ABOUT

When we say that learning excellence “stems” from the interest and financial involvement of those who care in a community, the Lakewood Educational Foundation stands as a pioneer. Since our inception in 2003, the LEF has presented over $325,000 in classroom and program grants that have assisted the Lakewood School District in providing the “extras” promoting educational opportunities. This year, with the generous contributions of over 200 donors and participants in our golf and movie night fund raising events, as well as end of year giving, we have awarded over $50,000 in programming and classroom education grants. This includes special laptop computers to support an exciting pilot program related to the district’s participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. 2016's LEF grants totaled 24 diverse programs and classroom concentrations ranging from novel “Wobble Chairs” that promote greater balance and science-verified brain focus development in early childhood learners to powerful Navigator System computer that provide a wireless link between a high school student’s graphing computer and the instructor’s classroom computer, enhancing engagement, understanding and performance. Excellence in teaching and learning often requires support beyond what a school district can provide. We sincerely appreciate that LEF donors recognize this gap and are willing to make the additional investment. We thank you for helping us accomplish our yearly goals and we look forward to continuing to partner with you in the most compelling community investment a donor can make.


  - Jennie Yonker

President Lakewood Educational Foundation

Today's students are tomorrow's leaders and today's leaders in education, business, and science tell us that STEM-related careers are the fastest-growing jobs with unlimited futures.
The LEF helped the Lakewood School District respond to that potential last year with the gift of a 3-D printer for the Lakewood Robotics Club, a STEM tool that is now being shared in classrooms from early learners to high school seniors. This year, the LEF is helping with implementation of a pilot STEM learning block for an eighth grade classroom that is expected to become a district wide learning opportunity in coming years.
This STEM classroom involves collaborative learning and is project-based around solving real-world problems. With the LEF’s assistance in purchase of high performance laptop computers, the class is readying its entry in the nationwide Transportation and Civil Engineering’s Bridge Builder competition. The contest to build a truss bridge that will carry as much of the load as possible while being light weight. Students will apply a variety of math and science concepts to identify and evaluate the social and environmental impacts associated with the development of new transportation systems within communities. Supporting STEM education is a bridge that the LEF is happy to be part of crossing.
“We are so excited to have a STEM program at the middle school. This is the first year that we will have the opportunity to send teams to participate in the statewide bridge tournament. The students will be challenged to learn a new design program and test their problem solving skills to the limit on building a strong yet light bridge. I am beyond grateful to the LEF in providing us the laptops we needed to run this software.”

- Kelly Shumway
8th Grade Science Teacher
“We are so excited to have a STEM program at the middle school. This is the first year that we will have the opportunity to send teams to participate in the statewide bridge tournament. The students will be challenged to learn a new design program and test their problem solving skills to the limit on building a strong yet light bridge. I am beyond grateful to the LEF in providing us the laptops we needed to run this software.”

- Kelly Shumway
8th Grade Science Teacher
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