engage DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION // REPORT 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOUNDATION BUILDING FEATURE: 2 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 75 MONTESSORI ACADEMY FOR PEACE BUILDING FEATURE: As a former teacher MESSAGE FROM 4 THE DIRECTOR 77 AMERICAN DREAMER STEM ACADEMY AND DENNIS LAB SCHOOL MESSAGE FROM 6 THE CHAIR BUILDING FEATURE: and administrator, I take 77 STEPHEN DECATUR MIDDLE SCHOOL “ FINANCIAL ACADEMIES 9 OVERVIEW THE BOB JONES great satisfaction in serving HONOR AND 78 MUSIC FUND 12 MEMORIAL GIFTS KISTLER-SCOTT AND CULBERTSON-WALLER DONOR PROFILE: 79 FUNDS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS on the Foundation Board 14 LUCY AND BOB SMITH OUTSTANDING ALUM PROFILE: OPERATIONS AND 80 GEORGE PINNEY 16 GRANTMAKING because it empowers donors PROGRAM FOCUS: DONOR PROFILE: 81 THE AWESOME SQUAD 18 PEGGY MADDEN to DIRECTLY impact PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: DWAYNE O. ANDREAS 82 MILLIKIN-DECATUR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 20 AG ACADEMY GUILD INSTRUMENT LIBRARY learning at many levels. I HOWARD G. BUFFETT PROGRAM FOCUS: 26 FOUNDATION PROGRAMMING 82 SILKSCREEN PRINTING JERRY J. DAWSON PROGRAM FOCUS: enjoy the opportunity to 28 CIVIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 83 MIKE RUSK MEMORIAL AND CLOSE UP WASHINGTON PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 30 ADM DESIGNATED continue engaging and 84 PROGRAMMING DONOR PROFILE: 34 ELLEN SPYCHER EDUCATOR PROFILE: 86 SCOTT DAVIDSON encouraging students in PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 36 CATERPILLAR AND ELINE SVENDSEN OPERATION CALCULUS 88 FUND classrooms across the city. EDUCATOR PROFILE: PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 40 SARAH SMITH 90 TATE & LYLE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 21ST-CENTURY - Kathleen Thompson, Board Secretary 42 COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 91 LEARNING SPACE OF MACON COUNTY ” ALUMNI PARENT VOICE: 92 WA L K S 44 PHIL SHILS PROGRAM FOCUS: PROGRAM FOCUS: 93 AFRICAN-AMERICAN INNOVATORS 45 CREATIVE WRITING IN THE CLASSROOM OUTSTANDING ALUM PROFILE: 94 JIM “MAC” MCELROY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 46 MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY PROGRAM FOCUS: LEGACY OF LEARNING 96 BRINGING LESSONS TO LIFE OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS 49 DONOR PROFILE: AND ALUMNI 98 LINDA AND ERV ARENDS OUTSTANDING ALUMNI PROFILES: 50 PROGRAM FOCUS: Evyonne Hawkins, Gianina Baker, Ed German, 100 SOUTH SHORES CHESS STARS Jesse Reising, Janet (Best) Albers, Lee Endsley, Donna (Williamson) Thompson, Robert Cleave, CLASSROOM GRANT Richard Maxwell, Loren “Doug” Hagen, 102 ACTIVITIES SUMMARY Cynthia Deadrick-Wolfer, Dawn (Morville) Johnson SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND BUILDING FEATURE: 110 DESIGNATED PROJECTS SUMMARY 68 ART AS DAILY LIFE DONOR PROFILE: OUTSTANDING ALUMNA PROFILE: 112 SUE PILLING 72 SARAH ELIZABETH IPPEL ENRICH AND … 114 ENGAGE REPORT TO DONORS P. 1 DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION 2020-2021 BOARD TRUSTEES AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Regan Deering Dr. Paul Fregeau Nikki Garry Evyonne Hawkins CHAIR TRUSTEE VICE CHAIR TRUSTEE Educator/Community Representative Decatur Public Schools – Superintendent Your Money Matters – Program Educator Richland Community College “The importance of a public school OUR TRUSTEES education cannot be overstated. I The Decatur Public Schools Foundation owes its existence to the believe a public education provides foresight of our original stakeholders. They recognized that public our young citizens with a sound Kim Hurm Myung Kim Regan Lewis Shondra Lynch schools across the country were facing financial challenges that academic foundation, an exposure TRUSTEE TRUSTEE TRUSTEE TRUSTEE would only grow more daunting. They established the Foundation to diversity, lifelong friends, and ADM – Dir. Of Innovation Retired – Tate & Lyle Kehart, Peckert, Wise, Toth & Lewis Private Wealth Advisor and Commercialization Busey Wealth Management and defined its mission to organize private resources in support of perhaps most importantly in these District 61. Reviewing the list of past Trustees reveals why our times, the ability to think clearly and organization has been so successful. The roster includes names independently. It is for these reasons fully devoted to this community, many of whom remain active that I am pleased to serve on the participants in charting Decatur’s future. We’re proud to count Foundation board.” such individuals as friends and continual advisors. – Judge Tom Little Dan Oakes Sue Pilling Walker Chelsea Sargeant Kathy Thompson TRUSTEE TRUSTEE TRUSTEE SECRETARY PAST Board of Education Retired – Decatur Public Schools Caterpillar – Supply Chain Management Retired – Decatur Public Schools FOUNDATION TRUSTEES In chronological order of service New Trustees are nominated, evaluated and approved Jeff Black, John Cobb, Adele Glenn, Jane Johnson, Kim Leftwich, Peggy Madden, Bill Oliver, Dr. Bill Requarth, Bob Smith, Tom Swartz, for admission by current Board members, with input Dr. Ken Arndt, Jackie Goetter, Monica Hawkins, Pat Laegeler, Cindy Neff, Chris Olsen, John Hedges, Helen Miller, Mac McPherson, from active prior members and founding directors. Trustees are elected to three-year terms, which can be Keith Casteel, Craig Huss, Duane Noland, Marilyn Davis, Ruth Cortright, Gary Likins, Gary McElfresh, Richard Demirjian, John Weber Zach Shields renewed once, for a total service tenure of six years. Alida Graham, Wole Adeoye, John Funk, Mike Gibson, Jan Mandernach, Lisa Holder White, Gloria J. Davis, Janis Kirby, Dave Butts, Jason Small, Lucy Smith, Tom Binder, Jim Forrester, Wendy Morthland, Brian Byers, T.J. Jackson, Jan Kelsheimer, Ron Pulera, TREASURER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Wells Fargo Advisors Decatur Public Schools Foundation Dan Winter, Tiffany Lukis, Stephen Pyle, Val Talley, Shirley Kistler, Dave Weber, Larry Altenbaumer, Shelith Hansbro, Daetta Jones, Brian Hodges, Lisa Taylor, Ryan McCrady, Sherri Perkins, Dr. Todd Werpy, Bobbi Williams, Judge Tom Little, Amy C. Ridley, Michael Allen REPORT TO DONORS P. 3 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR In 1997, most school foundations across the country were just donors invested approximately $103 per student for each of beginning to find their footing. These organizations varied widely the nearly 9,000 young people in District 61. in terms of size, scope, financial support and the breadth of their ambition. Some shot to simply offer a few modest classroom State and federal funding streams represent tricky waters to grants per year; others took aim on major programs that spelled navigate – often with undercurrents impossible to predict ahead opportunities for students all across their school districts. of time. Our organization exists to ensure that the community can connect to the classroom, that alumni feel connected to That year, community leaders adopting the long view established their hometown, that businesses and city leaders remain vested the Decatur Public Schools Foundation to promote both in the success of students who represent the largest segment of approaches. In 2004, the Foundation provided $30,000 to support their future workforce. grant activities. By 2013 that number had climbed to around $250,000. In 2019, our donors contributed $924,563 in direct When I accepted my post with the Foundation in 2013, it was provision of classroom grants and special projects. because my family has always demonstrated the importance of curiosity and lifelong learning. I’d been aware of the Since incorporation the Foundation’s individual and corporate organization’s efforts, but only in a peripheral manner. From a partners have provided more than $14 million to afford young distance it seemed like there were inventive activities afoot. It people in our schools the same enrichment opportunities open seemed like there was a positive vibe behind grant programs. It to kids in private and parochial settings or more affluent districts. seemed, in short, like a lot of fun. 2020 has reminded us in no uncertain terms that little in life is a sure thing. From a global pandemic to contentious public policy Over the seven years since, it HAS been fun. It has also provided debates to heartbreaking social justice struggles, we’ve been a window to observe the challenges faced by teachers in a society witnessing a whole lot that rightly alarms young people. that undervalues their importance, and for students who face daily struggles before even boarding the bus. Amid this chaos, what our kids can be certain of – unequivocally – what works is that their community cares for them. Decatur wants what’s best We exist to combat these realities. We investigate what ENGAGES what inspires. for District 61 students, now and into the future. and and Every new partner means a better chance for students to I invite you to migrate from the periphery to the heart of what ENGAGE as active scholars. Enhanced educational opportunities we do. Call. Write. Stop by and say Hi. However you prefer, get mean that they adopt an active voice in public discourse; that they in touch to tell us what motivates you to support education. ENGAGE have their say in how history unfolds; that they can count on a safe We’ll work together to YOU in our current place to discover how this happens. momentum – and discover what happens next. Large and small, far-reaching and focused, our Foundation Best, partners have financed hundreds of teacher-designed and student-led projects to enrich the experience for kids in the Decatur Public Schools. Zach Shields The vision set forth by our Founding Trustees has been realized Executive Director, Decatur Public Schools Foundation thanks to incredibly generous community and corporate donors. These friends share an understanding that support for students is an investment, not charity. A national benchmark for school O : (217) 362-3042 foundation programs has been estimated at $15 per student C : (217)