What is a School Foundation? Local public school foundations are nonprofit organizations designed to help raise money to help the public schools. They originally started in California when Proposition 13 was passed in 1979 and devasted the state's traditional source for public school funding. They are now widespread throughout the country, and are generally seen as a way to supplement tax dollars and help add value and extras to the public schools so that they can better help students learn and succeed.
Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation The Mid-Del Public School Foundation is one of over 200 local education foundations in Oklahoma. We serve as a bridge between the community and school district, raising private funds to complement the existing school budget and providing easy ways that community members can help our schools provide excellent education for every child.
The Midwest City-Del City Public Schools Foundation has supported work from kindergarten through high school, and, over the years, funded innovative and effective educational opportunities in every single school in the Mid-Del school district. Following are a few quotations from those who have benefited from this work.
"Without the foundation, I would have had to do without needed supplies. With the grants I've had, I've been able to do really creative projects that have motivated uninterested new readers to read, and developed leadership in students who before were shy or had behavior problems. These projects have impacted children way beyond the 600 or so students I have in any given year."
—René Mateo, Epperly Heights Elementary art teacher
"The Men of Distinction project utilizes one of the most powerful tools we have in public education for reaching and positively influencing our young students - other students. The younger students get the benefits of hearing someone who's 'been there.' The Men of Distinction student mentors get to see how their positive thoughts and actions affect younger students. They also learn they can and do make a difference."
—Robert Turner, Del Crest Junior High teacher
"My students still request to work with the 'robotic arms' because it is fun learning about how robotics works. The project has had a direct bearing on the students' grades, as I have observed their grade reports go from D's and C's to A's and B's. Their learning behaviors are more positive in nature because they want to learn why/how things work, and now understand why school is important to them. The students have further engaged their learning by expanding their knowledge base of wireless technology, laptop usage, and website researching for information."
—Sheri Admire, Soldier Creek Elementary teacher
"It has been a joy to be involved with the sculpture garden at Del City High School. This sculpture garden has special meaning. It beautified an unused space and brought together students from all walks of life, from advanced to special ed. Additionally, it opened up the arts to everyone, offering opportunity for conversation, disagreement or praise, which, in my opinion, is what the arts are all about."
—Lyn Hester, Vice President, INTEGRIS Health
"It has truly been a privilege to work with the foundation. You have made me become a better teacher because you have allowed me to be creative within the classroom. At my retirement reception there were countless former students who wrote that their favorite memories were from grants in the past—the Okie Dokey concert, the Broadway tour, our concert with a NASA astronaut, the Julia Child cooking concert, or the tuba player playing "Flight of the Bumblebee" in a bee costume. So many incredible memories that you have helped create! There are no adequate words to thank you for the impact you have had upon the Monroney band students."
—Jackie Gilley, retired Monroney Middle School band director
