To the editor:

As a parent in the Bainbridge Island School District and a member of the Bainbridge Schools Foundation board of directors, I feel grateful to live in a community where so many people contribute time and resources to our schools.

It takes a village to raise a child, as the old saying goes. It also takes an island as dedicated and caring as Bainbridge to make quality public education for all students a reality.

Our district is known for its dedicated teachers, hard-working staff, and engaged parents. Why is Bainbridge Schools Foundation (BSF) necessary? Because good schools are not good enough and it requires additional resources to ensure our schools meet the needs of all families to be truly remarkable.

Through the generosity of people like you, BSF enhances education for students from kindergarten through graduation. BSF funds innovative programs like the STEM Lab, academic support for struggling students, the new social emotional learning initiative, and training and professional development for educators. I have seen firsthand the positive impact BSF makes in our schools.

Please join me this spring in supporting our public schools. It takes an island to ensure our schools inspire and support all students.

ANNA STEEN

Bainbridge Island