About Our Education Foundation

What Drives Us

Our Mission

To provide inspiring experiences for our students now, and for decades to come, through teacher innovation grants, student scholarships and a growing endowment.

Who we serve

Serving Our Students, Schools, and Community

Our History

We support the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District’s efforts to improve student achievement across all demographic groups by focusing on equitable practices – the heart of an inclusive, innovative and inspiring learning community. We award staff grants and student scholarships annually, and fund programs and activities aligned with the district’s priorities each school year.

In 2020-2021, we are committed more than ever to equity and making sure all students succeed. As part of our response to COVID-19, we have raised nearly $100,000 to support students’ basic needs, including school lunches and breakfasts, personal hygiene items, and the Weekend Food Program.

Our 2020-2021 focus areas include continuing to support students’ basic needs with meals and hygiene items as well as providing internet access for all and supporting the development of an anti-racism curriculum for K-12 students. Watch for more details about the curriculum initiative coming soon.

We are a nonprofit 501c3 organization, founded in 2011.

Our Students

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free and reduced

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American Indian or Alaska Native

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Asian

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Black or African American

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Hispanic / Latino

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Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

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Two or more races

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White

Female

Male

ELL Leaners

Students with Disabilities

Our Staff

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full-time equivalent teaching staff

full-time employees

Our District

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More Information

About MCPASD

Bloom

In March 2020, we hosted Bloom, our inaugural cocktail event at the Marriott West Hotel. Our fundraising focus was on expanding and diversifying K-8 classroom libraries, and nearly 500 people supported Bloom, in person or online. The event raised $57,000, and we donated the proceeds to the district at the Aug. 10, 2020, Board of Education meeting. Proceeds are being shared across the district to diversify classroom libraries in all of the district’s elementary and middle schools.

Inspiration Grants

Each year, we award inspiration grants to MCPASD teachers and staff. We have awarded more than 125 grants worth over $125,000 since 2013!

The grants fund innovative and unique programs that complement the district’s educational goals, and provide experiences for students that go beyond those provided in a traditional learning environment.

Each year, we review the goals of the district’s Educational Plan and establish grant goals that recognize the changing environment and needs within the district.

Our most recent round of grants was awarded in May of 2021, when we gave 5 grants totaling over $5500 to teachers and staff at five MCPASD schools. Check out the application [here].

If you have questions about the grant application process, please email Education Foundation board member [Kathryn McLeod] or Executive Director [Amber Kiggens-Leifheit].

Internet Connectivity

At the height of the pandemic, during the 2020-21 school year, the MCPASD Education Foundation raised over $50,000 to provide or improve Internet access for students in need. The MiFi devices and other digital tools helped over 100 district learners connect with their teachers and classmates through online learning. Even as the district has returned to in-person instruction, Internet access is still a critical need for our students, who rely on remote access for homework, enrichment activities, academic support and independent learning.

Middleton Future Scholars Program

The Middleton Future Scholars endowment provides scholarships to support the education goals of ambitious youth who have demonstrated perseverance to pursue post-secondary schooling.

The scholarship criteria are:

Evidence of economic hardship
Part of an underrepresented minority group at Middleton High School
Pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited institution

Established in 2016, scholarships are awarded annually to deserving Middleton High School seniors.

Mighty Middleton Scholarship

The Mighty Middleton Scholarship was established in 2018 to raise money to support MCPASD graduates who intend to devote their careers to helping others in the health care and related professions. This scholarship was inspired by Theresa and Don Roepsch, whose granddaughters attend District schools. Theresa and Don love their granddaughters and have always encouraged them to help others. On October 6, 2018, Theresa passed away after a battle with cancer. Here is a link to her obituary. The scholarship award committee will look for students who exhibit leadership, character, academic success and dedication to helping others. All graduating seniors are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Personal Hygiene

The MCPASD Education Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that students have their basic needs met so they can focus on learning. We helped fund the launch of the district’s Personal Hygiene Kit distribution, which provided toiletries and other essentials to families whose lives and incomes had been impacted by the risks and uncertainties of these unprecedented times.

We’re proud to have contributed over $35,000 to this initiative in the 2020-21 school year and, because the needs are ongoing, we are continuing our support for continued Hygiene Kit distribution and other initiatives such as making period products available at no cost in district restroom facilities.

Weekend Food Program

The Weekend Food Program provides healthy snacks and small meals for MCPASD children in need. It’s a partnership between MCPASD social workers and five local churches: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, St. Bernard Catholic Church, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Middleton Community Church and West Middleton Lutheran Church. Through the program, school social workers coordinate with church volunteers to distribute backpacks of food to nearly 200 students each Friday during much of the school year. This free program is available to families who believe they would benefit from extra food being sent home. Families work with school social workers to participate in the program, which is available in all the district’s elementary schools, Glacier Creek and the Middleton Youth Center, where Kromrey students can attend after school. We’re honored to collect financial donations in support of the Weekend Food Program. As part of our COVID-19 response in 2019-2020, we raised $xx for the Weekend Food Program.