A Vision for Education. A Legacy of Impact.
How a Vision for Nassau County Classrooms Became a Community-Wide Foundation
The Nassau Education Foundation began with a simple idea: give educators more opportunities to bring creative, meaningful learning experiences into their classrooms. What started as a vision inspired by other education foundations across Florida has grown into a countywide organization connecting educators, students, businesses, and community members around a shared commitment to public education.
How It All Began
Investing in Teachers and Their Ideas
“Over time, it became evident to us that there was a need here in Nassau County.”
Nassau Education Foundation founder Abby Bean was already deeply involved in supporting education through the Fernandina Beach High School Foundation when she began noticing something during frequent trips around Florida.
A visit to an education foundation event in South Florida helped turn that idea into action. After seeing firsthand how a community could rally behind its educators and schools, the Beans began establishing a similar organization at home. Planning began during the summer of 2014, and by January 2015, the Nassau Education Foundation was officially underway. From the beginning, the Foundation brought together business, education, and community leaders from throughout Nassau County who shared a belief that investing in teachers and students benefits the entire community.
Investing in Teachers and Their Ideas
“Our teachers want to do more in the classroom and the funds provided to them from our foundation allow them to be creative. The books and training materials are the meat and potatoes. We want to give them the gravy.”
One of the Foundation’s earliest priorities was creating opportunities for educators to receive funding for projects that might otherwise fall outside traditional school budgets.
Abby Bean’s experience with the Fernandina Beach High School Foundation influenced the classroom grant model. She saw what teachers could accomplish with additional resources and wanted to expand that opportunity to educators throughout Nassau County.
That philosophy remains central to NEF’s mission: supporting educators so they can create experiences that engage, challenge, and inspire their students.
Creativity in the Classroom From the Very Beginning
During NEF’s first year, funding supported educational opportunities ranging from elementary classrooms through adult and career education.
Early projects demonstrated just how varied classroom innovation could be.
Educators used Foundation support for initiatives such as BrainPOP educational software, which helped students explore subjects including art, health, and STEM; equipment and tools for students participating in Certified Nursing Assistant programs; and an international art exchange connecting students at Callahan Middle School with students in a South American village.
These projects were different in subject and scope, but they shared a common purpose: giving teachers additional ways to make learning meaningful.
That spirit of creativity remains at the heart of NEF today.
Celebrating Outstanding Educators
Supporting educators means more than funding classroom projects. It also means recognizing the people who dedicate their careers to helping students succeed. Each year, the Nassau Education Foundation brings educators and community supporters together for its annual Teacher of the Year Gala.
The celebration recognizes Nassau County’s Teacher of the Year, finalists, and outstanding educators while providing teachers and school staff with an evening dedicated to celebrating their contributions. The event also serves as an important fundraiser, helping generate resources to reinvest in classrooms throughout Nassau County. Florida’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes educators who demonstrate an exceptional ability to inspire learning among students from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. NEF is proud to help Nassau County celebrate the teachers who represent that commitment every day.
Listening to Educators
“We need to be responsive to what the teachers want.”
From its earliest days, the Foundation recognized that teachers are often best positioned to identify what will make a difference for their students.
Through classroom grants and other initiatives, NEF continues working to help educators turn ideas into opportunities for students. Community donations, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and other funding sources allow the Foundation to extend that support throughout the Nassau County School District.
A New Chapter
Susan DeVane became Executive Director in 2023, she stepped into a strong foundation built around supporting teachers, recognizing educators and expanding opportunities for students throughout Nassau County.
Under Susan’s leadership, the Nassau Education Foundation continues to strengthen community partnerships, grow support for public education, and build on the vision that inspired the organization from the beginning. Today, Susan helps guide NEF forward with a continued focus on supporting educators, empowering students, and strengthening Nassau County schools.
From an Idea to a Countywide Impact
What began in 2014 as a conversation about what might be possible has grown into an organization dedicated to serving educators and students across Nassau County.
Every classroom grant funded, every teacher recognized, every student opportunity created, and every community partnership formed adds another chapter to that story. And the story continues because businesses, families, educators, and community members believe that strong schools help build a stronger Nassau County.
Supporting Educators. Empowering Students. Strengthening Nassau County.
The Nassau Education Foundation continues working alongside our community to help teachers bring ideas to life and create opportunities that can make a lasting difference for students.