Foundation in Focus

It is a true honor to step into the role of President of the Maize Education Foundation. As a professor at Wichita State University, a former Maize school counselor, the spouse of a current Maize teacher, and a proud parent of five children in the district, my family’s story is deeply rooted in this community. I have seen firsthand the power of the Foundation; how it opens doors for students to attend workshops and leadership seminars, provides teachers with the resources to dream big for their classrooms, and supports our graduates with scholarships as they take their next steps.

This past year, your generosity made an incredible impact. Together, we allocated nearly $15,000 in Student Enrichment Grants, allowing students like Maize High School sophomore Carter Askew to pursue robotics competitions that sparked deeper interest in engineering and aerospace. We invested over $32,000 in Challenge Grants, funding innovative classroom and schoolwide projects that expanded learning opportunities. Through Employee Appreciation initiatives, we celebrated and supported our teachers with more than $14,000 in programs ranging from first-year teacher stipends to the Celebrating Excellence Awards. And with $6,000 in scholarships, we helped Maize graduates chase their dreams beyond high school.

Behind each of these numbers are stories of students and educators thriving because of your belief in them. That belief fuels my passion for the Foundation’s work and reminds me why I love being part of the Maize family.

As we look ahead, I invite you to continue this journey with us. Mark your calendars for our exciting upcoming events, the annual Birds and Bulls Gala and the Spring Breakfast, which not only bring us together as a community but also sustain the work that makes such a difference in our schools.

Thank you for your continued generosity and for being champions of excellence in Maize schools. Together, we are shaping futures and building a legacy of opportunity for generations to come.

With gratitude,

Dr. Lyndsey Brown

President

Maize Education Foundation Board of Directors

Maize Education Foundation’s Challenge Grants provide educators with resources to create new learning opportunities, such as the Lego Robotics Clubs at Maize Intermediate School and Maize South Intermediate School. In these clubs, students design and build robots for showcases, practicing creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Maize South Intermediate School STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) teacher James Buchanan noted that students learn to work together by testing and refining their robots to complete tasks.

Students also showcased their work at Maize Career Academy, where they explored advanced robotics programs at the middle and high school levels. For some, the experience sparked new academic interests and career goals, even boosting classroom performance.

Click here for the full Lego Robotics story.

Hutton Construction

Eric Clark joined the Maize Education Foundation board as a way to support the district and be involved in ways that help the students, staff members, faculty, and families who live and work in the community. A lifelong resident of the west side of Wichita, Eric and his family moved into the district so their kids could attend school here. He has also worked on a majority of the schools in the district as part of the last bond projects and has always been impressed with the district as a whole.

One of Eric’s favorite things about Maize USD 266 is that, despite being a growing district, each school still has its own personality, and students don’t get lost in the crowd. He particularly enjoys how the Foundation involves everyone across the district in the ways it gives back, offering a variety of grants and scholarships to not only teachers and students but also staff and families.