OKEECHOBEE — Alaina Barron (left), the executive director of the Okeechobee Education Foundation (OEF) was the guest speaker at a recent Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee meeting. She spoke to the club about past, current and future projects that the OEF is involved in.

Barron spoke about the mini-grant program that has been in existence for nearly 50 years. The program matches outside donations dollar for dollar up to a predetermined amount and awards to local teachers to help offset outside project costs in the classroom. The OEF has also introduced a college and career readiness program designed to prepare students for life after high school graduation.

Barron is excited about new projects in the works partnering with County Fire and Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office. Details about these projects will be made public soon.

In her nearly two years as the executive director, Barron is most proud of the collaborative projects she has been involved with. She says that nothing gets done with out the effort from several groups.