What makes us unique
- We are the official fundraising arm of Bartlesville Public Schools
- We are the only endowment exclusively providing annual supplemental funding to Bartlesville Public Schools
- We are strategically aligned with Bartlesville Public Schools leadership to support programs identified to accelerate student success
- We fund grants to local educators and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding teachers
- We were created in 1985 to help Bartlesville public schools maximize and improve the quality of education for its students
- We are a 501(c)(3) organization
Our Mission
We provide financial resources, cultivate community partnerships, and celebrate achievements to engage students, empower teachers, and enrich learning within Bartlesville Public Schools.
Foundation Leadership
2025-2026 Board of Directors
The Foundation has 19 civic-minded community leaders who oversee its activities and investments. The Foundation is an excellent vehicle for individuals who value education and choose to invest their charitable dollars to fund creative and innovative instructional practices to build a brighter future for our students and our community.
The Board meets at the Education Service Center on the second Wednesday of each month.
Officers
- Chris Batchelder, Chairman
- Donna Keffer, Vice Chairman
- Brian Coordsen, Treasurer
- Nicole McKinney, Secretary
Voting members
- Nikki Benson
- Keri Bostwick
- Kourtney Craig
- Michael Dennis
- Bob Fraser
- Amanda Haberstroh
- Tracy Hammon
- Taylor Potter
- Courtney Roberts
- Tawny Saddoris
- Aaron Tesavis
Non-voting member
- Chuck McCauley, Superintendent, Bartlesville Public Schools
- Kinder Shamhart, Bartlesville Public Schools board member
- LeeAnn Pressler, Bartlesville Public Schools 2024 Teacher of the Year
- Earl Sears, Emeritus Board Member
Executive Director Blair Ellis
Blair Ellis earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia and her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. She has ten years of experience as an attorney. Blair and her family moved to Bartlesville from Ithaca, New York, in 2013. Blair’s four children all attend Bartlesville Public Schools.
Blair has been involved with the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation since 2016. During that time, she served in various roles, including secretary, vice chairman, and chairman of the governance committee. She has been the Foundation’s first executive director since 2017. In 2018 was certified as a Education Foundation Leader by the National School Foundation Association and has presented at several state and national conferences regarding school foundations. She is a graduate of Leadership Bartlesville, Class of 27.
When Blair is not working, she is spending time outdoors with her husband and their four children. She currently serves as Past President for Bartlesville Rotary Club, and Secretary for the Splash Club. She is the past Vice Chairman of the Bartlesville Redevelopment Trust Authority.
Foundation Coordinator Linda Moore
Linda Moore is a part-time Coordinator for the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation. She taught briefly at both Central and Madison Middle Schools, then supported both of her kids as they made their way through Bartlesville Public Schools. She has a deep passion for public education and our district. Linda has a long history of community involvement, including extensive volunteer work with the Girl Scouts and Bartlesville Splash Club. She previously served on the Foundation’s Professional Growth Grant Committee, where her organizational skills and commitment to the mission were instrumental. She is known for her ability to anticipate needs and make the work of her team easier. Linda, and her husband Jim, live in Bartlesville and are enjoying cheering their kids on as they navigate college.
Site Ambassadors
Each school campus has a BPS Foundation teacher ambassador.
Ambassadors are teachers who have been successful at writing grants to the Foundation and have a good understanding of what the Foundation does.
Our ambassadors are available to answer questions from teachers and administrators at their schools and assist them with the grant application process as well as provide an overview of our programs.