What we take for granted today would not exist without the resilience and innovation of a community member, Stephanie Ferguson. It all comes down to people who do not give up and work tirelessly to address the room for improvement.

Stephanie Ferguson, a Bellevue resident and parent of two Bellevue School District graduates, is a fervent supporter of public education and student well-being. Her husband, Eric, also worked in BSD for nearly 29 years, taking on many roles including science and math teacher as well as an administrator. 

Ferguson's background, from her early childhood to her career at Microsoft, has deeply shaped her views on education and philanthropy. As Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, she took part in the company's monthly giving program several years ago, a time when she could reflect on her gratitude and the value of giving back. Around this time, her husband introduced her to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, which opened up a door for her to dive into her passion for supporting public education. This passion, she recalls, ties back to her childhood. While growing up, and before moving to Bellevue, she lived in various places in New York. Each time their family moved, her parents prioritized where quality education was available, even if the location itself was not ideal. That taught her that strong public schools are important. When she came to Bellevue, she realized the education here was different. 

“Unlike New York, the schools are not directly affected by property taxes. The public education in Bellevue is also comparable to private schools in terms of the number of AP courses and staff with board certification,” she mentions. She remarks that she is impressed to see public schools in Bellevue rank high in various publications nationwide. She gives credit to the supportive community, commenting that “this would not be possible if the community did not support the schools.” 

Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) is the cornerstone of this community and work towards comprehensive education and student well-being. Ferguson served as the president last year and is currently on the board of trustees at the BSF. She comments that the need for innovation and equity is growing due to economic shifts, demographic change, and the COVID outbreak. Furthermore, she shares that she could broaden her perspective of her community by looking “underneath the surface where needs and opportunities exist” while she oversees the programs at Boys and Girls Club and BSF as a board member. She highlights that while everything looks great in Bellevue, there are always students who are getting free and reduced lunch and are without the resources they need.

She has also noticed that “less than 10% of families give back to the BFS while certainly more than 10% of families benefit from the BSF.” Programs like Naviance or Computer Science education, which we take for granted, are the result of the efforts of the Foundation. The BSF raises funds through various methods such as its annual Block Party, Spring for Schools, and Education Connections. It then collaborates with school administrators to identify areas of need and pilots a program that will eventually be embedded in school programs. She stresses that the BSF needs more donations to continue with this work. She aspires for everyone to contribute to the organization with what they are capable of. It can be through GEM (Giving Every Month), donations at Spring for Schools, corporate grants, and more. 

One of the biggest events she encourages the community to attend is Spring for Schools, which will take place on April 19th from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This event includes a silent and live auction along with dinner where attendees can connect. She hopes to meet community members who share the same goals as the BSF and corporations willing to sponsor the organization.

When asked for advice for the next leaders at the BSF, Ferguson emphasized the significance of “a shared understanding of the BSF’s ambitions and concrete goals among the board, staff, and volunteers.” She believes in trust and accountability across all the members. She adds, “There might be tough times, but it all comes down to the people.” 

Stephanie hopes the community will learn more about the BSF and its vital work, improving education and well-being for current students and the next generations to come. She asks the community to “take a step back to see what an amazing quality of education has been made available to the Bellevue schools.”  

Although her children have graduated, Stephanie remains committed to advocating for top-tier education in Bellevue even after her position at the BSF. “Roles may change, and people may change. However, I will stay as a part of the family,” she affirms.

Mark your calendars for Spring for Schools on April 19th! Together, we can ensure that every student can thrive in public schools!

For more information visit: bellevueschoolsfoundation.org