PRESS ROOM
Katy's intense work ethic is something many BF students share. In most cases - including hers - it’s modeled by incredibly hard-working parents. Katy’s mom has two jobs and takes on additional work whenever possible. “My mom wants me to go to college- she doesn’t care what I study as long as it’s something. It’s the least I can do for her - and show her that all her hard work was worth it.”
“The the new Preschool Community Education Centers, is going to be a huge addition for the community, as we’re going to be able to support the local families during and after school,” Todd Klarich, PCSD director of community education, told TownLift.
PCEF donors help support important initiatives in our schools, including preschool, summer school, and afterschool.
The Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) announced the allocation of $265,000 in Classroom Grants for the 2024-25 school year. These grants, aimed at enhancing educational experiences, were enabled by, among others, the runners, donors, and fundraisers during the Foundation’s annual “Running with Ed” event.
The Park City School District will begin the 2024-25 school year with more than a quarter-million dollars in funding from Park City Education Foundation classroom grants. Classroom grants are awarded to teachers to bring innovative ideas, concepts, or practices to life, or expand past successful ideas in the classroom or school. Teachers (and administration) get to conceptualize and then try new things — unique learning activities, innovative technology. Money is allocated to programs that focus on creativity and innovation, the whole child, and academic success.
Mack Hastings, a rising ninth grader from Treasure Mountain Junior High, is set to compete in the Technology Student Association (TSA) national competition in Orlando. The Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) funds TSA’s Mustang After School Academy (MASA) at Treasure Mountain (around 15 students). At the high school level (over 40 students), PCEF has also funded various materials and printers.
“This year’s fundraising goes to support next year’s classroom grant awards and our board just voted on the grant committee's recommendations at our May 23 meeting and approved over $265,000 and grant awards that goes directly into our schools to support 35 programs, which is really exciting,” PCEF President and CEO, Ingrid Whitley said.
Park City Education Foundation CEO Ingrid Whitley and Vice President of Advancement Jen Billow provide an update on the success of Running With Ed and exceeding the classroom grants fundraising goal of $325,000 for the 2024/25 school year.
Park City High School’s Class of 2024 had 407 graduates. Principal Roger Arbabi shared senior accomplishments: 15% of the class are first-generation students, with 66% of them planning to attend college. Over 90% of the graduating class took Advanced Placement and concurrent enrollment classes to get college credit. Over 80% of all seniors are pursuing higher education, attending 110 different universities in 34 states and three countries. Those students received nearly $20 million in scholarships.
PCEF is proud to walk along each Park City school student throughout their education career. Congratulations to Park City High School's Class of 2024.
Families and friends and others gathered to support Park City High School’s 2024 graduating class on Friday. Park City High School Principal Roger Arbabi said 82% of the class, or 330 of the students, will pursue higher education at 110 colleges in 34 states and three countries. Sixty-six percent of the class’ first-generation students are included to further their education.
He congratulated students in the school’s music program on their “breathtaking performances” and high scores at their state competition, the “theater nerds” for their Chicago performances.
PCEF supports many programs like Bright Futures, supporting first-generation students as they get to and through college, as well as the music department, theatre, and many more - walking alongside Park City students throughout their journey. We wish the Class of 2024 the best as we continue to cheer you on!
Park City High School’s PCCAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program held its Spring 2024 Project Presentations at the Blair Education Center on May 29, 2024 where 21 student presentations were evaluated based on several key criteria: visual and design quality, project quality, project deliverables, public speaking, professionalism, and response to questions.
Allison Zarkos, Park City Education Foundation board member and Running with Ed committee member recaps the 15th annual Running with Ed, and thanks the community the picture-perfect day. Temperatures in the 60s, costumes, joyous smiles, huge hugs, camaraderie and memories made. Even a little running thrown in. Running with Ed was a success in every way for the Park City Education Foundation: 1,000 runners, 125 volunteers, supportive sponsors and countless donors helped us reach our fundraising goal of $325,000 — and then go past it!
It’s no secret, we love teachers! They’re at the core of our mission to fund and support educator empowered initiatives that inspire all Park City students to successfully reach their academic and lifelong potential. Making sure teachers have a seat at the table when it comes to PCEF programming design and implementation is essential as they’re the experts in the diverse needs of students and their classrooms.
Trailside Elementary and Parley's Park Elementary debate teams made a remarkable showing at this year's state competition. PCEF supports the debate program, which involves fifth graders from multiple elementary schools, including McPolin and Parley’s Park. “It would not be possible without the Park City Education Foundation,” Coach Melissa Bott said, highlighting the PCEF's role in funding the program.
The Park City Education Foundation exceeded its fundraising goal at its annual Running with Ed relay race Saturday, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local public schools.
The celebratory relay race fundraiser for the Park City Education Foundation started Saturday morning at the Basin Rec. The 27.6 mile, 8-leg course, visited six Park City schools and the Utah Olympic Park. The shortest leg was 1.3 miles and the longest leg 5.7 miles.
Town Lift joined the fun for the 15th annual Running with Ed at Parley’s Park Elementary School with a Willy Wonka-themed stop. As of Saturday morning, the event had surpassed their fundraising goal of $325,000.
As of Thursday morning, May 16, PCEF's Running with Ed fundraiser raised $228,000, with $100,000 left to go. PCEF set the bar at $325,000 this year to raise money for Park City teachers, students, and schools.
The 15th annual Running with Ed gets underway Saturday morning at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse. As many as 200 teams will be running the marathon-length course to raise money for the Park City Education Foundation.
Park City Education Foundation CEO Ingrid Whitley, and Running With Ed committee members Allison Zarkos and Emily Huser have a final update before this weekend's major fundraiser.
A letter to the Editor in support of Running with Ed, May 18th.
Running With Ed, which raises money for Classroom Grants that are awarded to teachers to bring innovative ideas, concepts or practices to life or to expand past successful ideas in the classroom or school, is set for Saturday, May 18.
Running with Ed (RWE) is a celebratory relay race fundraiser for the Park City Education Foundation that raises money for Park City teachers, students and schools. It's been voted Park City's Favorite Fundraiser for nine years!
Students learned about the aviation industry from panelists at the Career Over Coffee event at PCHS, including the importance of keeping up with instrument trainings and some scary moments. Trip Marshall, an aeronautics teacher and pilot who helped start the program, said the need for drone pilots is rapidly growing. Marshall said the aviation program began with courses to get a private pilot license and a drone certification but is continually adding more tools to support students. The program now has flight simulators through a Park City Education Foundation grant.
Running With Ed, Park City Education Foundation’s annual community fun run fundraiser is on May 18 this year, however, early-bird registration pricing ends after May 3. Pricing increases beginning May 4. Register today for $125 per person.
During a ceremony at PCHS, Ed Mulick received the Sarah & Stephen Doilney Teaching Excellence Award, one of the top honors of the Park City Education Foundation‘s Excellent Educator Program, sponsored by the Louis and Doilney Families. This is the fifth time Mulick has won the award, which goes to the educator the Park City High School senior class believes had the most influence on them throughout their entire educational career.
The Park City community celebrated its educators through the PCEF Excellent Educator Program on April 25 and 26, sponsored by the Louis and Doilney families.
Here are the 2023-2024 winners...
Park City High School: Excellent Educator Award – Gaylynn Mooney and Holly Huggins; Sarah and Stephen Doilney Award – Ed Mulick; Treasure Mountain Junior High School – Casey Ryan; Ecker Hill Middle School – Jen Hales; McPolin Elementary – Daniel Wells; Trailside Elementary – Eva Montejano; Parley’s Park Elementary – Leann Rocchi; and Jeremy Ranch Elementary – Linda Hilton
The Park City Education Foundation recognized nine individuals through the PCEF Excellent Educator Program this year. Winners were surprised at their schools Thursday and Friday mornings, April 25 and 26.
Park City High School ranked as Utah’s fifth best, according to U.S. News & World Report, and came in 717th in the nation.
The magazine put up Beehive Science and Technology Academy (charter) in Sandy as it’s No. 1 in the state. No. 1 in the nation this year was BASIS Charter Schools Inc., in Peoria, Arizona.
Last year, Park City High School ranked fourth on the list.
This week the Park City Education Foundation will celebrate public school teachers with its Excellent Educators Awards, sponsored by the Louis and Doilney families.
"What we do is helping our community understand that you can’t have a great community if you don’t have great schools, and you can’t have great schools without great teachers.” Jennifer Billow, Park City Education Foundation Vice President of Advancement
Park City High School offers its students opportunities for programs and certificates through Park City Center for Advanced Professional Studies (PCCAPS) and Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs. After the first phase of its current $150 million construction process, the list of those programs will grow.
“All of CTE will relocate into Phase 1 once it’s completed,” CTE/PCCAPS Director Lyndsay Huntsman explained. The phase is scheduled to be finished by the end of July, in time for the 2024-25 school year.
PCCAPS is supported by generous PCEF donors.
Utah’s high school entrepreneurs and their ideas will be taking the stage at Park City High School on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for the school’s Invest Nest competition. The event is part of Park City Center for Advanced Professional Studies (PCCAPS) project, which PCEF-donors support.
Invest Nest has given away $450,000 in grants since its founding seven years ago.
The 7th annual statewide Invest Nest competition is in its final stages. The winner of Park City High School’s this week will go on to the state finals April 29. Invest Nest is a “Shark Tank” style pitch competition that offers high school students in Utah investment opportunities for their business ideas, giving them the financial backing to make their ideas a reality. The PCCAPS program is supported by PCEF funding.
Park City School District has been identified as a "Best Community for Music Education" by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). “PCSD’s commitment to ensuring access to high-quality music education for students K-12 represents, in my view, our most significant achievement,” Bret Hughes, PCSD's Fine Art Director said. He highlighted the district’s policy of hiring certified music teachers for all grade levels, ensuring that students aged five to 18 receive professional music instruction. Particularly notable is the requirement for all 6th graders to participate in performance-based music classes.
Park City Music is supported by PCEF donors.
McPolin Elementary School fifth grade teacher Sam Thompson has shown just how far a little funding, creativity and great relationships with students through the radio-controlled car club can go. Three of Park City's four elementary schools participate in the program, and the remaining fourth school — Parley’s Park — is set to join the high-speed action next year.
The RC Car Program is funded thanks to generous PCEF donors.
April News from the PCSD includes: a message from the Superintendent, Wellness Plan: Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Inspiring Potential: Park City's PACE Program, EHMS: Pack Values, PCSD: Best Communities for Music Education, PCHS: Make a Wish Fundraising, Board of Education Recap, and Celebrations in the News.
Park City Education Foundation Vice President of Advancement Jen Billow has an update on programs and grants offered by the Education Foundation.
The future looks bright for Park City's youngest learners thanks to Dan Gallery’s vision, collaborative efforts of the school board, partners, and community – and continues to reinforce the district’s dedication to providing universal, affordable preschool in Park City.
Jennifer Bramson, the head preschool teacher at McPolin Elementary, has been chosen as the National Education Association's 2024 Education Support Professional of the Year.
While licensed teachers have long been at constant struggle for fair, livable wages within their profession as the cost of living rises throughout the United States, the situation was even more dire for ESPs — the bus drivers, secretaries and other professionals who may not get as much recognition but are crucial positions.
This year — after advocating and collectively working with her fellow workers for better wages and a higher pay scale — Bramson was recognized as the National Education Association’s ESP of the year.
The National Education Association awarded Jen Bramson with the 2024 Education Support Professional of the Year Award. Bramson is a paraeducator and lead preschool teacher at McPolin Elementary School. She has worked in Park City as an educator for over 10 years and is on the executive board for the Utah School Employees Association.
PCSD offered the first universal preschool access to all in Utah, beginning in 2011, thanks to PCEF donors, a dedicated school board, preschool educators, and partners.
“NEA and its three million members are proud to recognize Jen’s dedication to her students, her school and her union,” NEA President Becky Pringle said of Bramson’s dedication.
“Jen has a heart of gold. She loves what she does, whether it's educating her preschool kids, working within her local association, or for the USEA,” said Utah School Employees Association (USEA) President Mike Evans. “Jen is a joy to work with and has a great passion for what she does. As president of USEA, I cannot think of a better person to represent all education support professionals. It is truly an honor to know Jen, to be her friend, and to have her on this journey as part of the USEA leadership team. Congratulations!”
March News from the PCSD includes: a message from the Superintendent, National Board Certified Teachers Honored, Meritorious Budget Award, Educators Rising, Wellness Plan: Team Work & Collaboration, Get to Know Eva Montejano, Student Service Award, McPolin Wax Museum, Board of Education Recap, and Celebrations in the News.
Park City High School's debate team won this year's Utah's 4A Speech and Debate tournament. They competed against 17 teams state-wide to bring home the championship for the first time in eight years.
Programs like PCHS Speech and Debate are made possible thanks to generous PCEF donors, who help fund the program through a Classroom Grant.
Teachers who have bright ideas for how to encourage learning can now apply for a grant from the Park City Education for next year’s classroom.
Almost 40 years ago, a Park City School District teacher wanted to send a couple of their students to a month-long space camp but didn’t have the needed district funding. The efforts of Park City residents who pitched in made the students’ Stanford camp dream a reality. “That is really how the foundation got its start,” Park City Education Foundation Vice President of Programs Kara Cody explained. “Some donors came together, and the rest is history.”
PCEF is accepting classroom grants from Park City School District teachers with ideas and initiatives that align with its mission and its values of partnership, classroom-centered, equitable and inclusive, Park City, nimble and unwavering. Teachers who want a classroom grant must apply by April 1.
“I’m so honored to begin work alongside PCEF’s beloved staff and dedicated Board. PCEF’s mission, to fund initiatives that inspire all students to reach their academic and lifelong potential, echoes my deep passion for the pursuit of educational equity, which sparked when I taught for Teach for America - and has only grown since.” -Ingrid Whitley
Park City students in second through fifth grade competed in the Park Record's Spelling Bee Monday.
In February, the Utah State Legislature honored seven educators from Park City School District (PCSD) for achieving and recertifying their National Board Certification (NBCT). The educators, Kara Cook, Kit Howard, Amy Fielder, Liz Moskal, Melissa Nikolai, Andrea Solum and Liz Thompson, were celebrated for their dedication and commitment to educational excellence.
Early -bird pricing begins March 1. Racers can secure $100 adult registration pricing while it’s available. As a special thank you gift, the first 100 paid registrations will receive a custom 24oz Stanley/RWE ICEFLOW™ Bottle with Fast Flow Lid.
February News from the PCSD includes: a message from the Superintendent, Standard Response Protocol, Title IX in Action, JRES Spelling Bee, Safer Internet Day, Wellness Plan: Communication from the Heart, Get to Know: Michael Santarosa, Board of Education Recap, Celebration in the News.
