Winchester Education Foundation

06/04/2026

🎶 A remarkable true story comes to life on stage this August at the Patsy Cline Theater!
Grammy-nominated artist Valerie Smith and her acoustic band will present Maggie's Journal, a powerful musical journey inspired by the real-life journal of Smith's great-grandmother. Through original songs and storytelling, audiences will experience a moving tale of resilience, family, and the American spirit.
📅 August 1 at 7 PM
📅 August 2 at 2 PM
📍 Patsy Cline Theater, John Handley High School, Wi******er
Even better, proceeds from these performances will support the Wi******er Education Foundation's Community Comfort Campaign to replace the theater's aging seats and carpeting.
🎟 Tickets are $35 and available now at: www.thevaleriesmith.com
Experience an unforgettable performance while helping preserve and improve one of Wi******er's most treasured community venues.

Home page of Valerie Smith, a country artist from Bell Buckle. Valerie Smith has rocked the bluegrass world for over two decades with a string of national and international tours and critically acclaimed recordings. She is an award-winning and Grammy-nomi

06/03/2026

Our Executive Director was on the road today for the Wi******er Public Schools Retired Teachers Association to update our former educators on activities at the foundation and our community comfort campaign for the Patsy Cline Theater at Handley High School.
You can add your name to a new seat in the theater by visiting our website at:
https://winchestereducationfoundation.org/donate/

Patsy will give you a wave if your do!

05/31/2026

The Wi******er Education Foundation was proud to honor Jay as one of our 2026 scholarship winners.
Our mission is to support all the students, teachers and staff in our Wi******er Public Schools.
Your donation helps us continue this support.
Please consider making a donation at our website, winchestereducationfoundation.org

For John Handley High School senior Jay Drache, making it to graduation this evening signifies something more. "It means," she said, "that I survived."

05/30/2026

05/22/2026

A combined 92 years of service to Wi******er Public Schools and 126 years in education are drawing to a close as three members of the Joyner family prepare to retire at the end of the school year. Doug Joyner, his wife Bobbie Joyner and his sister Martha Gay Joyner have dedicated decades of their lives to WPS.

05/20/2026

TAKE A SEAT!
Support Wi******er Public Schools and the Wi******er Education Foundation’s campaign to install new seating and carpet in the Patsy Cline Theater at John Handley High School by purchasing your very own seat, which will receive a name plate to recognize the person of your choice. $350 can put your name in the company of the Judge himself! Get yours today by clicking here: https://winchestereducationfoundation.org/donate-now/?type=Restricted&purpose=Patsy%20Cline%20Theater%20Project

05/12/2026

The Wi******er Education Foundation proudly awarded scholarships to members of John Handley High Schools 2026 graduating class at this year’s Baccalaureate ceremony. The foundation congratulates the following students who received the following scholarships:
The Wells Fargo Scholarship, made possible by Wells Fargo Bank, is a $500 award specified for a student planning to begin their undergraduate education at the community college of their choice. This year we proudly selected Jay Drache as our Wells Fargo Scholarship recipient.

The Eugene B. Cooper scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, is made available through the Eugene Cooper Student Loan Fund of the Kiwanis Club of Wi******er. Cooper scholarship winners demonstrate leadership and outstanding academic performance. Our 2026 Cooper Scholarship was awarded to Ella Warren.

The Mindy J Loy Future Educator Scholarships are specified for students planning to pursue a degree in Education. The Loy Scholarships, in the amount of $4,450 each, are funded by a trust established by the late Mindy Loy, a 1974 graduate of John Handley High School. Our two recipients were Katherine Layman and Noah Cutrona.

The Mindy Loy Vocational Technical Scholarship is also funded by the same Loy trust. This $4,000 scholarship is earmarked for a student planning to pursue a career in either a technical or vocational field. The 2026 scholarship was awarded to Lilyan Shearer.

Our Rees Memorial Scholarships are funded through the handwritten will of Martha Walter Rees. The winners were selected in part based on character and service to the school and community. Four 2026 Rees Scholarships in the amount of $3,500 each were awarded to Gabriel Cooper, Josiah Johnson, and Claire Roan.

The John and Polly Duvall Family Scholarship is provided by the Duvall family in honor of John and Polly Duvall. This $1,000 scholarship rewards overall strong academic performance. Our 2026 Duvall Scholarship was presented to Adelaide Flint.

The Wi******er Education Foundation and the many donors who make it possible for us to present these 2026 scholarships and awards salute all the members of Handley’s graduating class. We are proud to support both students and staff in our Wi******er Public Schools.

05/08/2026

Our community is blessed to have this man’s leadership our community. And Wi******er Public Schools teachers contribute to the quality of life in our community in countless ways.
The Wi******er Education Foundation salutes our Superintendent and the Wi******er Public Schools teaching staff for Teacher Appreciation week.

05/07/2026

We are proud to be the only nonprofit with the mission to support ALL the teachers, students and staff in our Wi******er Public Schools.

You can donate to support our mission at our website; winchestereducationfoundation.org