Executive Director
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Aimee West
Aimee West has joined forces with the Anderson Education Foundation and Anderson Community Schools in full support of public education and the opportunities they afford to students, families and educators of Anderson and beyond. West is a former public educator, having worked with at-risk K-12 students, and more recently served communities in Madison County and greater East Central Indiana as Executive Director of Cancer Services of East Central Indiana, (now "Little Red Door Cancer Agency".) She has worked as a community planner and neighborhood organizer in Muncie and has volunteered as a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) for children. She currently serves as Vice President of Family Alliance, an organization which provides wrap-around support to families of single parents as they pursue educational attainment success, whatever that looks like to them. West's educational background is in Psychology and Educational Psychology and she is an alumna of Ball State University. West is a Midwest writer/visual storyteller in her day to day life, has 4 children, and her husband Dr. John West is a Professor of Urban Planning at Ball State University. |
Board of Directors
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Jessica Carson-Bannon
Board President RN, Community Hospital “I have served the Anderson Education Foundation (AEF) for eight years. I am currently the AEF board president and have served this not-for-profit in various other roles throughout the years. I am an alumni from Highland High School and honored to serve on the AEF board of directors, which serves as a conduit for the students and teachers of ACS. From grants and scholarships to the classroom closet and Hall of Fame, the AEF is dedicated in making a positive impact in our community. We value the dedication and commitment that our teachers and students show each and every day. I love being a part of the ACS community through AEF. Providing opportunities through funding makes a difference in education. AEF works hard to make sure our ACS community has the tools they need to succeed. I love that AEF is a part of the unique and exciting things happening within the classroom. I love celebrating ACS alumni and their successes. I love being a small part of large community. With additional support and funding, the sky is the limit for AEF! |
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Candy Short
Vice President Retired Educator "As a former Anderson Community Schools' graduate and teacher, I was happy to join the Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2018. I appreciate the community partnerships and donors involved with the Foundation. I am proud to serve on a board which gives grants to teachers, recognizes academic achievement, awards scholarships, and celebrates alumni. I have served as secretary, Hall of Fame chair, and currently vice president. " |
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Ashley Boston
Secretary ACS School Nurse, C.O.M.P.A.S.S. “I have been a school nurse with ACS since 2017 and began serving as Secretary on the AEF Board of Directors, in 2020. In my role as a school nurse I have been fortunate to be placed routinely in all buildings and I see what the kids and teachers are all facing. I have a passion for seeing the youth grow and succeed and am happy to assist in making sure student (and teacher) needs are met in any aspect I can. I have seen the struggle teachers face in making sure student needs are being met and ensuring they have the tools to succeed. I believe doing my small part to give back and encourage others to do so helps to make ACS a better place for teachers and students.” |
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Ryan Walsh
Treasurer Clinical Operations Manager, Ascension |
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Directors
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Sonia Caldwell
ACS Educator & Administrator “I am a first year administrator for Anderson Community Schools. As a teacher with Anderson Community Schools for over 20 years, serving children will always be a passion of mine. With that being said, teachers and students are what school is all about. We have passionate teachers who give so much and work so hard behind the scenes to ensure the best for their students. The Anderson Education Foundation is a huge support for both teachers and students. Through the Classroom Closet to Teacher Grants and all of the supports in between. As a teacher, I was always on the receiving end of the Anderson Education Foundation. I wanted to give back to my colleagues and students in another way. Being a Board member for the Anderson Education Foundation allows me to be on the other side to give back to the teachers and students of our district. “ |
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David Dodd
CEO, Madison County Federal Credit Union |
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Greg Kalisz
Retired ACS Educator & Administrator/ Community Member "I joined the Anderson Education Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2017 after retiring as an educator and administrator from Anderson Community Schools for 35 years. My wife and our four children are all ACS graduates. I wanted to continue assisting ACS and felt the best way to do that was giving teachers and staff opportunities to improve their classroom achievement through our grant program. Over the years, the Foundation has provided grants for a wide range of programs throughout ACS. I am proud of the work the Foundation has done and will continue to do in the future with community support for public education in Anderson." |
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Caitlin McGuire
Client Associate, Raymond James “I’ve been with AEF board of directors since 2011 and had to take one year off to stay true to our bylaws. I’ve always had a passion for children and through serving the foundation I’ve been able to help in a small way make a difference in some students lives. The foundation is an extremely valuable resource for the teachers, students and staff of Anderson Community Schools. I love that we’re helping amazing teachers by funding extraordinary learning projects and experiences that students may not have had the opportunity to participate in otherwise. Some of my favorite memories from my many years with AEF are delivering grant checks to classrooms and watching the excitement and gratitude on the teacher’s and children’s faces.” |
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Pam Shoot
Retired Program Director, Leadership Academy of Madison County “I have spent a great deal of my life working with children and youth. I also realize the benefit of a solid foundation in education. I have served on the AEF Board since 2016 because I believe that ACS is a great school system and her students deserve the very best that we have to offer. Our teachers deserve the best tools in which to equip our students for the future. I enjoy working with AEF to insure that both our teachers and students benefit from our efforts.” |
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Bill Watson
Owner, The Pittt Barbeque & Grill |
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Ryan Barnett
Student Representative Anderson High School Senior (2022) |