History
The Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education was started by Harriet Goldin in 1989 with the support of her family: Marshall, Shari, and Jay Goldin. Ms. Goldin, an educator, recognized the need to attract new teachers as well as retain quality teachers. Establishing a vehicle for recognizing achievement versus awarding grants provides a way for colleagues to recognize and praise the “unsung heroes” in classrooms as well as those persons in the community who evidence commitment to the growth of young people. The validation of educators provides much needed morale as well as excitement to the profession. These educators have further opportunities to “give back” to their profession by mentoring and providing professional development, all of which have impact on the lives of students. The recognition program, which targets charitable contributions and has hands-on project execution, serves as a model for other citizens who want to “make a difference.”
The Goldin Foundation was first established in coordination with The Education Cooperative, a consortium of 17 public school districts in metro-west Boston. The process included dissemination of nomination packets to participating school systems, peer nomination, selection of recipients representing different levels, and an annual Educators Forum at which recipients shared their projects and insights.
Educators’ projects are publicized by the Goldin Foundation, and there is also a continuing Goldin Foundation Educators Network. The latter included forums with guest speakers and a multi-disciplinary listing describing award recipients’ projects for purposes of providing professional development and/or consultation to other school systems, and connections with undergraduate and graduate students interested in becoming teachers in local colleges.
An Advisory Board, which is composed of former award recipients, represents different school districts and elementary, middle school, high school, and administration levels, serves with the Goldin Family.
In 2000, the Goldin Foundation replicated its successful model, with addition consortia of school districts operating as their own entities, including the nomination process and recognition of award recipients. The EDCO Collaborative, serving 23 urban and suburban school districts in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, initiated the program in 2001. In 2002, the program model was expanded to 17 school districts in the Silicon Valley, CA region. In 2004, the program broadened its outreach to 19 school districts served by the Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston, Texas.
Starting in 2016-2017, the Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education ended its original Excellence in Education Awards model; however it continues its commitment to recognize and share outstanding practices that significantly impact children, pre-school-high school, in classrooms, schools, and communities. It focuses its energies in 2 main areas:
Goldin Foundation Exemplary Projects: recognition awards to projects of excellence that have been in existence for a minimum of 3 full years and have potential for replication and/or adaptation. Open to all (i.e. exemplary projects in public and private school districts, community groups), awards of $5000-$10,000 must meet criteria, and they include a nomination process and a visit by Goldin Foundation Advisory Board members. Nominations may be received at any time. All of the recognized Exemplary Projects are described on the Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education website along with their contacts and website links, and they are shared with educators throughout the United States and other locations http://goldinfoundation.org/ExemplaryProjects.htm
Information is also disseminated annually to: Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents of Curriculum & Instruction/Professional Development in the 4 regional groups noted above. Also, information is sent to all former award recipients; educators and community members who have expressed interest and support the Goldin Foundation; and social network posts on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Goldin Foundation Educators Network: grant opportunities for Goldin Foundation award recipients to consult, provide professional development, and model their best teaching practices. This relatively easy process, 1st come-1st served, is limited to school districts served by The Education Cooperative (TEC), EDCO Collaborative, Houston Region 4 Education Service Center, and the Silicon Valley, California Collaboration.
Profiles of Founders
Harriet Goldin has been a teacher, administrator, and consultant at all levels…early childhood through graduate school. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she began teaching 5th graders in 1962. Harriet also received graduate degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, Administration, and Teacher Supervision. She served as an Administrator of Career and Instructional Development and Gifted Education at a collaborative of 15 school districts for many years; and she continues to consult.
Harriet is co-founder and President of the Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education, a non-profit started in 1990 that recognizes “unsung heroes,” educators who have been recognized for their positive impact in classrooms, schools, and communities: The foundation is dedicated to attracting new teachers, retaining quality teachers, and sharing best practices. Its latest initiative is awarding Exemplary Projects that are creative, transformative, inspiring, and replicable. http://goldinfoundation.org/ExemplaryProjects.htm
Harriet is actively involved in other initiatives: Jewish Arts Collaborative Board of Directors Needham League of Women Voters, Temple Beth Shalom of Needham, Mosaic: Interfaith Youth Action Board of Directors, and environmental groups. Having taught English as a 2nd Language to teens in Eastern European countries for 4 summers, her latest experience teaching ESL was in Haifa, Israel in 2018. Harriet’s interests include watercolor painting, which she exhibits, dance, and reading.
Marshall (Mickey) Goldin had a successful Private Practice of Periodontics; and he also taught Dentistry at Penn School of Dental Medicine Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine, Forsyth Dental Hygiene School. He continues to support the University of Pennsylvania: the Dental School where he and Harriet established the Goldin Seminars for Life Skills and the new indoor track and field facility.
He is co-founder and President of the Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education, a non-profit started in 1990 that dedicated to recognizing and rewarding educators for outstanding achievement.
Mickey has pursued his interest in photography since retiring from his dental practice: athletic events at Babson College and local high schools, medical tents at the Boston Marathon, and musical groups including: Civic Symphony of Boston, Wellesley Symphony, and the Zamir Chorale.
Other interests have included white water canoeing with the Appalachian Mountain Club and international travel.