We are thrilled to share this exciting milestone: the North Kitsap Schools Foundation has hired its first-ever Executive Director, Stefan Keel. This moment marks a turning point—one that strengthens our ability to fill critical gaps, amplify our impact, and build a future where every North Kitsap student is seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.

As the year draws to a close and our schools glow with winter concerts, shared laughter, and well-earned moments of reflection, it’s clear that something extraordinary is happening in North Kitsap classrooms. Students are discovering who they are and who they might become. These moments don’t happen by accident. They happen because a community believes in education—and chooses to invest in it.

Last spring at Hilder Pearson Elementary, magic came through music—thanks to two North Kitsap Schools Foundation grants led by music teacher Tamera Rabura that opened the doors to orchestral experiences students will remember for a lifetime.

We are proud to launch the Luminaries program for community members alongside the SPARK payroll deduction program for our NKSD teachers and staff, creating a unified and powerful front of support across North Kitsap.

At the North Kitsap Schools Foundation, that spirit of giving shines bright all year long. Every dollar, every volunteer hour, and every act of generosity becomes part of a bigger story—one that fuels classrooms, empowers teachers, and inspires students across our community.

This year, three dedicated teachers - Camille Bothe, Mary Salazar, and Alissa Drowns turned their classrooms into living laboratories with a North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant that funded the Lettuce Grow Farmstand Project. These self-watering, self-fertilizing hydroponic towers transformed everyday lessons into hands-on experiments in science, sustainability, and gratitude.

Having served the longest tenure for any Board Trustee with the North Kitsap Schools Foundation, Dennis Peters has decided to step away from the board. Out of NKSF’s 23-year existence, Dennis served on the board for nearly half of it. As of the end of 2025, he’ll have completed 10 years of service in various roles, most notably as Treasurer and President.

This year, thanks to a North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant, Preschool Teacher Pat Muñiz brought a world of sensory discovery to her classroom. The grant funded a collection of tools designed to meet her students’ diverse sensory needs, including alternative seating, noise-canceling headphones, chew necklaces, fine-motor learning materials, and the star of the show—a brand-new funnel stand for the sensory table.