Lawrence Schools Foundation

Welcome to Lawrence, team Algeria! ⚽️

Help Fill the Backpacks. Fuel the Future. 🎒

Your business or organization can make a big impact with one simple step: host a school supply collection bin!

The 2026 Annual Douglas County Back2School Supply Drive is a community partnership between the The Salvation Army of Douglas County, Corps Community Center, ECKAN, Lawrence Public Schools & Foundation, Eudora Schools Foundation, Baldwin City Public Schools & Education Foundation, Walmart and the United Way of Kaw Valley. Together, we're helping local students start the school year ready to learn.

✨ Last year, this incredible community effort provided backpacks and school supplies to approximately 1,800 students across Douglas County!

Here's how you can help:
📍 Host a donation bin at your business from July 1–31
✔️ We provide the collection bin and signage
✔️ You encourage customers, employees, and visitors to donate
✔️ We coordinate pickup or drop-off of the collected supplies at the end of July

Every notebook, pencil, and backpack donated helps ensure local students walk into the classroom prepared and confident.

Interested in becoming a collection site? Sign up today and join us in making a difference for Douglas County students!

To confirm participation or ask questions, please contact Monroe Hanson with United Way of Kaw Valley at 785-228-5120 or [email protected].

A huge THANK YOU to Fleet Feet Lawrence for their incredible partnership and generous donation of shoes to the Lawrence Schools Foundation!

Because of community partners like Fleet Feet, Lawrence Public Schools students in need will have the opportunity to start the new school year on the right foot with a new pair of shoes and renewed confidence.

As we prepare for our 3rd Annual Kids Expo this August, these donated shoes will be available alongside additional pairs of new shoes for local students. This free community event will also offer health screenings, educational resources, back-to-school supplies, free haircuts, prize drawings, giveaways, food, entertainment, and much more.

Thank you, Fleet Feet, for helping us remove barriers and ensure every child is ready to learn and thrive. Your generosity is making a lasting difference in our community!

Congratulations to our 2026 Julie Boyle Heart & Spirit Award recipient, Free State High School educator and coach, Chuck Law!

In recognition of Julie's lasting legacy and retirement last year, the Lawrence Schools Foundation along with our partners at Truity Credit Union declared June 10 as "Julie Boyle Day" and established the Julie Boyle Heart and Spirit Award, which is now presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the same values Julie has demonstrated throughout her remarkable career.

This award honors individuals who lead with heart, inspire with spirit, and make a lasting impact on students, schools, and our community. Along with the recognition, Coach Law received a $1,000 award.

The nomination letters spoke volumes about the impact he has had on generations of students:

A former student and athlete wrote, "Coach Law was the best coach I could've ever asked for. He allowed me to grow as a player while also keeping me locked in and focused. I couldn't pick a better person to win this award."

Another wrote, "Coach Law played an important role in my academic journey. Growing up, I was always interested in the economy, and his classes served as my introduction to the financial industry within academia. His classes were difficult for many students, but he was an incredibly engaging lecturer, and I looked forward to his class every day. My foundation for economic thinking was developed within his classroom, and that foundation has held up extremely well throughout college."

A peer wrote, "Mr. Law retired this year. His presence in the hallways—greeting students with a warm smile and an encouraging word—will be deeply missed. At his retirement reception he delivered a moving address to staff about the importance of our work with young people; his remarks resonated strongly and brought many colleagues to tears." — Amy McAnarney, principal, Free State High

After an incredible career, Coach Law retired this year, but his legacy of mentorship, leadership, kindness, and service will continue to inspire students and colleagues for years to come.

Congratulations, Coach Law, on this well-deserved honor!

We stopped by Free State High School and Lawrence High School today to capture our student-athletes in action during summer weights and conditioning—and to see the new Truity Fuel Zones hard at work!

Thanks to a $15,000 gift from Truity Credit Union through the Lawrence Schools Foundation, student-athletes now have access to convenient nutrition stations at both high schools to help fuel workouts and support recovery throughout the summer.

The importance of proper nutrition has even inspired the Free State High School Football team's motto this year: E.A.T. — Effort. Attitude. Team. The Truity Fuel Zones are helping students "eat" with purpose while reinforcing the values that drive success on and off the field.

Through the Truity High School Fund, every swipe of a High School Spirit Debit Card helps support Lawrence Public Schools. Together, this partnership has already generated more than $85,000 for Lawrence High School and Free State High School students.

Thank you, Truity, for investing in the health, wellness, and success of our student-athletes!

SAVE THE DATE:

The 3rd Annual Kids Expo is coming Saturday, August 8, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Schools Educational Support Center (110 McDonald Drive)!

Join the Lawrence Schools Foundation for this FREE community event featuring back-to-school supplies, free shoes, haircuts (by appt only), health screenings, giveaways, food, entertainment, and more! Last year, more than 2,000 students and families attended.

Interested in hosting a booth or participating? Email [email protected] for more information.

Today, Ian Wood and Brian Roth from McCownGordon Construction visited Free State High School to see a Teacher Grant in action with Amanda Torbett, Woodworking, Construction, and Design/Production/Repair teacher for Lawrence Public Schools.

Through a $750 McCownGordon Teacher Grant from the Lawrence Schools Foundation, Ms. Torbett purchased a 3D printer that gives students hands-on opportunities to design and create tools and parts used in their construction courses.

With nearly 150 students enrolled each year, this new technology is helping students create custom measuring devices, jigs, clamps, mallets, tool organizers, and more—while improving workflow, productivity, and organization in the shop.

There are moments that remind us exactly why we do this work. Wednesday's Excellence In Teaching award presentation honoring Mallory Johnson at Community Connections @ Pinckney was one of them—filled with emotion, gratitude, and powerful tributes to an extraordinary educator.

Mallory Johnson, Secondary Therapeutic Classroom (STC) teacher at Community Connections @ Pinckney in Lawrence Public Schools, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award—known locally as the Bobs Award—and received a $10,000 prize.

The Lawrence Schools Foundation presented the annual honor Wednesday during an all-school assembly attended by Johnson’s family, colleagues, students, former coworkers, Foundation board members, and district leaders.

“My son, Daniel Zogry, was a student of Mallory’s for three years in the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom (STC), and she was the guiding force behind his ability to remain in school. He struggled with suicidal ideation every day and could not tolerate the school building. His WRAP worker and school counselor connected with Mallory, and she came to meet Daniel at the end of that school year to see if he would be a good fit for her classroom. Our lives changed immeasurably for the better when we learned he could attend the STC in the fall of his second year,” said parent Sally Monahan. “Describing Mallory and her talents, skills, and gifts takes just four words: ‘we don’t deserve her.’”

“She excels at helping kids build discipline while meeting them where they are. It’s an incredibly delicate line to walk with any group of students, and she makes it look almost effortless with kids who require more patience than most. She does it with warmth, good humor, and joy,” said parent Brady Swenson.

“Mallory creates a classroom environment where all students feel safe, valued, and capable of growth. Working in a therapeutic setting requires not only strong instructional skills but also deep empathy and adaptability. Mallory consistently implements innovative, trauma-informed practices that meet students where they are—academically, socially, and emotionally. She inspires students to believe in themselves, often helping them rediscover their potential after significant challenges. Her ability to balance high expectations with compassion is truly exceptional,” said Principal Jenna Viscomi of Community Connections @ Pinckney.

“I encourage our community—if you have not had the opportunity to step inside this building and see the incredible programs, educators, staff, and students—to do so. It is life-changing and profoundly impactful to our community,” said Dena Johnston, Executive Director of the Lawrence Schools Foundation.

Nearly 30 years ago, a group of civic leaders who shared the first name Bob established this award through the Foundation. The benefactors remain anonymous to keep the focus on the exceptional educators selected each year.

The Bobs Award recognizes a teacher who exemplifies extraordinary instructional skill; demonstrates a deep commitment to quality education; focuses on individual student achievement; attends to the whole child; and is consistently caring, adaptable, professional, and proficient.

Johnson is the 30th recipient of this prestigious annual honor.

Today’s Career Connections program, sponsored by the Lawrence Schools Foundation, brought real-world insight to students at Lawrence High School with an engaging panel on Careers in Health & Human Performance.

As we wrap up our final Career Connections event for the school year, we are incredibly grateful for the professionals who continue to invest their time and expertise into our Lawrence Public Schools students. We look forward to returning in the fall and expanding this impactful program to include our middle school students as well.

A huge thank you to our outstanding panelists for sharing their journeys, advice, and inspiration:

• Lisa Graves, M.S., CCC-SLP — Speech Solutions, LLC
• Kaarin Haig, MS, ATC, LAT, CES — Free State & OrthoKansas
• Jason Sinclair — Pharmaceutical Sales & Marketing, Eli Lilly and Company
• Quincy Johnson, Ph.D., CSCSD, NSCA-CPTD — Assistant Director, Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory

Students explored career pathways in speech-language pathology, athletic training, pharmaceutical sales and marketing, and athletic performance—learning how a passion for helping others and promoting wellness can grow into meaningful, rewarding careers.

Thank you to our panelists for helping students see what’s possible beyond the classroom and for making this year’s Career Connections series such a success.

Today’s Career Connections program, sponsored by the Lawrence Schools Foundation, brought real-world insight to Lawrence Public Schools students at Free State High School with a powerful panel on Careers in Health & Human Performance.

A huge thank you to our incredible panelists for sharing their journeys, advice, and inspiration:

• Lisa Graves, M.S., CCC-SLP — Speech Solutions, LLC
• Kaarin Haig, MS, ATC, LAT, CES — Free State & OrthoKansas
• Jason Sinclair — Pharmaceutical Sales & Marketing, Eli Lilly and Company

Students explored pathways in speech-language pathology, athletic training, and pharmaceutical sales and marketing—learning how passion for helping others can turn into meaningful careers.

Thank you to our panelists for investing your time in our students and helping them see what’s possible beyond the classroom.

We’re excited for this same panel to connect with students at Lawrence High School next week!