Stillwater Public Education Foundation

09/10/2026

SPEF is grateful for our partnership with Walmart to bring these Spark Good Grants to Stillwater Public Schools! Congrats, Ms. Williams!

We are excited to share that Ms . Williams at Highland Park has been selected as a recipient of a Walmart Spark Good Grant to help bring Ukulele Club back to HP! 🎶💜🐾

Thanks to this generous grant, our students will have even more opportunities to make music together outside of the regular school day!

Ukulele Club will be offered in both the fall and spring, with a club for 2nd and 3rd grade students this fall and another club for 4th and 5th grade students in the spring.

The Walmart Spark Good Grant will help cover the costs of operating the clubs and provide the resources needed to make these exciting opportunities accessible to our students.

A huge congratulations and thank you to Kristine Williams for helping bring the joy of music back to Highland Park! 🎵🖤💜

09/04/2026

The entire 4th grade teaching team at Westwood Elementary School came together to transform social studies into an immersive, hands-on adventure through a SPEF Teacher Grant! Students explored U.S. regions through research, landmark models, dioramas, art, STEM activities, technology and more.

From creating “Biography Bottles” and building landmarks to bringing historical figures to life with digital tools, students were learning, creating and collaborating every step of the way! Check out these great pictures which show the students working together, planning, designing and then finally presenting on their showcase day!

We love seeing teachers work together to make learning engaging, creative and unforgettable! What teaching teams will collaborate this year??? Grant applications are open all SPS employees now through September 30th.

09/02/2026

Hey SPS Teachers & Staff: GRANTS ARE OPEN! Visit SPEF's website to learn more. From now until September 30, you have an opportunity to apply for innovative resources and classroom support.

Maybe you could be a grant recipient like Hope Cox at Stillwater Middle School Pioneers. Thanks to a SPEF Teacher Grant, Coach Cox has created a sensory support system in her 6th and 7th grade classroom. Fidgets, tactile materials, calming tools and STEM manipulatives give students structured ways to manage emotions, reduce anxiety and improve focus—helping them feel more confident and ready to learn.

The result? Greater engagement, stronger self-regulation and fewer classroom disruptions.

“These resources have allowed me to better support student success both academically and emotionally. I am truly grateful for SPEF’s support and investment in our students.”

This is what happens when we invest in teachers and give them the tools to meet students where they are. Together, we’re helping every Pioneer thrive!

08/31/2026

20 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP. 20 YEARS OF INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SPEF is incredibly proud to recognize five Corporate Partners who have supported Stillwater Public Schools for 20 years!

Our mission is to build strong community connections and support for Stillwater Public Schools, and these businesses have helped us do just that for more than two decades. Through their continued partnership and financial support, we are able to enhance learning experiences, encourage teacher innovation and initiative, and provide opportunities that might not otherwise be possible for our students.

At our annual Celebration of Education at the new Stillwater High School on August 6, SPEF was honored to recognize these incredible partners for their 20 years of giving back to public education.

Oklahoma Community Credit Union
OnCue Express
Simmons Bank
Stillwater Medical Center
Tinker Federal Credit Union

THANK YOU is not enough. Your commitment to our schools is an investment in our teachers, our students, and the future of our community.

As a public school foundation, SPEF receives no state or federal funding. Every dollar we put back into our schools comes from corporate partners, community donors, and private grants. Because of supporters like these, SPEF has been able to invest more than $2 million back into Stillwater Public Schools through Teacher Grants, technology, scholarships, and special programming.

Twenty years of partnership is something worth celebrating. Thank you for believing in Stillwater students—and for continuing to show up for public education.

08/28/2026

Helping Students Feel, Focus and Thrive

A SPEF teacher grant to Jordyn Scott at Skyline Elementary helped bring new tools for emotional regulation into the classroom, giving students practical ways to manage emotions, refocus, and feel ready to learn.

Through designated fidget circles, calming spaces, and small-group activities, students learned how to use sensory tools such as fidgets, weighted lap pads, and tactile supports. Specialized books were also incorporated into read-alouds and discussions, helping students explore emotions, empathy, problem-solving, and healthy peer relationships.

The impact reaches beyond a single lesson. Students are developing coping strategies they can use throughout the school day, while building confidence, stronger relationships, and greater independence in managing their emotions.

Best of all, these reusable resources will remain in the classroom for years to come, supporting future students and helping create a more positive, inclusive environment where every student has the tools they need to learn and succeed!

08/27/2026

Making Math More Accessible: A SPEF grant to Stillwater Middle School Pioneers math teacher Summer Montgomery is helping make math more accessible and engaging for every learner.

Large-display calculators and personal whiteboards are now part of daily instruction in her 6th- and 7th-grade math classroom. Students use the whiteboards to show their thinking, solve problems together, and get immediate feedback, while the larger calculators provide an accessible tool for students who benefit from an easier-to-see display.

One especially encouraging result? When students were given the choice between a standard calculator and the large-display version during state testing, every student chose the large-display calculator. These durable resources will continue supporting approximately 150 students each year for years to come. We’re proud to invest in tools that help Stillwater students participate, build confidence, and succeed in mathematics.

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

08/18/2026

What an incredible night celebrating public education and the exciting future of Stillwater! Celebrate New Frontiers was an A+!

A week before school started, corporate partners, donors, community leaders and friends of SPEF gathered inside the brand-new Stillwater High School for SPEF’s annual Celebration of Education fundraiser. It was the perfect setting to celebrate where we’ve been, where we are, and all the possibilities ahead for Stillwater Public Schools.

One of the highlights of the evening was honoring our amazing teacher grant recipients! These educators brought their creativity and passion to life as they showcased the innovative resources and classroom experiences made possible through SPEF-funded grants. Seeing the impact of these grants firsthand was a wonderful reminder of how investing in teachers directly benefits our students
A very special thank-you to our presenting sponsor, Willowbrook,Inc., for helping make this unforgettable evening possible and for investing in the future of our students and schools.

And to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated, volunteered, or helped bring the evening to life — thank you! Your generosity and belief in public education make a lasting difference.

Here’s to celebrating new frontiers and the bright future ahead!

Commemorative coin favors were sponsored by Willowbrook,Inc. and 505 Architects LLC
Catering: Meditations Weddings & Events
Florals: Garden Party Florist
Balloons: Party Favor
Printing: QuikPrint-Stillwater
Tour Guides: SHS Student Council
Strings Quartet: SHS Band
Auctioneer: Kaid Brock
Treats: Frios Gourmet Pops
Planning and Hosts: SPEF Board of Trustees

08/13/2026

We’re loving all of the first day of school pictures!!! So excited for a great year for all of the Pioneers, from PreK to Seniors!
We wanted to tip our hats to the new high school facility as she celebrates her VERY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER! Excited for the new beginning and the many generations that will learn and grow in the new building.
A few years ago we hosted Adam Rex as our Adopt-An-Author visitor and he wrote a great book about school’s first day of school. It’s a great story of a building having first day jitters and hoping it can serve the students in the best way possible. We have no doubt the building will be great, but more than the walls and the space, we know the teachers, staff and administration across all facilities are serving our students to the best of their abilities. THANK YOU! Here’s to a great year 🎉