of St. Louis Public Schools

“We have a tremendously diverse, resourceful and resilient student body. We just strive to give them an equal playing field. We want the same opportunities. The SLPS Foundation exists to bridge the gap that is ever widening between students from different socio-economic classes.”

We want our students to walk into environments that spark imagination and confidence."

“If we can put an excellent principal in every one of our schools, we can really accelerate progress.”

“When I first started the program, students segregated themselves by high school, but we’ve come together as a family…we’ve formed study groups, shared advice, and most importantly, passed Calculus!  The Early College Academy has been the highlight of my high school experience.”

“We know our kids come from poverty and violence. Added to the normal stresses of family life these kids deal with unpredictable relocation, audible gunfire, and/or violent crime. They need to learn coping skills to work through the stress and trauma they face everyday, so they can succeed in college and in life.”

“Saint Louis Public School’s’ primary mission is to educate our students………. but we know they need to be healthy to learn.”

“We keep striving to make sure all of our students have the preparation and adult guidance they need to create their own path forward.”

“We have obviously benefited greatly from the funding that the Innovation Grant has provided to our grant program…  But what I have been pleasantly surprised by during the experience is how valuable the group sessions have been to me as a school leader. I have received outstanding professional development from experts within education as well as professionals outside the field... I have been able to problem solve and strategize with other innovative school leaders in a thoughtful and systematic way.  Our time together during the group sessions is inspiring and motivates me to continue to make positive change for my students in innovative ways.  Participating in the Innovative Grants program has been an incredibly valuable experience on many levels.”

"Colleagues stand in the hallways chatting or even sit at dinner parties talking about what we could do if only we had the money. We're right: we can do so much more with available money. The School Innovation Grant allows you to take an idea about what you could only do and gives you the money to actually do it!”

“One of the strengths of the program is the interaction and support we have received from our colleagues. Ideas are always great and the Foundation funding is giving us the opportunity to make the ideas a reality – but, sometimes you do not get the results you thought that you would and you learn that mistakes can be educational, too.”