The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is supporting Arts & Learning Packs for under-resourced St. Louis students by awarding Springboard to Learning a $10,000 Challenge America grant. Arts & Learning Packs are at-home,...
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Our Programs
Transform a Child’s World on Giving Tuesday!
Dandelions, sticks, wrapping paper tubes, and rubber bands… What do these items have in common? These rudimentary objects transform when the imagination of a child is applied. How is it that, as adults, we lose touch with that transformational imagination, forgetting...
Calling all Visual and Performing Artists!
Calling all Visual and Performing Artists! Springboard to Learning is looking to engage talented and passionate artists who are interested in working within St. Louis area schools and community venues. We are currently offering training to artists to teach our...
Springboard to Learning: A Year in Review
The 2020-2021 school year is bound to go down in history as one of the most challenging years for students, parents, and educators alike. With COVID-19 school closings, restrictions, and the pivot to online learning that followed, Springboard to Learning faced one of...
Springboard Celebrates 25 Years of WiseWrite
The silver anniversary of Springboard to Learning's longest-running program was always going to be special. But this year, the culmination of the WiseWrite Signature Residency has the potential to reach more viewers than ever before. "COVID has inspired a new format...
Introducing Springboard to Virtual Learning
Springboard to Learning has expanded to online programming! Springboard to Virtual Learning is being developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to expand the reach and influence of our artists’ programming throughout Missouri and beyond, delivering...
Springboard and Operation Food Search distribute Arts Snacks
In partnership with Operation Food Search, Springboard to Learning delivered 4,000 Arts and Learning Snacks through the month of May to family meal sites across the St. Louis Public School (SLPS) District and the St. Louis County Library (SLCL) system. Arts and...
An Update on Springboard & COVID-19
Click here to access resources for students & educators.Click here to access resources for teaching artists.Click here to offer your support. Dear Friends of Springboard to Learning, Springboard continues to closely monitor the news surrounding COVID-19, and is...
IdeaBuilder students celebrate culmination at MADE
"I think my brain is growing!""You made me want to learn more and do better!""I hope some of us become real inventors when we grow up.""You taught me to never give up." These are just a few of the rave reviews received from students at Mann Elementary in the St. Louis...
Springboard Marketing Manager Interviewed on Classroom Matters
Springboard to Learning Marketing/Development Manager Lauren Wiser recently appeared on episode #12 of the HEC-TV and Educate.Today podcast Classroom Matters, hosted by Kristy Houle. Listen here: Episode #12: Transforming a Student’s Worldview: A Conversation with...
PNC Foundation Funds Wolf Trap Early Childhood Programming
On Tuesday, August 27th, Springboard to Learning was one of nine grant recipients in the St. Louis region to receive funding for early childhood programming from the PNC Foundation as part of the PNC Grow Up Great initiative. With support from the PNC Foundation,...
2019-2020 St. Louis TAI Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the 2019-2020 St. Louis Teaching Artist Institute! The St. Louis Teaching Artist Institute (TAI) is a project of the Regional Arts Commission made possible by a major grant from Wells Fargo Advisors. Springboard to Learning and NCCJ St....
WiseWrite Festival Previewed on Fox 2
The 24th annual WiseWrite Festival is set for April 2 at the Repertory Theatre. Springboard to Learning Executive Director Cathy Hartmann previewed the event on Fox 2 with anchor Dan Gray. See the full clip here.
Luminaries for Learning: A Q&A with Board President Laura Rossmann
In her first year as Board President, Laura Rossmann has helped to chart Springboard to Learning's future as a leader in providing arts education in St. Louis-area schools. Her efforts toward the creation and further development of the "Luminaries for Learning"...
Springboard’s Sandbothe inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
The family of Springboard to Learning Senior Program Director Steve Sandbothe was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, January 27. Sandbothe and all six siblings received athletic scholarships after graduating from Linn High School.The Sandbothes...
Springboard to Learning hosts Poetry Out Loud Competition for Fifth Straight Year
For the fifth consecutive year, Springboard to Learning will be the home of the St. Louis City Regional Poetry Out Loud competition on February 14th. Champions from six local high schools will compete for the opportunity to reach the state competition. Metro High...
HEC-TV Features Springboard Programming in Hazelwood
"Young Voices," a writing and storytelling residency by Springboard to Learning teaching artist Sherry Norfolk, was the focus of a recent feature by HEC-TV. The program, deployed to three third-grade classrooms at Brown Elementary in Hazelwood, gave an in-depth look...
Saigh Foundation Donates $5,000 to Fund Ideabuilder
Springboard to Learning would like to thank the Saigh Foundation for its generous donation of $5,000 to support the Ideabuilder program in Spring 2019. Ideabuilder is a STEM-based Signature Program, and has reached 96 classrooms over the past three years, more than...
In Their Own Words: Second Annual Lip Sync Gala Raises both Friends and Funds
The success of 2018 Lip Sync Battle- St. Louis, the Gala to Benefit Springboard to Learning is measured through fund-raising and friend-raising. Over $151,000 was successfully raised. In the area of friend-raising, we too succeeded; as told through the words of...
Springboard to Learning welcomes four new directors
Entering the 2018-19 academic year, Springboard to Learning has welcomed four new board directors. Catherine Merkel, Susan Sauer, Stephanie Valleroy and Lorie Westhoff are the newest members, providing Springboard to Learning with an influx of directors with a...
Springboard to Learning, RAC Debut St. Louis CANVASS Project
By Steve Sandbothe, Senior Program Director Springboard to Learning is so excited to announce our participation in the creation, design and implementation of The St Louis Canvass Project and St. Louis Teaching Artist Institute (TAI). This is a new, year-long, arts...
“Juggling Jeff” Koziatek Entertains, Inspires Through Springboard to Learning Programs
Jeff Koziatek is on the move. He’s always on the move. “Juggling Jeff,” as he’s affectionately known, had just completed an hour-long show at Southeast Middle School in Hazelwood, and was on his way to another, as he hurriedly packed a myriad of supplies into his...
Springboard to Learning, Nipher Middle School celebrate Meacham Park
During the 2017-18 school year, Springboard to Learning collaborated with students from Nipher Middle School and Webster Arts to tell the stories of the Meacham Park Neighborhood and its residents. The 18-month project was documented with a PBS documentary on the...
Springboard to Learning receives programming grant from Toyota North America-Bodine
Springboard to Learning is pleased to announce it has received a grant from Toyota North America-Bodine to provide programming to two North St. Louis County school districts. The grant will be devoted to Springboard to Learning's Visualizing Mathematics and Wolf Trap...
Young Audiences Legacy Lives on in St. Louis After 60 Years
Springboard to Learning Continues to Build on Rich History of Inspiring Underserved Students through Arts-centered Educational Experiences June 22, 2018 – ST LOUIS - This year marks an important milestone in St. Louis arts community: the 60th anniversary of the...
The Music Maker Celebration
The Music Maker Celebration is the accumulation of the work of fabulous young song writers, performed or studio-record by professional musicians. Springboard to Learning and the Sheldon Concert Hall honored the elementary and middle school students with an on-stage...
Edward Jones – Fall Lip Sync Gala
"When we say at Edward Jones that we are an active part of the communities we serve, we really mean it. We donate, walk, ride, run and sponsor fellow...
Purina Makes a Splash with Donation to Springboard to Learning
Springboard to Learning board member, Juli Plassmeyer, recently raised $4,000 in 30 minutes for our organization with a brave trip into a dunk tank during Purina’s annual employee volunteer day. Plassmeyer, a vice president at Purina, was dunked 31 times in 30...
Cardinals Host Art of Baseball Culminating Event
Springboard to Learning’s signature program, the Art of Baseball, will wrap up on Thursday, May 31. The culminating event will be at 5 p.m. in Cunningham’s Corner at Busch Stadium before the 6:15 game between the Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. During this...
Springboard to Learning, The Sheldon to host MusicMaker Culmination on May 22
On Tuesday, May 22nd, Springboard to Learning will partner with the Sheldon for the second consecutive year to celebrate the musical works of St. Louis-area students. The MusicMaker Culmination, which will be hosted at the Sheldon at 6:30 pm, will feature musical...
Springboard to Learning, Repertory Theatre to host WiseWrite Festival April 3
Springboard to Learning will celebrate the work of Dewey Elementary fifth-grade students at the 22nd annual WiseWrite Festival at Repertory Theater at 10 am on Tuesday, April 3. Under the direction of of Springboard to Learning teaching partners, WiseWrite students...
Springboard to Host Poetry Out Loud Competition
On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at 8:30 a.m., Springboard to Learning will host the St. Louis City Regional Competition of Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest open to all high school students. The Poetry Foundation and National...
Lip Sync Battle St. Louis and Springboard get airtime on Fox News!
Today, Fox News featured one of our brave Lip Sync Battle contestants, Jim Canada! He spoke about our mission and then performed a teaser number to get us in the mood for the Lip Sync Battle this Friday night. Since the songs our contestants will be performing Friday...
MusicMaker Participants Honored
On May 22nd students participating in Springboard to Learning’s “MusicMaker” residency were honored on the stage of the famous Sheldon Concert Hall. Schools represented were Most Holy Trinity Catholic School and Academy and the following St. Louis public schools:...
Young Friends Happy Hour Jan. 24
Teaching Partner Spotlight: Into the Wild with Dianne Moran
Dianne Moran’s list of classroom supplies is anything but typical. Snakes, chinchillas, lizards and chickens join Moran, a former keeper at the St. Louis Zoo—into the classroom at Keeven Elementary School in Hazelwood. The program on this day is “Amazing Creatures,” a...
Sumner High School Students Put a New Spin on Romeo and Juliet
Springboard teaching partners Mark Pagano and Mike Brandenstein incorporate "MusicMaker" program with Shakespeare curriculum. Young love. Lost love. Enemies. Tragedies. Shakespeare had a way of weaving deeply human themes...
Springboard Hosts St. Louis Poetry Out Loud Competition
Seven area students vie for trip to Missouri state championship in March. Maya Angelou. Paul Laurence Dunbar. W.E.B. Du Bois. Classic poets and their poetry shined brightly at the St. Louis Regional Poetry Out Loud competition, facilitated by Springboard and...
Springboard Joins Forces with The Biome, A YLC STEAM School
Unique professional development structure creates opportunity to serve Biome students. Most schools provide professional development for teachers in short bursts – a day here, an afternoon there. Not so at The Biome, a newly minted charter school in St. Louis’...
Springboard Visits St. Louis Public Radio
On Tuesday, December 1, Springboard representatives visited the studios of KWMU, St. Louis Public Radio, as featured guests on the program "St. Louis on the Air". Veteran program moderator Don Marsh interviewed Springboard's Executive Director Cathy Hartmann, Senior...
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Awards Springboard a Contract
Springboard will provide arts and education opportunities for children with disabilities in the Special School District. On September 14, Springboard was awarded a contract from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, becoming a contractual provider...
Springboard Meets the Needs of High School Students, Too
Springboard teaching partner/artist Branislav Tomich delivers his improv residency with aplomb and grace. Many students, particularly high school students, lack an outlet for their feelings and emotions. Fortunately, students at Cleveland ROTC High School in St. Louis...
Vin Ko – An Education Experience Story
Springboard E² Vin Ko - An Education Experience Story Vin Ko is going places! Fortunately one of those places is St. Louis, where Mr. Ko - Program Manager at St. Louis Mosaic Project - makes his home. His experiences, both as a child of immigrants and alumnus...
Read! Write! Act! Gets Support from WFA Gives
In July, Wells Fargo Advisors generously awarded Springboard a contribution of $2,500.00 for the implementation of new signature program Read! Write! Act! The gift marks the first collaboration between Springboard and Wells Fargo Advisors. Read! Write! Act!, an...
Springboard Makes a Splash at Shaw Park Aquatic Center
Friends and supporters "spring" into action at Shaw Park pool. On Saturday, August 15, 2015, Springboard hosted the "Springboard Challenge" at Shaw Park Aquatic Center in Clayton. Dozens of supporters gathered at the center's diving pool, helping kick off...
Springboard is hiring!
Springboard Development Director POSITION SUMMARY The Development Director is charged with meeting fundraising goals through major gifts, individual gifts, planned gifts, sponsorships, grants and special events. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES »Collaborates with Executive...
IdeaBuilder Reflection
‘- Fourth grade student at Bayless Elementary
Springboard and SLPS Partner for Summer School
[table id=3 /] Oh, those long, lazy days of summer. It's the perfect time for kids to relax, try a hobby or play games outdoors. But there's also danger in having too much time on one's hands or of losing valuable skills gained during the school year. Fortunately for...
Bayless Elementary Students Invent and Innovate
Springboard's IdeaBuilder program challenges students to think outside the box. A spinning pen to prevent boredom. A pet parachute enabling a soft landing. An automatic shoe cleaner. These ground-breaking inventions emerged from the minds of 10-year-old St. Louis...
Wyland Reader’s Theater
‘- fifth grade playwright at Wyland Elementary School
Fifth-Grade Playwright Enjoys WiseWrite “Blitz”
Fifth-grade playwright at Wyland Elementary enjoys the WiseWrite “blitz”!
Young Audiences Announces National Arts For Learning Week
NYC Flagship Event hosted by Young Audiences New York will take place on March 18 Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) is proud to announce The National Young Audiences Arts for Learning Week (YA Week). The YA network is raising awareness for arts and education...
Springboard Hosts Poetry Out Loud Competition
High School Students Compete for Seat at State Championship On Monday, February 2, 2015, Springboard hosted the St. Louis Regional Competition of Poetry Out Loud. Now in its tenth year, Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition open to high school...
Springboard Receives Grant From JCPenney
Grant to fund Arts4Learning Signature Program. Springboard is very pleased to announce the receipt of a $17,500 grant through Young Audiences to put into effect its Arts4Learning Signature Program. JCPenney recently awarded Young Audiences a grant to support the Arts...
Springboard to Host Poetry Out Loud Competition
On Monday, February 2, 2015, Springboard plays host to the St. Louis Regional Competition of Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest open to all high school students and conducted in all 50 states by the National Endowment for the Arts. The...
Springboard Responds to Ferguson Crisis
Displaced students enjoy educational programming at Ferguson Library. The world turned upside-down for families in the Ferguson-Florissant School District as a result of the unfortunate police shooting and subsequent protests in Ferguson last month. The first day of...
Hazelwood school begins new year with Springboard!
Alissa Rowan's From Story to Stage kicks off the new year. The students at McCurdy Elementary, in the Hazelwood School District, participated in From Story To Stage, a 5 day Springboard residency funded by the District and their PTA. Using the actor’s tools of the...
St. Margaret of Scotland
‘-Mary Lisa Penilla, St. Margaret of Scotland School
Wisewrite
Springboard and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Celebrate WiseWrite's 19th Season The kickoff of another school year also means the start of a new WiseWrite season. The school-year-long program is a collaboration between Springboard and The Repertory Theatre of St....
WiseWrite Coach
WiseWrite coach Dan Kelly mentors Wyland Elementary fifth grade student.
Quilting at Kennard
Springboard teaching partner/artist Sharon Hoffmann takes a moment with a student at Kennard Classical Junior Academy.
December 2013
Wyland Elementary student enjoys her visit to the Rep as part of the WiseWrite program.
Teaching partner/artist Ric Vice visits Mallinckrodt School
Third grade students in Ms. Saputo's class at Mallinckrodt School joined Springboard teaching partner/artist Ric Vice, St. Louis storyteller and jazz musician, for a blend of trickster, pour quoi, and heroic tales. Students learned to become more engaged and...