Our Mission
WE CELEBRATE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!
Our mission is to inspire learning and enhance teaching.
Students are our future, and our future is bright! During the 2021 school year, we recognized four student champions and administered more than $60,000 in scholarships. Investing in those who teach is vital, too. More than $27,000 was granted during the year for innovative projects and other specific needs related to promoting and sustaining student achievement, and $20,000 more was gifted to teachers and staff in recognition of their excellent work. We salute students, teachers, staff, administrators and families for their resilience always — and this year particularly.
Our Mission
We’re pulling together in 2025
We’re working every day to ensure that children in Lawrence have what they need to be successful in school. Over the last five years alone, through your generosity to the Foundation, we provided funding for school grants, programs, awards, and scholarships in excess of $8 MILLION! This includes the Foundation providing our educators more than $100,000 in innovative teaching, classroom, and school assistance grants to support them in encouraging student achievement and success. It also includes $100,000 in teacher and staff awards to recognize their outstanding and life-changing work with our students.
Thank you for making this possible!
- 10,535 students and 1,530 district educators and staff were impacted by Lawrence Schools Foundation during the 2023-2024 school year
- 40% of Lawrence students are enrolled in Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program
- 1,500+ Free Backpacks and school supplies were provided to our students and Lawrence Public Schools through our 2024 Back2School Drive
- 550,000+ in direct support of urgent and immediate needs of our students and families was provided from our I.C.A.N. and SEGER Funds since 2018
- 77 scholarships totaling $63,300+ were awarded to graduating seniors in 2024
- $30,047+ in grant funding was provided to educators in 2024
- $50,000+ was provided for lowering barriers to post-secondary opportunities, Education to USD497 students/parents of marginalized populations in financial literacy, Professional Development and culture & climate, staff recruitment and retention.
Our team
Meet our Staff
Dena Johnston
Dena Johnston has been the Executive Director of the Lawrence Schools Foundation since January, 2016. The Holton, Kan. native received her bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and nursing certification from Kansas State University in 1999, and was a member of the Classy Cat Dance Team at K-State for 3 years. Prior to 15 years work in Healthcare Administration, PR & Marketing, she spent four years working in the nursing field in Topeka and Lawrence.
Her passion in healthcare, philanthropy and community engagement ultimately led her to the Foundation.
She is the biggest fan to her three children Bentley, Braycen and Skyler. When she isn’t working or coaching the Varsity Cheer and Dance teams at Lawrence Free State High School, Dena enjoys cooking, cheering on her K-State Wildcats, traveling, being active in the community and organizing (yes, this is a hobby!).
“What I have enjoyed most about my experiences within the Foundation is seeing all of the amazing ideas and impactful contributions being developed in the Lawrence community,” she said. “I have not only been inspired for my future, but provided with a friendly reminder of what first sparked my passion for nonprofit work.”
Fun Fact: Dena once opened a Vanilla Ice concert as a backup dancer.
djohnsto@usd497.org
785-330-1941
Jamie Sinclair
Jamie Sinclair began working at the Foundation in 2011 and is the coordinator of the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Lawrence Education Achievement Partners (LEAP). A Lawrence native, she and her husband Jason have three children Logan, Lauren and Piper.
She and her family are avid Jayhawks fans and enjoys spending time at The Lake of the Ozarks with her family in the summer.
“My favorite thing about the Foundation is working with my awesome co-workers and I am sure they feel the same,” she said. “It feels like we work for the prize patrol being able to give out grants, awards and scholarships to the students and teachers. Our community business partners are so generous with their time and resources, whether it is speaking in a classroom or donating straws for science projects, they step in and help support our schools.”
Fun Fact: Jamie has a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do, but being only 4’ 10 ½” tall, she is not sure
how much of an effect it would have.
jsinclai@usd497.org
785-330-1854
Michelle Jennings
Michelle Jennings joined the LSF staff in 2020 as a Bookkeeper. Michelle has a BA in English/Speech Education from Washburn University. She retired from being a commercial lender at Central Bank of the Midwest this past summer; however, before working at the bank, she taught English at Free State High School. All four of her children, and her husband Tom, are Lawrence High School graduates. Her education background, and her experience in finance, make a great combination for the Foundation.
Michelle’s favorite pastime is playing with her grandsons, Lincoln and Finn. She loves to travel, knit and cross stitch, and read mystery/suspense novels. She is an avid professional football and college basketball fan.
“My favorite thing about the Foundation is being able to help both teachers and students. Dena and Jamie are great to work with, and they keep the Foundation connected to our school community’s needs. It is so rewarding to see how our Lawrence community comes together to support our kids and our teachers.”
Fun Fact: I’m a NASCAR fan, and my favorite driver is Chase Elliot.
michelle.jennings@usd497.org
785-330-1726
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President –Rob Gillespie, Commerce Bank
Past President – Sandra Gautt, Retired / University of Kansas
Vice President – Annie Myers, Feldmeyer Financial
Secretary – Mindy Collmeyer, DXC Technology
Treasurer – Scott Kimzey, McCownGordon Construction
Zak Bolick, Bob Sight Ford
Stacy Cordell, Jayhawk Global
Julie Dunlap, Writer/Producer Audra Fussell, Truity Credit Union
Patrick Kelly, Retired, Lawrence Public Schools Sarah Kruse, Principal, Hillcrest Elementary Amy McAnarney, Principal, Free State High School Kelly McPeak, TruHome Solutions
Martin Moore, Advanco Inc. Allison Vance Moore, Colliers
Robin Ward, The Write Design Kate White, CEK Insurance
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Dr. Jeanice Swift, Interim Superintendent, Lawrence Public Schools Anne Costello, Lawrence Board of Education
Jared Martin, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
JOIN US!
To Apply: If you are interested in exploring a board membership role with the Lawrence Schools Foundation,
we encourage you to apply by submitting your resume and a letter or email detailing your interest and how you hope to contribute to the Foundation to: djohnsto@usd497.org
Questions directed to Dena Johnston, Exeuctive Director,
are also welcomed prior to submitting an application.
A Message From
Our Director
Inspire. Enrich. Enhance. These are the goals we have every day when working with our Lawrence Public Schools educators, students and families and within our Lawrence community.
The Lawrence Schools Foundation prides itself in providing resources that inspire learning, enrich teaching and enhance opportunities for all students, educators, and staff in Lawrence Public Schools.
As we look back on all we accomplished over nearly 40 years, we are so grateful our community has made the important choice to continue to support educational excellence in Lawrence Public Schools.
Our generous donors are the first part of this success story. Without your contributions, we could not do what we do as a Foundation: meeting students where they are and helping them achieve their dreams.
We continue to focus relentlessly on the wellbeing, retention, and acknowledgement of staff, as students excel best in the presence of committed and inspired educators. We reinvigorated our Foundation Grants, funding an array of creative, staff- designed projects with district-wide impact.
We collaborated with donors and our community business partners to create new endowed funds, scholarships and funding classrooms and programs and committed ourselves to growing an Endowment to ensure the stability of our organization for generations to come.
The Foundation exists to ensure our students and educators in the Lawrence Public Schools have every opportunity to thrive, succeed, and create positive change in our communities. The Foundation has never been in a stronger position to support this vital mission.
We are grateful for another year devoted to securing and stewarding investments that advance excellence in our schools and make a difference to kids. I invite you to invest in the future of children and families today. Every dollar you donate fills gaps to provide support for those who need it most.
While these remain challenging times, with your support, the future looks bright for Lawrence Public School students.
Dena Johnston, Executive Director