Sycamore School received notification that Lilly Endowment will award the school $6,000,000 through its Marion County K-12 Private Schools Initiative. Sycamore’s is one of 15 competitive grants being awarded to private schools across the county through the third and final phase of the initiative, designed to help strengthen the academic achievement of students and improve their prospects for success after high school. With the grant, Sycamore will further develop our social-emotional learning (SEL) program as well as our support for twice-exceptional or “2e” students, expanding services for those with additional exceptionalities to improve the academic success of all students.
Phase 3 funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. will enable Sycamore to act on a thoughtful, impactful five-year plan developed by the Sycamore Board and senior staff. The plan calls for construction of a learning resource wing featuring a gross motor room, collaborative workspaces, and a learning resource office. A dynamic new outdoor space will foster nature-based, multi-sensory learning. Renovation of existing space will establish a dedicated learning resource room for middle school students.
Funding will also enable Sycamore to grow our SEL programming and our specialized services for 2e students. We will hire additional learning resource staff, expand summer hours for our resource staff, systematize professional development in SEL and 2e education for current faculty, and provide additional compensation for experienced “master” teachers to help lead these efforts.
While achievement of Sycamore students is our primary goal, an exciting secondary outcome of this grant will be the creation of a nationally recognized Center of Excellence in Gifted Education. We will create a senior administrative leadership position to oversee staff, direct the Center of Excellence, and promote it externally.
“We are passionate about social-emotional learning, knowing it is essential for the future success of all of our gifted students. We are also deeply committed to serving our twice-exceptional students.” John Huber, Head of Sycamore School, says. “This extraordinary grant from Lilly Endowment is the largest single gift in the history of our school. It will allow us to serve both the Sycamore community and the broader gifted education landscape for decades to come. Our Center of Excellence will be a hub of innovation, serving Sycamore students, the 70+ gifted independent schools nationwide, and others seeking to adopt best practices for gifted learners.”
Lilly Endowment is making grants to public schools in Indianapolis through a separate, complementary initiative.
About Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.