In a classic episode of The Simpsons, Springfield Elementary puts on a play for the miserly Mr. Burns in the hope he would donate money to their school. In their play the kids demonstrate how an illiterate chef might mistake rat poison for salt while making Mr. Burns’s dinner, and how “Doctor Stupid” wouldn’t make the situation any better for him.
The Simpsons did make an excellent point in their over the top fashion: Public education is paramount to our community’s well-being, both for our children’s sake and for our own.
Fortunately Eden Prairie’s schools don’t have to petition Mr. Burns for donations. They receive much of the support they so dearly deserve courtesy of the pillars of the community who donate to the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools (FEPS).
FEPS’ mission is to support and enhance the legacy of excellence in Eden Prairie’s public schools. They offer grants to support students directly, manage college scholarships, and provide funds wherever else they can do the most good for our community’s rising stars. Picture first graders learning about plant life cycles by growing their own vegetable gardens in their classrooms and then sampling the results. That is the kind of experiential learning FEPS stands for.
This summer FEPS announced their new executive director, Dr. Lisa Sisinni. Having earned her doctorate in educational leadership at University of St. Thomas and her master's degree in management and administration at Metropolitan State University, Dr. Sisinni is an ideal fit for the role. In addition to her educational successes, Dr. Sisinni has served various leadership roles for nonprofit organizations over the past three decades, most recently as executive director for the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce.
“The rise of FEPS is a testament to how caring and charitable the Eden Prairie community really is,” said Dr. Sisinni. “FEPS began in 1999, and in only 20 years has awarded over $1 million to support Eden Prairie students. Few other nonprofit organizations can claim that level of success – success that is accomplished by our generous supporters.
“While a public education is free, we believe that an exceptional one is not. That’s why we are so grateful to our donors and volunteers. Their dollars and time allow us to support Eden Prairie students throughout their educational path. We fund programs to ensure students show up to kindergarten prepared and ready to learn, as well as innovative classroom grants to bring learning to life. And when our students walk across that stage at graduation, FEPS is there to administer college scholarships.
“Every year we offer opportunities for teachers, administrators and community leaders to apply for grants that support Eden Prairie students. They request financial support for a great many programs that will have a positive, lasting impact on the lives of Eden Prairie’s schoolchildren. In 2019 alone we approved grants to encourage 21st century learning in math and coding, pair professional artists with special education students, and focus on our earliest learners as they prepare to start Kindergarten. We also give support to EPIC Youth Programs, which create a fun, safe, and supportive atmosphere where students maintain educational continuity throughout the summer and return to school on track for success.
“As COVID-19 struck Eden Prairie we knew our typical grant cycles would not meet the needs of our students, so we convened the board to decide how we could best help the community navigate all the new issues surrounding the pandemic. Instead of allocating individual grants this year, we donated $25 thousand to the school district to support their changing, districtwide needs. They used this money to start the COVID-19 Relief Fund, which has made healthy meals available to low income families throughout the summer. The fund also helped provide telehealth mental health services to children and families in need during these difficult times and continued to support summer learning opportunities so our students would be ready to pick back up in the fall.
“Nonprofit organizations like FEPS are incredibly fortunate for the outpouring of support we receive from local individuals and businesses. Members of the Eden Prairie community continue to amaze us with their generosity and trust.”
It can feel difficult to make a change for good these days. However, directly investing in the future of our children is the greatest way to soften any dispiritedness you might feel. Please visit foundationforepschools.org to learn more about this local nonprofit and help them support and enhance the legacy of excellence in Eden Prairie Schools.