Dr. Elaine Free focuses her passion for improving education into school foundations across the nation.  A sought-after speaker with appearances at national education conferences, Dr. Free draws from a 31-year career in public education as a vocational homemaking teacher, vocational homemaking supervisor, and director of vocational education.  She brought that knowledge and inspiration to helping create and direct both the public information office of Irving Independent School District and the Irving School Foundation.  After more than 10 years in those latter roles, she began working with other foundations.

In more than a decade of consulting with school districts and foundations, Dr. Free continues to guide districts as they create foundations and counsels foundation boards through policy and procedure construction.  She also facilitates their energies into developing five-year plans.  In every instance she creates customized strategies and tactics proven to generate continual improvement in education.

Realizing that few resources existed to aid foundations in progressing, Dr. Free worked with a core group to establish the annual Statewide Education Foundation Conference in Texas.  This forum gives educators, executive directors, and board members information in the myriad facets of developing and enhancing their foundations.

Her commitment is clear – to work with local foundations to realize tangible ways to substantially impact education in their communities.

Dr. Free owns Successful ways, Inc., which is devoted to education foundation enhancements. A native Texan, she and her husband live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and she enjoys entertaining and volunteering for her church and community.