About shift_ed
shift_ed’s roots began in community activism. Students, families, and business and community leaders in Guilford County wanted to create a cradle to career system of supports that ensured that every child had the tools needed to thrive.
About shift_ed
shift_ed’s roots began in community activism. Students, families, and business and community leaders in Guilford County wanted to create a cradle to career system of supports that ensured that every child had the tools needed to thrive.
Our History
In 2013…
representatives of Guilford Education Alliance, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, High Point Community Foundation, and Guilford County Schools came together to reshape the education continuum in Guilford County. After a robust community-wide undertaking, involving volunteers from all corners of Guilford County and one of the most successful fundraising efforts in the county’s history, Say Yes to Education chose the area for its third chapter in the nation. Generous supporters throughout the county also recognized the potential in this movement, and quickly made financial commitments totaling more than $25 million dollars.
In the fall of 2016…
the first GCS graduates began their college careers with support from the organization, and since that time graduates of every GCS high school have secured millions of scholarship dollars to prestigious colleges and universities all over the country.
On July 1, 2018…
Guilford County became the first community in the country to locally own and operate its Say Yes to Education chapter, allowing expansion of services, including tutoring for K-8 students; career exploration for middle schoolers; free ACT and SAT classes; college application assistance and financial aid guidance for high schoolers; and scholarship and career support for graduates.
The 2020 pandemic…
made us all rethink what was important. Our organization was no exception. In 2022, Say Yes to Education Guilford was rebranded to shift_ed as we adapted to the needs in our community. We quickly saw that a more comprehensive web of student support was needed and partnered with GCS to increase tutoring sessions, expand career exposure opportunities and deepen our support of students with SEO Scholars NC program – the first program of its kind in the state of NC. shift_ed also rolled out a Mobile Innovation Lab for middle schoolers, offering increased exposure to STEAM activities.
In 2024…
in order to better serve students, families and educators, shift_ed kicked off our Aligning Resources for Collective ImpACT (ARCI) initiative. ARCI is bringing together over 100 community members to explore the needs in our community and how we can better work collectively to address those needs.
Today…
shift_ed aims to reshape what is possible for our students and our community. Our work starts in schools and stretches into community centers, workplaces, play spaces, and dining rooms. Students are at the very core of everything we do, and when we invest in them our communities prosper.
Our Values
We are grounded in where we have been, where we are now and where we aspire to be in the future.
Opportunity
Provide exposure to possibilities and create diverse pathways for students to find success in the workforce and in life.
Bold Collaboration
Build strong community-school partnerships through shared language, aligned resources, shared metrics and collective impact.
Inclusive Support
Remove obstacles and offer personalized assistance to every student and family.
Excellence
Believe in each person’s capacity for greatness.
Agility
Respond to critical mission-aligned needs with a commitment to innovation.
Our Staff
Our Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Bobby Long, Co-Chair
Partner, Piedmont Capital Partners
Louise Brady, Co-Chair
Partner, Piedmont Capital Partners
Steve Russell, Vice Chair
Partner, Turning Point Litigation
Lauren Mitchell, Secretary
Director of Marketing & Communications, Business High Point
Chartarra Joyner, Treasurer
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Budget and Planning, North Carolina A&T State University
AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Charlie Aborjilie
Community Volunteer
Martin Acevedo
VP Marketing & Communications
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Courtney (Payne) Benfield
Senior Vice President, Triad Market Manager
Bank of America
Jakki Davis
Founder and CEO
D-UP
Trey Davis
City Manager
City of Greensboro
John Englar
(retired) Burlington Industries Executive
LaDaniel “Danny” Gatling
Philanthropic Advisor
GLK Philanthropy , LLC
Victor Isler
Guilford County Manager
Cyril Jefferson
Principal Consultant, Change Often, LLC
Mayor, City of High Point
Michael Jones
Director of Health Services
Well-Spring
Jaymi LaGuardia
Director of Marketing and Communications
High Point Community Foundation
William Laney
Financial Advisor
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Paul Lessard
President
High Point Community Foundation
Alice Moore
Emeritus Director
Dr. Whitney Oakley
Superintendent
Guilford County Schools
Wendy Poteat
President & Chief Executive Officer
shift_ed
Asanta Roberts
Security Solutions Engineer
Cisco
Walker Sanders
President
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Michelle Schneider
VP & Chief Philanthropy Officer
Cone Health
Dr. Kimberly Steinke
Chief Exceptional Children and Student Services Officer, Guilford County Schools
Our Community Partners
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
North Carolina State University
Ready for School, Ready for Life
Toyota Battery Manufacturing- North Carolina
University of North Carolina – Greensboro
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools