KSD Education Foundation

09/03/2026

Every day, the people who work in our schools show up for students in ways that can’t always be measured.

They listen.
They encourage.
They notice.
They stay late.
They worry.
They celebrate.
They try again.

And sometimes, without even realizing it, they become the person a student will remember for the rest of their life.

To everyone who makes our schools a better place for students, thank you.

09/01/2026

It starts long before the doors open.

Boxes to unload. Tables to set. Supplies to organize. And a whole lot of people working behind the scenes to make the Kearney School District Resource Fair happen.

KSDEF is grateful to be a part of it. Not just financially, but as a volunteer alongside our KSD community.

Because when it comes to supporting KSD students and families, we’re all in this together.

08/27/2026

A pretty great way to kick off a new school year.

Last Friday at Kearney School District’s convocation, we celebrated our 2026-27 First-Year Teaching Grant recipients.

These grants give educators new to the profession a little extra support as they begin their teaching careers, helping them purchase materials, supplies, classroom décor, and other items that help make their classrooms their own.

We’re proud to support these educators as they begin this next chapter, and even prouder to stand alongside them.

Welcome to KSD. We’re glad you’re here.

08/25/2026

Welcome Back, Bulldogs!

The first day is here! A new school year means fresh starts, new classrooms, new goals, and plenty of excitement for what’s ahead.

To every KSD student, teacher, staff member, and family: we hope you have a wonderful first day and an even better year.

Here’s to a great year, Kearney!

07/17/2026

You know we love our educators... but we're not the only ones. 💜

A huge THANK YOU to our 2026 Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Bulldog Sponsors for believing in Kearney teachers, students, and the future of our community.

Because of your support, KSDEF can say “yes” to scholarships, innovative projects, and the opportunities that help students discover new passions and empower educators to dream bigger for their classrooms.

Please join us in thanking these incredible businesses and families for investing in KSD!👏

07/10/2026

The phrase heard most often at KSDEF planning meetings: "This might be crazy, but..."

Sometimes those ideas become classroom grants.
Sometimes they become scholarships.
Sometimes they become fundraising events.

And sometimes they stay exactly where they belong—in the meeting notes. 😂

KSDEF planning meetings may not be the most exciting thing on the calendar, but they're where the magic starts. Thanks to our dedicated board members and volunteers for helping turn ideas into opportunities for KSD students and educators!

07/08/2026

Every Bulldog deserves to feel like they belong.

We're proud to support the KSD Resource Fair each year, helping provide Bulldog spirit shirts for students. You can join us by purchasing a shirt or making a donation if you don't need one.

Thank you for helping every Bulldog feel seen, included, and ready for the school year!

Kearney School District families, staff members and community members are invited to support this year’s "Buy a Shirt/Give a Shirt" fundraiser for the KSD Resource Fair.

This effort helps make sure every student has the opportunity to have a piece of Kearney gear to wear for spirit days, special events and other Bulldog celebrations throughout the school year.

Orders must be placed by Tuesday, July 21. Learn more and order your shirt: https://www.showmelogos.net/kearney_give_a_shirt_fundraiser/shop/home

NOTE - Other color options have been added for some sizes in order to accommodate more orders.

Shirts can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 11 or Aug. 12 in the Kearney Junior High commons. Those who need alternative arrangements can contact KSD Social Worker Amanda Textor.

Any shirts that are not picked up during Resource Fair week will be sent to the school where the child attends, so they can be sent home in backpacks.

Thank you for helping support our students and for showing what it means to be Bulldogs Together!

07/03/2026

As we close out the fiscal year, we'd like to recognize and thank three outgoing KSDEF board members: Season Kerns, Jason Pierret, and Dr. Amy Baugh.

Board service often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt throughout our schools and community. Through their time, leadership, and commitment to our mission, these individuals have helped support opportunities for Kearney students and educators.

We are especially grateful to Season for her leadership as Board Chair and to Jason for his many years of dedication to the KSDEF Scholarship Program.

Thank you, Season, Jason, and Amy, for your service to KSDEF and the Kearney community. We wish you all the best in your next chapter.

06/25/2026

Some of the most meaningful support in a school district never shows up on a schedule or a stage.

It shows up when a teacher can finally say “yes” to something they’ve been hoping to try with students. Or when a project that felt out of reach suddenly becomes possible because the right materials are there. Or when a classroom moment turns into something students talk about long after the bell rings.

Kent Mohler Exteriors plays a part in making those moments happen as a Diamond Sponsor of the KSD Education Foundation.

Their support helps remove barriers for teachers and opens space for creativity, curiosity, and connection in Kearney classrooms. It’s the kind of impact that doesn’t always have a name in the moment, but it is felt by students every day in how they learn, participate, and grow.

We are grateful for partners like Kent Mohler Exteriors who believe in what’s possible for students here in Kearney and choose to invest in it in a real, lasting way.

06/18/2026

Congratulations to Ella Reagan-Lusby, recipient of the KSDEF Pay It Forward Scholarship!

This scholarship is unlike any other we award. Every dollar comes directly from the generosity of Kearney School District employees who choose to "Pay It Forward" through payroll deduction—investing in the future of our students one paycheck at a time.

Ella plans to pursue a degree in Education with one goal close to her heart: returning home to Kearney to teach the next generation of Bulldogs.

Ella also participated in Kearney School District's Grow Your Own (GYO) program and received a GYO scholarship—another initiative supported by KSDEF. Together, these investments tell a powerful story of what happens when a community believes in its future. Today, we're supporting a student. Tomorrow, she may be standing at the front of a Kearney classroom, inspiring the next generation.

That's what Pay It Forward is all about.

It's more than a scholarship.
It's educators believing in students.
It's students becoming educators.
It's a community investing in itself.

To every KSD employee who gives through Pay It Forward—thank you! Your generosity is creating a legacy that will impact classrooms for years to come.

Congratulations, Ella! We can't wait to welcome you back to Kearney and see the difference you'll make in the lives of future Bulldogs. 🐾