Our Mission
WE CELEBRATE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!
Our mission is to provide resources that inspire learning, enrich teaching and enhance opportunities for all students, educators, and staff in Lawrence Public Schools.
Students are our future, and our future is bright! During the 2025-2026 school year, the Lawrence Schools Foundation invested more than $170,000 directly in our students and educators. That included $20,000 in teacher and staff awards, $74,450 in scholarships for graduating seniors, nearly $31,000 helping students access college courses through Jayhawk Blueprint and nearly $47,000 in innovative classroom grants. They aren’t simply dollars – they are opportunities. And the impact extends far beyond the classroom. Through our ICAN Fund, established in 2018, we have provided more than $585,000 in direct assistance to students and families facing urgent needs. This is support that meets families where they are – helping remove barriers so students can focus on what matters most:
Learning. Growing. Succeeding.
Because when we remove one barrier, we give a student the chance to walk through the school door, sit down in the classroom, and focus on being a kid.
This is what your support makes possible.
Our Mission
We’re pulling together in 2026
Every day, the Lawrence Schools Foundation invests in the students, educators and schools of Lawrence Public Schools—helping remove barriers, create opportunities and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. Through the generosity of our donors and community partners, we provide funding for innovative classroom and school grants, student scholarships, teacher and staff recognition, essential student needs, enrichment opportunities and programs that extend learning beyond the classroom. From supporting educators with resources to inspire learning to helping students pursue college, career and skilled-trade pathways, your generosity helps ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.
Thank you for investing in our students, our educators and the future of our Lawrence community.
- 10,535 students and 1,530 district educators and staff were impacted by Lawrence Schools Foundation during the 2025-2026 school year
- 40% of Lawrence students are enrolled in Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program
- 2,000+ Free Backpacks and school supplies were provided to our students and Lawrence Public Schools through our 2026 Back2School Drive
- Nearly 3,000 students and families received free backpacks and school supplies, new shoes, haircuts, food and valuable resources at our 3rd Annual Kids Expo
- 585,000+ 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 $74,450+ were awarded to graduating seniors in 2025
- Nearly $31,000 provided to help students access college courses through Jayhawk Blueprint
- $47,000+ in grant funding was provided to educators in 2025
- $20,000 in teacher and staff awards
- $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). She now serves as the Grants & Scholarship Manager, overseeing the Foundations internal and district grants and high school scholarships. 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
2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Allison Vance Moore, Colliers
Past President –Annie Myers, Feldmeyer Financial
Vice President – Zak Bolick, Bob Sight Ford
Secretary – Mindy Collmeyer, DXC Technology
Treasurer – Scott Kimzey, McCownGordon Construction
John Catlin, CEK Insurance
Stacy Cordell, Jayhawk Global Millinda Fowles, Jayhawk Blueprint / University of Kansas Audra Fussell, Truity Credit Union Sandra Gautt, Retired/University of Kansas Rob Gillespie, Commerce Bank Amanda Green, Principal, Sunflower Elementary School Patrick Kelly, Retired, Lawrence Public Schools Kathleen Lohfeld, Community Member Darin Lutz, Alpha Roofing Amy McAnarney, Principal, Free State High School Kelly McPeak, TruHome Solutions
Martin Moore, Advanco Inc. Maya Ozery, Kansas Athletics
Robin Ward, The Write Design
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, Superintendent, Lawrence Public Schools GR Gordon Ross, 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