NEWS RELEASE
April 22, 2019
Christine Robertson, Executive Director
(805) 549-1300 

New Education Foundation Launched to
Accelerate Innovation, Achievement & Opportunity

Innovative public-private partnership will invest in high-impact education programs within San Luis Coastal Unified School District

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – In partnership with San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD), a diverse group of parents, alumni, educators and community leaders have come together to launch a new education foundation to invest in high-impact programs that accelerate innovation, student achievement and opportunity. The San Luis Coastal Education Foundation (SLCEF) is committed to raising private dollars and collaborating with community partners to make strategic investments in educational innovations and exemplary teaching that advance the academic, social-emotional and creative capacity of all students in the district.  

“It is exciting to see our community mobilizing in support of our students, teachers and schools,” said Lisa Stephens, former Pacheco Elementary teacher and instructional coach and current principal at Baywood Elementary. “This foundation can help us create the learning environments in which each student can reach his or her full potential.”  

The SLCEF is an innovative model of collaboration between the community, the school district and the school board.  The alliance is designed to function as an incubator where innovative ideas can be developed into successful programs, the impacts of which can be measured, shared and replicated. 

“Advancements in technology, programming and partnerships offer students personalized learning experiences and advantages their parents never had,” said Eric Prater, Superintendent of San Luis Coastal Unified School District. “This new foundation is an important part of our district’s strategy to be on the cutting edge of innovative educational strategies that equip our students with the academic, creative and social-emotional skills they need to successfully compete in the new global economy.”

The Foundation is guided by a belief that vibrant schools power vibrant communities and economies.  An investment in local schools is an investment in the future workforce of our community, which is a significant factor in attracting new job creators to our region and supporting the ones already here. Quality schools also contribute to the social well-being of a community by bridging the opportunity gap and fostering a shared culture of equity and inclusivity. 

 “This Foundation was launched in recognition of the growing opportunities and challenges ahead for our students and teachers,” said Sam Blakeslee, President of the Foundation Board of Directors and a district parent. “The loss of funding from the closure of the Diablo Canyon facility and shortcomings in state funding will put significant pressure on our local schools. Our community is stepping up and declaring our shared commitment to invest in the next generation of civic leaders, inventors, creatives and entrepreneurs.” 

With the passage of Senate Bill 1090, co-authored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), the Foundation will receive $10 million over five years in Diablo Canyon Closure Community Impact Mitigation funds to build an initial endowment that will support the ongoing work of the Foundation. The Foundation will engage district and community partners and other potential funders to raise additional funds to positively transform the lives of our students.

“We have a dynamic community of teachers committed to opening the doors of opportunity for each of our students,” said Greg Ross, an economics teacher at San Luis Obispo High School. “In my experience, a robust educational foundation can do amazing things for the students and families of a community. I am excited about the possibilities for teachers to partner with the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation.”

Following a nationwide search, Christine Robertson has been hired as Executive Director of the Foundation and will work with Foundation Board, school district and School Board to align and advance fundraising, grant-making and innovation priorities. Christine is a former public high school teacher and later went on to serve as a Chief of Staff in the California State Senate and Assembly. In 2013, she co-founded and led the Institute for Advanced Technology & Public Policy at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, a nonprofit multidisciplinary applied research Institute that invested in faculty and student led innovation projects. Christine’s husband is a high school special education teacher and together they have two school-aged children. 

Foundation Board members include SLCUSD parents, current and retired SLCUSD employees, and a diverse array of local community leaders, business owners, and professionals reflecting a variety of finance, development, advocacy, marketing, technology, and other skills. 

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