Your Impact at NFA

This spring, I will be sharing my love of wildlife with students on a Whale Watching trip. Many of them have never been on a coach bus, ventured out on a boat, or seen whales in a marine sanctuary. At any other school, students may be denied the opportunity for space based learning and the enjoyment of learning with friends due to financial constraints. Thanks to the NFA Foundation, my students have a different story. This year, the NFA Foundation is supporting over 20 students receiving free or reduced lunch to ensure they have the same opportunity as their more financially secure peers. 

This is but one story of how the NFA Foundation supports our students on a regular basis. From lab materials to sports supplies, the Foundation literally provides the foundation for learning on this campus. Everyday, our students benefit from the kind and generous gifts from those who have shared in the legacy of NFA. Our school is home to students of all walks of life that live in vastly different settings throughout Eastern CT, and across the globe. As teachers, we have a tough job. Having the critical resources to help all students reach their potential is key.

Unlike other schools with similar student populations, we are fortunate to not rely solely on the town budget to support learning. We are able to dream up activities and learning opportunities that will reach our students knowing that the NFA Foundation is available to help make our dreams realities. My students enjoy a fully furnished laboratory facility to run experiments with new technologies, hands-on materials for activities, and experiences off campus that allow them to learn in the real world. When COVID hit five years ago, I listened as districts panicked. Schools could not obtain technology due to budgetary constraints. Students, isolated at home, found themselves without connections to education and peers. At NFA, the chromebooks and technology donated by the Foundation were redistributed to our students so they could learn and connect while isolated for safety. The Foundation once again aided our disadvantaged students so they could regain normalcy in a time of fear.

Norwich Free Academy is seen as a private school by those not familiar with our student population. Afterall, our students learn in beautiful buildings properly maintained and stocked with materials that encourage thought and curiosity. What they don’t see is the funding and support that stems from donations to the NFA Foundation. As a teacher, I am continually grateful for the NFA Foundation’s commitment to ensuring the best for all of our students. From our classroom resources, to the on campus museum, to the plethora of clubs and sports, the NFA Foundation has positively impacted every aspect of our school and continues to aid in its success each and every day. 

Sara Leisten
Biology Teacher
2025 Teacher of the Year