When it comes to supporting our schools, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. That’s the beauty of Adopt-A-School — you get to decide what your partnership looks like. Whether it’s connecting with a single teacher, rallying around an entire grade level, or embracing a whole school community, Adopt-A-School makes it possible to match your passions and resources with the needs of our teachers and students.

At its heart, the Adopt-A-School program is about connection. The vision is simple but powerful: to be a bridge between the very real needs of our schools and teachers — and the community members who care deeply about education but don’t always know how or when they can best be of service.

Adopt-A-School provides a clear path for building long-term, consistent relationships with our schools so that together, we can uplift and support all 32 public schools in our community.

And here’s the best part: there’s no one right way to “adopt” a school. Each partnership is unique, reflecting the strengths, passions, and resources of the individuals or groups involved.

Some Current Examples of What Adoption Looks Like in Action

  • Industry Expertise & Mentorship: An Urbana High School Career & Technical Education teacher has been “adopted” by a union plumber. This partnership means the teacher has a sounding board for new ideas, a connector to industry contacts, and an extra adult to accompany students on field trips. Most importantly, students now have access to real-world, hands-on experiences in the field.

  • Whole-School Encouragement: Several churches have adopted entire elementary schools. Their support includes monthly notes and small treats of encouragement for teachers, recruiting CU 1:1 mentors, and volunteering at beginning- and end-of-year celebrations that make students feel seen and supported.

  • Transforming Classrooms: A local business recently provided state-of-the-art equipment for the Central High School wood shop, transforming what students are able to create and learn.

  • Professional Connections: A local law firm partnered with a high school social studies department, sending guest speakers into classrooms and even designing a short-term “lawyer bootcamp” for students interested in pursuing a career in law.

Partnerships in Development

Even more exciting adoption ideas are in the works:

  • A retiree volunteering weekly with an art teacher to help with classroom clean-up and to model best practices for handling materials.

  • A group of neighborhood women providing home-cooked meals twice a year for a middle school team on their half days.

Where Do You Fit?

Maybe one of these stories resonates with you, and you immediately think: “I could do that!” That’s wonderful! Reach out to etarr@cuschoolsfoundation.org to start the conversation and find a great partner school match.

Or maybe you’re thinking: “I’d love to help, but my work schedule, budget, or other commitments make it hard to imagine how.” That’s okay, too. We are confident we can find a way for you to plug in that works for YOU — all for the benefit of our schools and the future of our community. Reach out anyway, and let’s explore what might be a good fit.

And if you aren’t ready for a long-term commitment but still want to stay connected to real-time school needs, check out our On-Call Teacher Allies program — a flexible, no-obligation way to step in when you’re able.

Why It Matters

Every one of these partnerships looks different, but they all have the same effect: stronger schools, supported teachers, and students who know their community is behind them. When we create bridges between classrooms and community members, we open doors to encouragement, resources, and opportunities that change lives.