LEAP

Lexington Emergency/Education Assistance Plan

LEAP is our Lexington Emergency/Education Assistance Plan that supports Lexington District One in two important ways. The Emergency fund provides financial assistance to our families in need, in addition to offering a number of need-based grants to students and schools. The Education fund provides educational support via grants for important initiatives that the district budget is unable to fund. Generous employee donations make both funds possible, as the Lexington District One school year kicks off with a LEAP Campaign each year. Watch our 2024 LEAP Video to see how LEAP has supported Lexington District One for the past 20 years!

Thanks to the kindness of our Lexington District One employees, the Educational Foundation’s LEAP funds have an immensely positive impact in supporting the district! Learn more about LEAP below and how you can make a personal gift to the Educational Foundation’s LEAP funds this year!

LEAP Education Fund

The Educational Foundation’s Lexington Education Assistance Plan supports the district’s educational initiatives and priorities by providing financial assistance in areas of need. When you donate to the LEAP Education fund, you support educational programs that teach our students to communicate, innovate, collaborate and think critically.

We prioritize educational programs that enhance students’ learning.  In the past it provided grants to school libraries and helped build a STEM lab. Recently our focus has been on reading initiatives and literacy in Lexington District One, as the foundation has awarded more than $135,000 in Bucks for Books Grants over the last six years, which included every elementary, middle and high school. Studies show that children who have more contact with books become better readers. Appropriately, your support of our LEAP Education fund helps to foster strong readers in Lexington District One!

LEAP Emergency Fund

The Foundation’s Lexington Emergency Assistance Plan supports Lexington District One employees and students in a number of ways. First, it assists our families that have experienced a recent crisis and need temporary help to survive by offering financial assistance and/or in-kind services. Employees and students in crisis must be nominated a current, permanent employee (i.e., individuals may not nominate themselves) and can obtain a LEAP Emergency Application from their school or department volunteer LEAP Representative.

Aid may be given to Lexington District One students and permanent full-time and part-time employees. The fund has helped employees who were struggling with a serious illness, students’ families who’ve suffered total loss from a home fire, as well as many others in need. Assistance may include payments towards utility bills, rent or mortgage, or medical bills, as well as food; however, it typically excludes any payments for housing insurance, vehicle purchases/insurance, childcare, security deposits, domestic dispute, and workers’ compensation issues.

Second, the LEAP Emergency fund provides help to Lexington One students in need of medical, dental, or vision services that prevent the students from learning.

Furthermore, the Emergency Fund has provided close to $200,000 in Helping Hands Grants to schools since 2020 so that school leaders can quickly students with need-based aid that may not merit a full assistance application. Health Fund Grants have purchased four Spot Vision Screeners to date to support Lexington District One nurses safely and more efficiently test students’ vision for disorders. Our Higher Education Support Grants to our graduating seniors with substantial financial need assist students who will pursue a college education with dorm room needs and/or academic support. While our International Teacher Grants support our Lexington District One teachers who are new to the country and struggling financially as they get settled in the community. LEAP Emergency funds exist to support our Lexington District One families in need, so thanks for your donations that make such grant assistance possible!

Learn more about the Lexington One Educational Foundation’s LEAP Funds!

How To Give

Lexington District One Employees may make financial donations to the LEAP campaign anytime during the year. However, the Educational Foundation’s campaign is always held during the first three weeks of the school year. Our amazing volunteers, LEAP Representatives, are wonderful to share the news with all Lexington District One schools and departments.

Individuals who do not work for the district may also donate to our LEAP funds and/or considering giving to our other Educational Foundation funds that support Lexington District One. We welcome individuals to contact our executive director to learn more about how to support the Lexington One Educational Foundation’s many endeavors!

How To Apply

To apply for LEAP Emergency Assistance, please contact your school’s or department’s volunteer LEAP representative as listed below. This volunteer will provide you with a LEAP Emergency Application and assist with the application process.

Cats Kick Cancer

LHS Boys Soccer Team

For Lexington District One students or staff who are struggling financially due to a tough battle with cancer, your LEAP application will also be considered for additional support from the Cats Kick Cancer Fund.  The Lexington High School Boys Soccer Team and Coach Will Gettys caringly established this fund in 2018 to help support individuals in Lexington District One who are battling cancer.

The team members are passionate about the Cats Kick Cancer effort and the Educational Foundation leadership is privileged to receive donations each year and administer the fund along with its LEAP Emergency Fund. Watch our Cats Kick Cancer video to learn more about this wonderful, restricted fund that supports Lexington District One students and employees who are battling cancer!

LEAP Representatives

BMS
Stacy Clarke
Asst.: Amy Tunison
CES
Sarah McCarthy
CSES
Jessica Moyer
Asst.: Amanda Nadkarni
CSMS
Danielle Heming
Asst.: Paige Meyer
DES
Elizabeth Tester
Asst.: Pam Hutchinson
FPES
Janet Pond
Asst.: Bethany Bastedo
GES
Ben Duvall
Asst.: Michaelann Large
GHS
Kelsey Covell
Asst.: Jessica Dill
GMS
Angie Derrenbacher
Asst.: Sarah Price
LES
Caitlin Fitzgerald
Asst.: Marie Lewis
LHS
Christen Weidner
Asst.: Randy Lucas
LMES
Kim Nunnery
Asst.: Christina Reed
LMS
Ashleigh Near
Asst.: Amy Long
LTC
Sarah Gillespie
Asst.: Amy Cooper
MES
Richard “Rick” Masters
Asst.: Susan Goff
MGES
Amy Jordan
Asst.: Susan Unger
MGMS
Sarah Huey–Clowney
Asst.: Amber Burkett
NPES
Clarice Mondeel
Asst.: Amanda Huffstetler
OGES
Mary Catherine Whisnant
Asst.: Marie Lewis
PES
Dana Boozer
Asst.: Lynn Dennis
PHES
Jennifer Still
Asst.: Laurie Phipps
PHMS
Hali Dooley
Asst.: Tammy Pearson
PHS
Dona J. P. Smith
Asst.: Lisa Kendall
PMS
Shannon Waites
Asst.: Kelly Herman
RBES
Kristin Tarcza
Asst.: Tiffany West
RBHS
Mackenzie Wood
Asst.: Janice Caines
RCES
Krysten Sidaway
Asst.: Paige Bowles
SGES
Andrea Slice
Asst.: Ketsie Merizalde
SLES
Rebecca Kubinak
Asst.: Karen Gobbi
WKES
Tamika Del Valle
Asst.: Angela Rowe
WKHS
Karen Rozmus
Asst.: Stacy Strock
WKMS
Debra Adams
Asst.: Neelam Verma
AES
Liz Grant
Adult Education
Lorri Johnson
CS - Fiscal Services
Sherrie Roberts
CS - HR
Angie Renner
Asst.: Lauren Henry
CS - IT
Gina Muse
CS - Instruction
Carolyn Beck
CS - Special Services
Leonda Broderick
CS - Communications/ Student Services/ Superintendent
Shellie Cochcroft
Maintenance/Operations
Adrianne Bazemore
Transportation
Carol Buff
Food Service
Kathy Moss
$388,398

invested in Lexington District One in fiscal year 2022-2023

$33,000

All K-2 students benefited from the Counting Collections for Mathematics Grant

$22,000

Awarded in Scholarships and/or Higher Education Grants