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Successful Schools in Action (SSIA) was created to help realize the tremendous potential of working collaboratively.  By working together, we will build stronger schools, attract and retain additional students into the public school system, and over time strengthen the workforce and create good citizenship.

Recent Grants

We’d like to thank several organizations who recently awarded SSIA program grants:

• The Moraine Foundation recently awarded SSIA a new grant in support of our Debate Program

• Nancy Alvord and Katharyn Gerlich have stepped forward with a very generous 3-year incentive grant

• The Norcliffe Foundation recently renewed it’s support of the Debate program with a generous, 2-year grant

• The Mannix Canby Foundation recently renewed and increased it’s support of our tutoring program with funding targeted specifically to our new paid math tutor component

• The City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods, in support of our Work Study program

As a small non-profit, Successful Schools in Action actively seeks out and relies on the generosity of both public and private charitable organizations as a major source of our funding. The grant awards we receive are a strong statement of support and recognition for the work SSIA does on behalf of our students. Together, schools and community united, we are making a difference.

Background

Faced with decreasing budgets, our public schools have had to cut many programs and support services. At the same time, class sizes are increasing, making it more difficult than ever for classroom teachers to provide individualized instruction that addresses the range of student ability levels. In 2002 a group of principals, staff, and parents from the seven public schools on Queen Anne and Magnolia began meeting to discuss innovative ways to support and strengthen our public schools. We quickly recognized that building a strong and collaborative community where we could share resources and work closely with neighborhood partners would be crucial to our success. In October of 2004 we were awarded a Small Projects matching grant from the City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods. One hundred percent of this amount was matched through cash donations and in-kind services from the community. With this funding, in March 2005 the group incorporated as a 501(c)3, hiring an Executive Director and forming a Board of Directors, and Successful Schools in Action became a reality.

Who We Are

SSIA is comprised of the seven public schools in the Queen Anne/Magnolia neighborhood cluster: Lawton K-5, Coe K-5, Hay K-5, Catharine Blaine K-8, McClure Middle School, the Secondary Bilingual Education Center (SBOC), & The Center High School. Over 3,000 students are served in these schools, including a broad spectrum of ethnically, racially, and economically diverse students and families from every neighborhood in Seattle. The SBOC serves students from all over the world; together they speak 34 languages and dialects. Half the students at McClure Middle School are neighborhood students, while half are bused in from other Seattle neighborhoods. The Bilingual program at Coe and the Autism Inclusion program at Hay further contribute to the diverse population served in this cluster.

SSIA’s Board of Directors includes the principal from each school, parent and teacher representatives, and community members. Our Board members are passionately committed to Successful Schools and are active participants. We have four part-time staff members:

• Lisa Moore, Executive Director, is a Seattle public school parent. With a PhD in instructional technology, eight years of program management experience in the technology field, and a strong belief in public education, she has been with SSIA since it first formed in 2002.

• Flo Minehan, Tutor Program Manager, is responsible for developing and administering our Tutor program. Flo is a 20-year member of the community and has two daughters in Seattle Public Schools. She has been an active participant in neighborhood and District-wide education programs.

• Mary Douglas, Work Experience Program Manager, joined us in the fall of 2007. Mary has long  been active in the Queen Anne public schools and has a background in human resources.

• Melissa Yeager, Individual Giving Manager, just joined SSIA in February 2008. Melissa will be working to help expand our fundraising efforts. She most recently worked in development at the Tacoma Art Museum.

We are also very fortunate to have many volunteers from the schools and community working with us, as well as graduate school interns and education students from Seattle Pacific University. We acknowledge and thank the staff from each of our schools as well as many neighborhood businesses and organizations for their support. Successful Schools in Action is also very appreciative of the financial donations from PTA’s and the opportunity to collaborate with these groups. SSIA is not affiliated with the Seattle School District, although it works closely with the District to maximize benefits for students.