Changing what’s possible, one classroom at a time.
The Buntin Schools of Excellence initiative is giving teachers new tools to help children overcome challenges.
When we invest in teachers, we can change what’s possible for children.
Walk into a classroom at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, and you’ll find children with different strengths, experiences and challenges.
Some of those challenges have little to do with textbooks but everything to do with a child’s ability to learn. That’s where MEEF’s Buntin Schools of Excellence (BSOE) began its work.
Named in honor of longtime educator, former MCSD Superintendent and MEEF co-founder Dr. Jim Buntin, BSOE is a partnership between MEEF and the Muscogee County School District that brings research-based professional development directly into schools.
“Teachers don’t just teach. They change the trajectory of lives. When you invest in them, you invest in generations of children and families.”
MEEF Board Member, Retired Superintendent
Practical tools, all year long
During BSOE’s first year, teachers worked with nationally recognized educator Dr. Tammy Pawloski to understand how poverty, trauma and life experiences affect learning and behavior.
Stronger relationships
Teachers learned practical strategies to build stronger relationships with every student.
Better behavior support
They gained tools to manage challenging behavior before it disrupts instruction.
Ready-to-learn classrooms
They created classrooms where children are better prepared to learn.
What changed in year one
More time for learning
By year’s end, nearly every teacher said they had the knowledge to help children facing significant challenges, and 100% reported having the skills to do so.
Fewer discipline referrals mean more children staying in classrooms, more time for learning and teachers better equipped to address behavior before it disrupts instruction.
Academic achievement showed promising signs, particularly in reading and English language arts. Students made strong gains during the final months of the year, especially in grades 3–5. State testing suggests many are making progress, even if they haven’t yet reached grade-level expectations.
These early results give us reason for optimism, while reminding us that this is generational work. Lasting improvement takes time, sustained effort and continued attention to early literacy.
The Buntin Schools of Excellence changed how we see our students. We learned to look past the challenges they bring with them and focus on their strengths and potential. You could feel the difference in our classrooms and in our building, and our students felt it too.
Carolyn BinghamMartin Luther King Jr. Elementary
Top Three Teacher of the Year 2026
School transformation begins with people.
When teachers better understand their students and have the tools to help them succeed, relationships grow stronger, expectations rise and classrooms change.
That’s the power of MEEF’s investment through the Buntin Schools of Excellence. With the generosity of our donors, we’re giving teachers the knowledge, confidence and resources to make a difference today and change children’s lives for generations to come.
Three schools, sooner than planned
Building on the success of its first year, MEEF made the intentional decision to accelerate the Buntin Schools of Excellence expansion. Originally planned as a five-year initiative adding one school annually, BSOE welcomed two new schools for 2026–2027.
Both schools have enthusiastically embraced the initiative, extending its reach to more teachers and children sooner than originally planned.
- Martin Luther King Jr. ElementaryFirst Buntin School of Excellence, 2025–2026
- Dorothy Height ElementaryJoined 2026–2027
- J.D. Davis ElementaryJoined 2026–2027
“Generously supported by people who understand the long-term impact of generational poverty, the Buntin Schools of Excellence represent a shared belief that investing in teachers is one of the most powerful ways to improve children’s lives.”
MEEF Board Member, Colony Bank
Help bring BSOE to more schools.
Your gift gives teachers the knowledge, confidence and resources to change children’s lives for generations.