SPEF in the News

August is here and we are ready to start a new year!  But before we launch into 2023-24, lets take a look back on 2022-23.  In 2022-23 SPEF provided $151,341 to the Stillwater Public Schools!  Below is a summary of what we funded last year.

$51, 460 – SPEF Teacher Grants!

$43,875 – Play-Based Learning Materials for PreK Classrooms!

$25,000 – Aviation Flight Simulators!

$11,168 – Onward Arts Funding for Drama Programs at Elementary Schools & Stillwater Middle School!

$11,020 – SPEF MVP Fundraising for SPS Special Services

$3,850 – Bartley Technology Grant – iPads & Cases for PreK Classrooms

$3,300 – Teacher of the Year Awards from the Gish Fund

$1,000 – Teacher Recognition and Appreciation awards

$570 (SJHS) – Charlie P. Hall funding for Stillwater Junior High Band

$100 – Lincoln Academy Library in memory of Grady Lambert

We are proud that we could fund these many project; but we couldn’t have done it without those of you who donate to SPEF, especially our Corporate Partners! Let’s take another moment to recongize and thank them for their tremenous support of SPEF!

Gold Level Corporate Partners
BancFirst
Cockrell Eyecare Center
Eskimo Joe’s
InterWorks, Inc.
Oklahoma Community Credit Union
OnCue
Simmons Bank
Stillwater Medical Center
Wilson Auto Family

Silver Level Corporate Partners
505 Architects
Arvest Bank
Credit Bureau Services Assoc.
Exchange Bank
First National Bank & Trust Co.
Great Plains Bank
Lambert Construction
Nabholz
Oklahoma State University
OSU College of Education & Human Sciences
RCB Bank
Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold
Stillwater Designs / Kicker
Stillwater News Press
Tinker Federal Credit Union

We are excited for 2023-24 and to see what we can do this year!

10/7/2022 – On September 27, 2022, SPEF hosted a Celebration of Education raising more than $42,000 for the Stillwater Public Schools!  This event, held at Sparrow Beginnings, brought SPS teachers and educators, SPEF Teacher Grant winners and members of the Stillwater Community together to celebrate the amazing educators of the Stillwater Public Schools.

We celebrated the success of the Onward Arts initiative that was launched at last year’s Celebration.  Onward Arts provided funding to send all of the Stillwater High School students to STOMP at the McKnight Center in February 2022 and established a summer drama camp for elementary students in June 2022.  Both of these events were a huge success and we look forward to continuing to provide these opportunities to students again this year.  We are excited to announce that the drama program will now be an after school program in Spring 2023 at Highland Park and Westwood Elementary schools.

Also as part of the  celebration, we recognized our 2021-22 teacher grant recipients for their outstanding work and their innovative grant awards that provided new resources benefit their students and schools.

Thank you to all that attended and who continue to support SPEF through their generous donations.

10/12/21 – Congratulations to the 1st round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2021-22 school year! $5,591 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

10/1/21 – On Thursday, September 30, we had our first in-person fundraising event since the beginning of the pandemic and it was a huge success!  We launched a new flagship fundraising campaign for the arts called “Onward Arts” and announced the establishment of the Jenifer Bartley Technology Fund in recognition of Jenifer’s tenure as the Executive Director SPEF.  Attendees helped us raise more than $55,000 for Stillwater Public Schools, including $23,100 for the Onward Arts fundraising kick off and $20,500 for the Jenifer Bartley Technology Fund.

Onward Arts is our new campaign and it is our goal to increase opportunities for Stillwater Public School students to engage with the arts. In discussions with Dr. Moore and other administrators, they identified the arts as an area they would like to enrich in our district. This school year, that means sending our high school students to the McKnight Center to see STOMP and assisting the new after-school drama program at our elementary schools. This 9-week after-school program will be for 3rd-5th grade students and will be offered at each of the elementary sites. SPEF will provide scholarships for students to attend and funding for start-up expenses, such as props, scripts and transportation.  This campaign is going to be a gamechanger for providing access to arts resources and programming for Stillwater Public Schools.

Also as part of the  celebration, we recognized our 2020-21 teacher grant recipients for their outstanding work and their innovative grant awards that provided new resources benefit their students and schools.

Thank you to all that attended and who continue to support SPEF through their generous donations.

8/5/21 – Nominations for SPEF’s Powerful Peers teacher recognition awards are now open! They are due by 5:00pm on Friday, August 27! See link to the flier below for details on how to nominate one of your inspiring Stillwater Public Schools education co-workers! Five recipients will be selected and announced in September. Each of the five winners will receive $100 from SPEF!

5/21/21 – Call for Proposals!  SPEF is pleased to announce the SPEF Teacher Grant opportunities for the 2021-22 school year.  Teachers are encouraged to apply for funding for creative and innovated projects that will enhance the learning in their classrooms.  There will be 4 grant cycles in 2021-22.  Three cycles are designated for small grant proposals (up to $750) and one cycle is for large grant proposals ($751-$4,000).  Please see the Grants Application page for more information on the application deadlines and process.

4/1/21 – Incoming SPEF Executive Director Ashlee Robertson has been on the job now since March 1. We’ve had a great month of training and are finishing up our transition. Effective today, April 1, Ashlee will fully take over as Executive Director. I will be around for another two weeks in more of a supporting role to help continue the smooth transition. My last day will be April 15.

Thank you for a fantastic 12 years. It has truly been a pleasure and honor to lead Stillwater Public Education Foundation.  I’m very proud of all that we have accomplished to benefit SPS teachers and students during my time as Executive Director. I appreciate all of the incredible and generous support SPEF has received over the years from businesses and individuals in the community, who value public education and have contributed to our success.

While it’s certainly a little bittersweet to leave this position which I have loved so much, I am completely confident in Ashlee and the SPEF Board of Trustees as they move forward. I am excited to see SPEF carry on its mission and grow under Ashlee’s direction. I look forward to continuing my support of SPEF and Stillwater Public Schools in other ways in the future.

Wishing you all the best,

Jenifer Bartley

 

3/9/21 – We’re excited to announce our next Executive Director Ashlee Robertson. Her appointment began March 1 following an extensive search process. Ashlee previously served as the Director of Financial Affairs at Purdue University, has volunteered in her local Parent Teacher Associations and is a passionate advocate for teachers.

After 12 years of service to SPEF, Executive Director Jenifer Bartley will be stepping down from her position following Ashlee’s training and onboarding. We applaud her advocacy for the teachers and students of Stillwater Public Schools through the years and assistance with the search process.

Read More:

Ashlee Robertson

3/3/21 – Congratulations to the 2nd round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2020-21 school year! $30,300 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

2/15/21 – The application period for SPEF’s Executive Director position is now closed.

12/15/20 – After more than 12 years of service to our organization, executive director Jenifer Bartley will be stepping down from her position in June. We applaud her advocacy for our district’s teachers and students through the years. She’s provided an advance notice so we could begin the recruitment process for our next Executive Director.

The SPEF board of directors is seeking an enthusiastic, mission-driven individual for this role who can build on our existing programs and raise the visibility of our organization.

Learn more and find email to apply for the Executive Director position: SPEF Executive Director Search

12/4/20 – In partnership with OSU Museum of Art Advocates, SPEF is pleased to congratulate our Arts Education grant recipients for the 2020-21 school year! Total funding for AE grant awards this school year is $1,500! 

11/5/20 – Congratulations to the 1st round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2020-21 school year! $8,430 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

10/12/20- SPEF launches True Blue Stillwater campaign! Our foundation’s traditional fundraising opportunities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please consider a donation to SPEF as we continue our mission to support Stillwater Public Schools teachers & students! Visit spef.stillwaterschools.com/campaigns/true-blue-stillwater/ to make a tax-deductible contribution!

8/19/20 – Congratulations to the following five winners of SPEF’s 2020 Powerful Peers teacher recognition award! Each winner received $100 and a certificate from SPEF! These teachers were each nominated by a peer and then selected from all nominations received for the exceptional way they support, mentor and encourage their fellow teacher co-workers.

  • Abby Varnum – Special Education teacher, Highland Park Elementary
  • Karen Cryer – 1st grade teacher, Richmond Elementary
  • Alexandra Cernigliaro – AIM Coordinator & SPED teacher, Stillwater Middle School
  • Tracy Bell – 6th grade math teacher, Stillwater Middle School
  • Shelia Brown – 3rd grade teacher, Will Rogers Elementary

7/15/20- Nominations are open for SPEF’s 2020 “Powerful Peers” Teacher Recognition Awards! See flier at link for more details on who is eligible and how to nominate. Nominations are due by Friday, August 7!

4/17/20 – Congratulations to the 4th round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2019-20 school year! $4,910 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

2/10/20 – Congratulations to the 3rd round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2019-20 school year! $21,000 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

12/6/19 – Congratulations to the 2nd round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2019-20 school year! $3,385 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

11/7/19 – In partnership with OSU Museum of Art Advocates, SPEF is pleased to congratulate our Arts Education grant recipients for the 2019-20 school year! Total funding for AE grant awards this school year is $3,265! 

10/8/19 – Congratulations to the 1st round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2019-20 school year! $6,340 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!

8/16/19 – Congratulations to the recipients of SPEF’s 2019 “Powerful Peers” awards! This foundation sponsored teacher recognition program is in its 4th year. SPS teachers had the opportunity to nominate fellow teachers who they felt demonstrated exceptional peer leadership as a positive influence and example. These 5 teachers were selected for recognition as ones who go above & beyond to support, mentor and assist their teacher co-workers. Each recipient received $100 and a certificate from SPEF. The winners were announced at the district Back to School meeting for all SPS employees.

Pictured left to right are:
  • Sarah Major, Library Media Specialist, Sangre Ridge Elementary
  • Crista McCann, Art teacher, Stillwater Middle School
  • Melissa Johnson, Special Education teacher, Highland Park Elementary
  • Jennifer Bobo, 6th grade Science teacher, Stillwater Middle School
  • Rebekah Reece, 6th grade Math teacher, Stillwater Middle School (not pictured)

6/25/19 – Nominations are open for SPEF’s 2019 “Powerful Peers” Teacher Recognition Awards! See flier at link for more details on who is eligible and how to nominate. Nominations are due by Friday, August 2!

5/29/19 – Very proud to share our end of year highlights for 2018-19! SPEF funded over $118,000 back to Stillwater Public Schools classrooms, which is a record high! We are thrilled and honored to have made such a difference for teachers & students across the district!

4/5/19 – Congratulations to our 4th & final round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2018-19 school year! $6,925 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!  

3/7/19 – In partnership with OSU Museum of Art Advocates, SPEF is pleased to congratulate our 2nd cycle of Arts Education grant recipients for the 2018-19 school year! Total funding for AE grant awards this school year is $4,235!  

2/12/19 – Representatives from SPEF, Stillwater Public Schools and Simmons Bank gathered together today for a check presentation for the funds raised from Stillwater Bowl-fest! Over $9K was presented to SPEF, which is earmarked for Special Education services within the district! Thank you so much for this generous gift! We are so appreciative of the amazing support from our friends at Simmons Bank! 

2/6/19 – Congratulations to our 3rd round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2018-19 school year! $18,620 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!  

12/12/18 – SPEF is honored & excited to be the beneficiary of the 3rd annual Stillwater Bowl-Fest! Please save the date and plan to join us on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3 for fun, food, football & fundraising! Funds raised are earmarked specifically for Special Education Services within Stillwater Public Schools! Event details & ticket purchasing info at: Stillwater Bowl-Fest

12/6/18 – Congratulations to our 2nd round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2018-19 school year! $6,040 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!  

11/7/18 – In partnership with OSU Museum of Art Advocates, SPEF is pleased to congratulate our 1st cycle of Arts Education grant recipients for the 2018-19 school year! Total funding for AE grant awards this fall is $2,735!  

10/4/18 – Congratulations to the 1st round of SPEF grant recipients for the 2018-19 school year! $2,885 in funding awarded today! As always, SPEF is pleased to fund these worthwhile projects benefiting SPS students!