The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation (SFPSEF) is the philanthropic partner of the Sioux Falls School District. Working collaboratively with generous individual donors, business partners, and charitable foundations, the Foundation provides innovative educational opportunities and fills funding gaps that impact every student and teacher. The Foundation started as an endowment with the Sioux Falls Community Foundation in 1992 raising only $12,000 in the first twelve years. Since the Education Foundation's Board was officially established in 2008, the Foundation has awarded more than 35 Public School Proud grants to teachers, totaling $450,000, as well as providing over hundreds of first-year teachers with $200 grants to help fund supplies for their classroom, and used over $10,000 to help close the equity gap in our schools through its most recently established Student Success Fund program. Through these successful programs, the Foundation fuels teacher creativity and uses innovation to bolster workforce development. In this episode of Spotlight, Superintendent Stavem sits down with the Education Foundation's Executive Director, Allison Struck where they discuss how the Foundation has changed over the years, and the lasting impact it has on SFSD's 25,000 students, and 3,400 staff members.

If you are interested in learning more about the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation, please visit their website here: or contact Allison Struck at 605-367-4484 or at [email protected]