We Are

Bridget Jones joins the Foundation as President & CEO after serving as the Executive Director of the Youth and Family Center. She launched and ran Innovative Education Concepts serving students in Illinois for 12 years. Bridget also served as the Director of Advancement with Covenant House MO and the Director of Youth and Family Programs with Better Family Life, Inc. She received her MBA from Webster University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Georgia in Athens.  She serves on the Board of Directors for the Optimist Club of St. Louis, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Gamma Omega Chapter.  In her free time, she enjoys gardening and teaching ballet to young dancers.

Kaleigh Lawrence joined the St Louis Public Schools Foundation staff in February of 2019, after working as the Founding Manager of Student Services and Social Work a Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls. Kaleigh began her career as a Teach for America corps member and elementary teacher at Lyon @ Blow, where she developed a passion for educational equity and supporting young people. Kaleigh looks forward to partnering with stakeholders to make student centered decisions.

Karen Sutherland joined the Foundation in June of 2021, after spending the majority of her career in various customer service roles. Prior to accepting the Operations Coordinator position, she served as a Pharmacy Technician Trainer, where she did what she enjoyed most: helping others. As an alum of St. Louis Public Schools, Karen is deeply passionate about the mission of the Foundation and eager to support students as they aim to achieve their goals.

Sydney, a native of Cincinnati, moved to St. Louis in 2017 to serve as an AmeriCorps member. After serving for a 2nd term, she began working at a local charter school as support staff and later moved into a role, teaching 3rd grade. Sydney is passionate about social justice and education and looks forward to using her B.A. in Communication from the University of Dayton to help further the mission of the SLPS Foundation.

Emily Zevely comes to the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation from CCSSO in Washington D.C., where she led the National Teacher of the Year Program for 4 years. In this role, she cultivated philanthropic support to create opportunities for teachers. As a former teacher with the District and native St. Louisan, Emily’s heart belongs in St. Louis. She is eager to work with community members, families, and partners to ensure equitable educational opportunities for students.