October 12, 2015
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I regularly find myself dreaming about what SRI could do for the world. Four years into my work as Organizational Director, I am moved to act and to dream big! I know our tools and resources, and the knowledge and expertise of the people who use them, make a real difference for students. But, I can’t do this alone. I need you to help make these dreams reality.
When I was a classroom teacher in a high-poverty school, the tools of SRI made a huge impact on my teaching as well as on the culture of the building. Once we grounded ourselves in the use of SRI practices, the results were measurable. The adults learned how to think about teaching and learning in innovative ways; we had courageous conversations about equity; we challenged our own and other’s assumptions; we learned to listen and collaborate; and most importantly, my students had more engaging and challenging classroom experiences, largely because I was working differently, more collaboratively and fiercely, both with my students and my colleagues. I know that this collaborative culture we were developing made a difference for me personally, but more significantly for the students I served. I believe all educators should have this opportunity.
Today, we are launching our Dream Big Fundraising campaign and we need your help to make it happen. Our goal is to raise $200,000 over the next year, and use 100% of this money to provide scholarships and learning grants. When we reach our goal:
- $20,000 will be allocated for the Faith Dunne/Nancy Mohr Scholarship Fund for Winter Meeting Scholarships;
- $30,000 will be allocated for individual scholarships for educators to attend SRI sponsored professional development (3-5 day seminars);
- $50,000 will be used for learning grants designed by SRI affiliates as ways to bring transformational learning to communities throughout the country;
- $100,000 will be allocated for schools and districts to apply for grants of $5,000-$10,000 to bring SRI professional development to their locations.
SRI needs your help to nurture hope in schools and to help educators build vibrant communities of learners. In the current climate of corporate reform, I want SRI’s version of school reform and transformation to shine. I want our tools and resources in more schools, supporting more teachers. Right now, there are countless educators who are unable to take advantage of the high-quality professional development provided by SRI and SRI affiliates simply because they do not have funding.
There are three ways you can help us Dream Big:
- Create a Personal Fundraising page. We have partnered with Network for Good and are asking our affiliates to join us as fundraisers on behalf of SRI. If this is something you can help with, click here to learn how to set-up a personal fundraising page and use the tools provided to ask your friends, families and colleagues to help support this amazing and bold goal.
- Host an event and donate the proceeds to the SRI Dream Big Campaign. Click here for some great event ideas.
- Make a personal tax-deductible financial donation directly to SRI. Every dollar moves us closer to our goal! You can donate via the SRI Website, that will connect you to the campaign website. Scroll to the bottom and click on the ‘Donate’ button.
Since 2009, when SRI became an independent nonprofit, we estimate that we have served almost one million students (Scope of Work Study, 2014). Through SRI outreach efforts including events, resources and professional learning provided by our facilitators, the work of SRI reaches more than 1,000 colleagues each year. How amazing would it be to double that number, and help millions more students to have the experience of attending schools that are working towards educational equity and excellence?
I believe we can do this! Do you dare to share this brave, bold, and fierce dream? SRI needs your support to bring this work – true, equitable – transformational – work to educators who otherwise may not be able to access it.
If you are ready to make this commitment, please click here and learn about the SRI Dream Big Campaign and how you can join us in this awesome task to bring the work of SRI to thousands more educators. Please join me and Dream Big with SRI! Ready to dive in? Visit the SRI Dream Big Campaign Fundraising website to get started!
Kari Thierer
Organizational Director, School Reform Initiative
P.S.: Our Dream Big Campaign kicks off today. I need you to help us make this dream a reality. Every dollar gets us closer to our goal of $200,000 that will go back into the education community. Can you help us bring this work to educators throughout the country?
