WILMETTE – Baker Demonstration School has announced a $6.25 million fundraising initiative called From the Inside Out: Baker’s Centennial Campaign. To date, Baker has raised $2.8 million in gifts and pledges, which will support a comprehensive renovation of the school’s outdoor learning environment, key interior locations and a designated program fund. Jeff and Letitia Mann and Eric Ruderman and Stacey Empson are co-chairing the campaign.
Baker’s outdoor remodel includes a new regulation athletic field with artificial turf, a graded outdoor running track, dedicated outdoor learning spaces and revitalized nature-based playgrounds. The outdoor updates made will have an immediate impact on the faculty’s ability to use outdoor spaces to reinforce subjects covered inside the classroom.
“As a Progressive school, we follow a model that encourages students to learn through doing. From the Inside Out will allow us to create an ideal outdoor learning environment that compliments everything we are already doing inside our classrooms,” shared incoming Head of School, Carly Andrews.
Indoors, Baker’s main entrance and front office will be transformed into a community-centric Welcome Center complete with designated meeting spaces and state of the art security features. Carlson Theater, the school’s performance space, will receive new seating, flooring and acoustics.
“This campaign is going to have a meaningful and long-term impact on our school community. We are very excited to significantly enhance the student learning experience,”
From the Inside Out will also support the growth of a program fund to support faculty and initiatives specific to their needs and interests. Top priorities include instituting two curricular coaches to provide mentorship and hands-on training for faculty, creating an even more compelling offer in order to retain and attract top talent and increasing opportunities for professional development.
“Our teachers are known for their creative and innovative curriculum, and this funding will guarantee they have the resources needed, both for the classroom and professionally, to continue to provide the highest quality progressive education for our students”, explained Andrews.
The exciting renovation plans were unveiled during a campaign kick off event on January 27 at Baker.
Submitted by Baker Demonstration School, an independent progressive school serving pre-school through 8th grade students. We champion an exemplary progressive education, which cultivates an intrinsic motivation to learn, values differences, nurtures the whole person, and encourages courageous choices. To learn more about Baker, visit our website at www.bakerdemschool.org or contact Katie Nordine, Communications Specialists at 847.425.5871 or knordine@bakerdemschool.org