Don Goff Professional Development Fund

Mr. Donald Goff, a longtime educator and former principal of George R. Stuart Elementary, passed away in July 2022. To honor his memory and legacy, the Don Goff Professional Development Fund has been established through the Bradley Cleveland Public Education Foundation.

Fund Overview

Don Goff served the Bradley-Cleveland community as a lifelong professional educator for four decades and finished his career as the long-serving principal of George R. Stuart Elementary School from 1990 to 2008. During his tenure, Mr. Goff accentuated the characteristics of a true professional. He made a positive impact on the lives of colleagues, students, families, and the community through his courteous, caring, and professional demeanor.

The Don Goff Professional Development Fund will enable a Cleveland City Schools teacher to pursue quality professional development that supports student learning and success, enriches instruction, and strengthens our schools and community.

Fund Guidelines

The Don Goff Professional Development Fund will enable a Cleveland City Schools classroom teacher or teacher team to pursue a professional development experience that enhances their instruction, enriches their teaching skills, and empowers their professional growth.

BCPEF Primary Contact

If you have questions that are not answered on the following pages, please reach out to Jane Littlejohn at [email protected].

important Dates

Application Deadline

January 23, 2026 at 5:00pm

Award notification

February 20, 2026

Thank you letters to the Committee

March 30, 2026

Professional development completed and purchases made

Close of school year, 2027

Impact Report Due

Close of school year, 2027

BCPEF Primary Contact

If you have questions that are not answered on the following pages, please reach out to Jane Littlejohn at [email protected].

Applicant Eligibility

● An individual full-time, certified teacher may apply or if a team, all members must be full-time certified teachers.
● Commit to return for 1 year to the classroom in Cleveland City Schools to incorporate the learning and growth from the professional development experience.
● Have 3 years of full-time teaching experience in a Cleveland City Schools K-12 classroom at the end of the current school year.
Note: Student teaching and/or substitute teaching does not count toward the requirement.

General Information

● There will be one $2,500 award per school year.
● Expenses covered include: registration fees for conferences, workshops, virtual conferences, and materials associated with the professional development such as books, manuals, online links, travel, food, lodging.
● Expenses not covered include: substitute teachers.
● Applicants may apply as an individual or as a team. A team description includes teachers names, grade level, and subject area. Teachers from diffrent schools in CCS, such as two music teachers, can be a team.
● Funding will not exceed $2,500 for an individual or team award.
● Any funds not spent for the professional development experience will be returned to The Don Goff Professional Development Fund.
● Applications must be approved by the school principal.

Application Requirements

All applications submitted by the deadline will be evaluated by a team of evaluators.
All applicants will be notified by e-mail when their application is received by the Foundation office.
There are no word count or character restrictions.
Principal approval is required. Your submission is not complete until he/she sends BCPEF a confirmation email stating the project title and your name. (The principal can simply send an email with the validating information to [email protected].)
The BCPEF Executive Director must approve any changes in the use of funds.
The professional development recipient must write a letter thanking the Don Goff Professional Development Fund Committee for supporting the professional development through BCPEF.

Use of AI

AI can be a valuable tool to generate a draft but it is crucial to personalize your writing with specific examples and information to make a narrative impactful. If you choose to use AI, please fact check and proofread everything carefully.

Application

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Name

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Project Details

Let's hear all the details!

Applicant Name*

Applicant Email*

School*

Teaching Assignment*

Applicant Details

Professional Development Title, Date, and Location*

How will this professional development benefit student learning and success in your classroom and how will you assess the benefits?*

What aspect of your School Improvement Plan or which Tennessee Standards will be addressed by the concepts/strategies gleaned from this experience?*

How will this professional development enhance your professional skills/expertise?*

What activities or classroom project do you anticipate pursuing that this professional development will support? What is the timeline for implementing changes or enhancements that were learned from this professional development?*

Provide an itemized budget of how funds will be spent.*