Springfield Education Foundation

⭐ Springfield, you helped us raise $155,000 for students! ⭐

What an incredible night! Thanks to the generosity of our community, the 2026 Night of 11,000 Stars Gala & Auction raised $155,000 to support students and educators throughout Springfield Public Schools - OR!

From inspiring stories and student performances to an evening full of generosity and celebration, this event was a wonderful reminder of what our community can accomplish when we come together for our schools.

A heartfelt thank-you to our presenting sponsor, Sierra Pacific Industries Foundation, and to our nearly 40 sponsors; as well as the countless donors, auction contributors, and community supporters who made it possible. We are endlessly grateful to our Board of Directors, Gala Committee, event co-chairs Adriel Pickar and Maddie Hersch, emcees Brian and Jennifer Richardson, auctioneer Jason Robinson and his team, and all of our evening's speakers.

We also want to recognize the student groups who helped make the night special: The Academy of Arts and Academics Cake Club, Springfield Cheerleading Team, Springfield High School Rotary Interact Club, Thurston High and Springfield High School jazz musicians, and SHS Mariachi Del Sol. Thank you to all of our student and community volunteers, event partners, and vendors who shared their time and talents to make the evening shine.

Springfield, thank you for showing up for our students! Your support helps educators bring creative ideas to life and creates opportunities that make a lasting difference in our schools.

Want to see more from the evening? Check out our full event recap at SEFLane.org/2026/10/2026-night-of-stars

Thank you for helping Springfield students shine! ⭐

📚✨ What if finding your next favorite book were as easy as browsing your favorite bookstore? An Innovative Educator Grant awarded to Springfield High School Library Manager, Danielle Schneider, is helping make that happen! By organizing books by genre and adding inviting displays, SHS is making it easier for students to discover stories that match their interests, explore new favorites, and get excited about reading!

"In the past, libraries primarily organized books alphabetically or by the Dewey Decimal System... In today's world, libraries must evolve to meet students where they are, capturing their attention and encouraging meaningful engagement with reading. The goal is not simply access to books, but fostering motivation, choice, and sustained reading habits. One innovative approach that has gained momentum is genrefication. This model reimagines how students interact with a library collection by organizing books by genre rather than by traditional systems. Much like modern bookstores, this structure allows students to immediately connect with their interests." - Danielle Schneider

Here’s to more browsing, more book love, and more students finding a story they can’t put down! 💚📖 Springfield Public Schools - OR