awards selection committee. VAE chairs the Business Education Exchange Committee, which partners with business leaders in the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce on educational initiatives.