This giving season, we aim to further strengthen the resources available to our educators. By fostering a positive culture of support for our teaching staff, we enable them to give our students what they deserve, retain their talents, and recruit the best for our growing school. With the help of our community partners, local businesses, and amazing families, our goal is to raise $5,000 by #GivingTuesday, Nov. 28. Support our teachers by making a gift or simply spreading the word today!

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UPDATE - 11/22

We are overwhelmed by the enormous response from our community members and corporate sponsors who have already pushed us beyond our initial goal. Given your generosity, we have raised our goal to $12,000 to support our teachers. Thank you so much for your incredible commitment to excellent education at Believe!

Support Our Educators Today

Believe Black Women Fund

It was an unprecedented experience for me to have my identity as a Black woman recognized, validated, and celebrated openly. It's not often that marginalized communities are appreciated in this way. The Black Woman Fund represents a special financial acknowledgment that celebrates the inherent strength within a frequently overlooked group of people.

Rhoda Smith, Assistant Head of School

Mental Health Days

The Badger Mental Health Days (BMHD) offer a proactive approach to addressing staff burnout and mental health needs. At the beginning of each semester, staff get to choose 1 day to take that does not come out of their PTO. Personally, my BMHD was the first time off work I did not feel guilt. I was able to do anything I wanted or needed to do and it was refreshing!

Lauren Reed, School Social Worker

Maternity/Paternity Leave

“Becoming a mother 9 weeks early, although it was a scary time, came with minimum stress from the job aspect of life. As a black young female educator, I sometimes feel that we are not always thought about or cared for in the same capacity as employees and occupations. But here at Believe, we are constantly reminded and shown how much we are valued. The maternity/paternity leave protocols in place allowed me to take 6-12 weeks to care for myself and my family without being pressured to return to work sooner than needed. Knowing that my employer values me and has my best interest in mind allows me to have a certain comfortability that I wish all expecting mothers could experience regardless of profession.”

Kandice Duncan, Dean of Culture

Teacher Development

“Believe's greatest strength lies in its people. The school fosters a collaborative and connected environment where individuals can show up as themselves. As a result, Believe has created a space that values teamwork and individual learning. Even on the toughest days, you are surrounded by a strong support system that enables continued growth. This collective approach to ongoing learning creates a school that students truly deserve. I highly recommend Believe to my colleagues because the school is an excellent example of an organization prioritizing individual and professional growth.”

Amy Dowden, Former Teacher

Believe Teacher Fellowship Program

“I was afforded the opportunity to participate in a residency that provided a foundation of strong pedagogical, instructional, relationship-oriented, biases-aware service. The reflection of this program made me a more effective educator quickly and allowed the process of progression to be codified, leading to less time wasted as a professional and, most importantly, as an effective educator of children. This fund is essential to our work as a school because we are in a day-to-day race against the odds for our students, communities, and future world. The better our teachers are developed, the more effectively we develop our present and future world, saving lives both today and for years to come.”