More than 50 people celebrated the first Piton Foundation grant to Aurora Public Schools. On May 21, Van Schoales, Urban Education Program Officer for Piton (pictured at right with Superintendent John L. Barry), gave William Smith High School and APS $50,000 to support Pilot Schools. “It is impressive how quickly APS–Jane Shirley, John Barry, the Aurora Education Association and the APS Board of Education–worked together to move on this idea and make it a reality for students,” said Shoales.

William Smith will open as the first APS Pilot School in August 2008. Principal Jane Shirley commended the commitment of William Smith staff and the energy of William Smith students. “Tradition has a place, but innovation is what we need to prepare our students for the future” said Shirley. She also praised the Piton Foundation for its first investment in Aurora Public Schools, “This is an investment in the future because our students are tomorrow’s leaders.”

As a Pilot School, an autonomous governing board will make decisions for the school, including those related to hours, calendar, budget and curriculum. The governing board will incorporate staff, student, parent and community feedback in its choices. As a Pilot School, William Smith must have higher accountability with CSAP scores, attendance and graduation rates. Shoales emphasized that while autonomy is important, the key factor for changing student lives is instruction.

“More than the freedom Pilot Schools offer, is having a clear plan for instruction, like William Smith clearly has with its emphasis on expeditionary learning, arts and technology.”
- Van Schoales
Urban Education Program Officer
Piton Foundation

William Smith student Lena De Laney and parent Pat Johnson thanked the Piton Foundation, APS leaders and William Smith staff. They said the Pilot School status will enable everyone to make a great school even better.

Several community members attended the celebration, including representatives from the Community College of Aurora, the APS District Accountability Advisory Committee and elected officials.

State Representative Nancy Todd commended APS for its creative problem solving to contemporary education challenges. “Great things are happening in the Aurora Public Schools and at the Capitol, people are noticing this.” State Senator Suzanne Williams concurred. “We couldn’t be more excited about Aurora stepping up and leading the state of Colorado in the innovation that benefits students,” said Williams.

The $50,000 will help with the William Smith Pilot School conversion and opening additional APS Pilot Schools. Piton does not accept grant application but seeks proven innovation and funds it. The Piton Foundation is a private foundation that provides helps develop and implement programs to improve education, expand opportunities for families and strengthen communities.