Because of you, we connect dedicated educators with the resources they need, empowering Springfield’s students to thrive. The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools is proud to showcase the impact of our Back-to-School Grant program. Explore the stories and photos below to witness firsthand how your support fosters academic excellence across Springfield Public Schools to create brighter futures.
Join us for the Back to SPS campaign (happening now!) to fund a new cycle of Back-to-School Grants for the 2025-26 school year!
Mark Twain and Horace Mann Elementaries – The Izzy B Encounter: The Author, The Puppeteer, The Pirate 
Back-to-School (BTS) Grant Applicants: Cammie Hunsaker, Library Media Specialist & Brandon Sigman, Learning Coach
Generously funded by Donations from the Community
“The Izzy B Encounter” grant ignited a passion for reading at Mark Twain and Horace Mann Elementaries, far exceeding its initial goals and underscoring the foundational importance of literacy. Engaging visits from author Izzy B and illustrator Ben Askew captivated students and families, boosting excitement for reading. This initiative impressively expanded to eight additional schools, ultimately impacting thousands. By providing over 700 students with their own signed books, it fostered a lasting love for storytelling and community collaboration, crucial for lifelong learning.
Library Media Specialist, Cammie Hunsaker shared, “In the end, this grant created an opportunity to go above and beyond it’s original intentions. Not only was the author visit an absolute blast for students and families, more than 700 students received their own signed copy of The Mighty McKraken.”
Fremont Elementary – My Learning Journey: Sharing Who I am with the World
BTS Grant Applicant: Christina Adams, Elementary Teacher
Generously funded by The Ball Foundation
The “My Learning Journey” grant at Fremont Elementary empowered second-grade students by transforming them into published authors. This experience significantly boosted their self-esteem and fostered a growth mindset as they reflected on their accomplishments and set future goals. The project enhanced reading and writing skills and culminated in an Authors’ Night, strengthening connections between students, families, and the school, creating lasting positive impacts.
When asked how the project made them feel students shared, “I want to make my family proud. My published book and the Author’s Night helped me do that. Thank you!” and “I feel like I can do anything when I work hard now that I am a published author!”
Sunshine Elementary – Bright Futures: Enhancing Elementary Attendance and Behavior
BTS Grant Applicant: Amanda Brown, 3rd Grade Teacher
Generously funded by Explore the Ozarks Fund
The Bright Futures grant at Sunshine Elementary aimed to boost attendance and reduce behavioral issues. The grant successfully met its objectives. Student attendance at 90% or higher rose to 82.48%, surpassing the 80% goal. Average daily attendance increased to 92.58%, nearing the 93% target. Discipline referrals dropped to 17.36%, exceeding the goal of less than 19%. The initiative positively impacted students by recognizing good attendance and behavior, motivating struggling students, and fostering stronger school-home relationships, ultimately contributing to academic success.
BASE Fairbanks – Community Integration
BTS Grant Applicant: Jan Foyewa, Special Education Teacher
Generously funded by Explore the Ozarks Fund
The Back-to-School Grant significantly benefited students with disabilities in the BASE Fairbanks Special Education Program. It enabled vital community integration outings, offering experiences many students would otherwise miss due to financial hardship. These excursions allowed students to practice and generalize classroom-learned skills, such as social interaction, safety, and budgeting, in real-world settings. The grant successfully fostered independence, social-emotional development, and a deeper connection to their community, enhancing their overall learning journey.
Teacher Jan Foyewa stated, “I can’t even begin to tell you how much it meant…Because of this grant, they had opportunities…they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.” These outings fostered skill generalization and social-emotional growth, bridging classroom learning with community engagement for students with disabilities, many from low-income backgrounds.
“My favorite field trip this year was going bowling because it was fun to hang out with my friends from other classes. I learned how to keep score in bowling.” -Thompson B.
“My favorite field trip was Dogwood Canyon. I got to see the waterfalls and learned about the animals. Thank you for allowing us to go on field trips this year.” -Isaiah F.
Wanda Gray Elementary – Nature School: Life Science in the Library
BTS Grant Applicant: Lara E. Garrett, Librarian
Generously funded by Donations from the Community
The Nature’s Classroom grant transformed the Wanda Gray Elementary library into a dynamic hub of scientific discovery for over 500 students. Through eight rotating, hands-on projects like hatching chicks and observing tadpoles, students engaged in real-world learning, strengthening observation skills and deepening their understanding of life cycles. The initiative sparked curiosity, increased nonfiction reading, and made science tangible, especially for visual and kinesthetic learners. These engaging, reusable resources will continue to foster a love for science and nature in students for years to come. 
“I like to check on the frog babies every time I come to the library. I saw one grow legs! I picked a book about frogs so I can learn what they eat.” – Luke, Kindergarten
“When we were watching the pumpkin decompose, it was gross but also cool. I never knew mold could grow like that inside a jar. It made me want to learn more about how stuff breaks down in nature. I even taught my little brother about it.” – Henry, 4th Grade
Central High School – Senior CCR Experiences
BTS Grant Applicant: Sarah Keeth, College and Career Readiness Specialist
Generously funded by Donations from the Community
This grant significantly impacted Central High School’s students by funding college visits. These experiences exposed sophomores, juniors, and seniors to various local and state universities. The trips empowered students, particularly those in need, to explore higher education pathways, understand financial aid options like Pell Grants, and make informed decisions. This initiative directly supported continued education and fostered success-readiness for students who might otherwise face barriers to pursuing post-secondary opportunities.
A student shared, “The field trips to MSU West Plains and OTC were my first real college campus experiences and showed me I have many more future options than I realized. I learned that community college is an affordable way to explore different paths, like those in welding or technology, and earn an Associate’s degree without massive debt, giving me time as a sophomore to decide on my future.”
Kickapoo High School – Kickapoo Golden Arrow Band: Marching to the Beat
BTS Grant Applicant: Aaron Scriven, Director of Bands
Generously funded by Donations from the Community
At Kickapoo High School, the Golden Arrow Band faced a common challenge: high participation fees excluding talented students. The BTS Grant for instrument repairs changed that, lowering costs for all 215 musicians. Supporting initiatives like this allows every student the chance to develop their passion, benefit from teamwork, and experience the transformative power of music education.
Parkview High School – Special Olympics PHS 2025
BTS Grant Applicant: Jovita Ahrens & Michelle Mitchell, Teachers Functional Skills (Special Education)
Generously funded by the Foundation’s #BeLikeNick Fund
Parkview High School Special Olympics 2025 was instrumental in enhancing the experience for student athletes. By funding new uniforms and jerseys, the grant directly fostered a profound sense of team identity and pride among participants. This crucial support allowed the school to redirect other available funds and sponsorships towards expanding the event, thereby increasing student and parental involvement and cultivating a more inclusive and vibrant community atmosphere. The new uniforms not only boosted student self-confidence and camaraderie but also visibly symbolized the value and significance of the event for both the athletes and their families, contributing to its overall success and positive impact.
Carver Elementary – Supporting Our Emerging Readers
BTS Grant Applicant: Colleen McGuane, Librarian
Generously funded by Donations from the Community
The Carver “Supporting Our Emerging Leaders” grant delivers a vital impact by equipping students like Tyson with essential learning tools and resources. This initiative eases financial burdens for families and provides innovative ways to engage students. As Tyson shares, “I’m not a very good reader and sometimes I skip words and lines and the read aloud helps me a lot. It helps me get into the book more… I feel like I’m in the book talking with the characters.”
This targeted support helps level the playing field, empowering students to connect deeply with their learning and reach their full academic potential.