Teachers at MAST Academy, Key Biscayne K-8 Center and George Washington Carver Middle have access to more than $29 million worth of free classroom supplies through a 40-year-old nonprofit the Miami-Dade County School Board honored at its Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, meeting.

The Education Fund, led by President Linda Lecht, operates more than 15 programs reaching all 476 Miami-Dade public schools, 20,000 teachers and 350,000 students. Its Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials is the state's first free-supplies warehouse for public school educators, according to the School Board proclamation. Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas proffered the item recognizing the fund's 40th anniversary and more than $90 million invested in district schools since 1985.

Programs extend beyond supplies

The fund also runs Food Forests for Schools, which has installed outdoor STEM gardens at 81 elementary campuses districtwide, and SmartPath, a college-readiness program in high schools. Lecht told Miami Today in a profile published Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that the organization adjusts its work to the needs of teachers and school leaders while engaging the business community.

Three schools share access to warehouse

MAST Academy on Virginia Key, a grades 6-12 maritime and science technology magnet with 1,578 students, feeds from both Key Biscayne K-8 and Carver Middle. Teachers at all three schools can access the Ocean Bank Center's supply warehouse.

Fundraising supports the mission

Earlier in 2026, the fund held its annual Taste of Education and For the Love of Art Charity Auction to raise money for classroom programming. Families can learn more at educationfund.org.