News Release                                                      

For Immediate Release                                                                

December 14, 2021

Foundation for Education Awards $1,436 for Local School Projects

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Inc. is awarding $1,436 this year to help fund two staff development projects at Grand Forks Public Schools using the Bjertness Staff Development Endowment.

In 2004, the Bjertness Staff Development Endowment was established in honor and memory of Echo Bjertness and Ben Bjertness. Echo and Ben were both long-time educators whose wish was to assist teachers in Grand Forks Public Schools in their growth as educators. The fund continues to grow thanks to monthly gifts from the Bjertness Estate (until June 2020). The income from the endowed fund shall be used to finance one or more annual grants to educators in Grand Forks Public Schools for the purpose of developing or improving their teaching skills.

• $840 to Julie Gause and all Grand Forks Public Schools elementary and middle schools for North Dakota Association for Gifted Children Memberships
• $596 to Morganne Plesha and Valley Middle School for her Continuing Education

For further information on the projects that were funded this fall, please contact Foundation Executive Director Emilia Hodgson at 701.787.4866 or ehodgson290@mygfschools.org.

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