The Foundation for Tulsa Schools today announced the launch of a new challenge grant from George Kaiser Family Foundation to raise funds for Tulsa Public Schools’ Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Initiative. GKFF will match funds contributed by other donors – on a dollar-for-dollar basis -– with a goal of raising $1,845,451 for the district’s TLE Initiative.
“We are very grateful for the generous support of George Kaiser Family Foundation in presenting the Foundation for Tulsa Schools with this matching grant program,” said Lucky Lamons, President and CEO of the Foundation for Tulsa Schools. “Given the importance of Tulsa Public Schools’ work through the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Initiative and its role in developing, supporting and retaining the best and brightest teachers and principals, it’s important that we seek other partners in the community to help with funding this work. GKFF, along with our other donors, are deeply committed to the district and its TLE initiative, and we look forward to a very successful campaign.”
Since 2010, GKFF and 18 other civic donors have been active partners with Tulsa Public Schools as the district seeks to transform the way teachers and leaders are trained, evaluated and supported in classrooms and school buildings. In 2009, through a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, TPS launched its Teacher and Leader Effectiveness initiative after extensive research and collaboration between district administrators, principals, teachers, Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association leadership and the broader community. Since 2010, Tulsa civic donors have provided $5,376,747 in funding toward the TLE initiatives at Tulsa Public Schools; additionally, the Foundation for Tulsa Schools has provided $975,000 over the same time period.