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Interim Executive Director reflects on the challenges and joys of the new school year.

Before graduating Jordan High School this spring, Grace Ferguson received some exciting news. They had received an $80,000 SAIC Recognition Merit Scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago—one of the most prestigious art schools in the country.&nbsp;Ferguson provided artwork for the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b33bd9d8ab72224630b6e69/t/614decc3c2d1a17de5aeb01d/1632496845366/DPSF_Online+Report_M...

With year-round schools starting on July 21, we are coming up on the first full school year under the current federal administration. Here’s how what’s happening in Washington might impact Durham’s public schools. And how Durham can act now to support our kids. </p>

"Fill That Bus!” restocks the shelves for Crayons2Calculators, allowing them to keep providing free school supplies for DPS teachers. </p>

After this month’s scholarship reception, Interim Executive Director Brianna Kennedy reflects upon her own life-changing scholarship journey in this month’s Brianna’s Bulletin.</p>

In her first Brianna’s Bulletin, Interim Executive Director Brianna Kennedy reflects on her journey from the classroom to DPSF and shares why supporting school-based innovation through our Grants program is a fundamental part of DPSF’s mission. </p>

Learn more about our May DPS Alumni of the Month, Priscilla Garrett (DSA ‘15)!

Recently, Deputy Executive Director Brianna Kennedy sat down with outgoing Executive Director Erika Wilkins to reflect upon her time at DPS Foundation; Kennedy will step in as Interim Executive Director upon Wilkins’s departure.&nbsp;</p>

The school year might be winding down, but our work is far from over. With you at our side, we’ve made a powerful impact this year. Now, we need your help to keep the momentum going. Durham and our public school students, educators, staff, and families are counting on us—and you.

Duke University’s head football coach Manny Diaz has chosen the DPS Foundation to receive the winnings from his participation in the 18th annual Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament.

Learn more about our April DPS Alumni of the Month, Jokyra Scott (Southern High School)

Our executive director, Erika Wilkins, shares an important organizational update.

La resistencia incluye nuestro derecho a la alegría: una reclamación de la felicidad y la autoexpresión que todos merecemos, a pesar de los intentos de arrebatárnosla. Hoy nos enorgullece mostrar las obras de Roan Boucher y otros artistas locales a través de nuestra campaña de arte comunitario “Standing Strong/Estamos de Pie.”</p>

Learn more about our March DPS Alumni of the Month, Danielle Purifoy (Northern High School)!

El presidente Trump ha firmado una orden ejecutiva que pide disolver el Departamento de Educación. Lea nuestra respuesta sobre la razon por la cual Durham necesita el DOE y cómo puede actuar.

President Trump has signed an executive order calling to dismantle the Department of Education. Read more about why Durham needs the DOE and how you can act.

Student U is now overseeing and managing the Community Schools program for DPS. This will allow Student U to continue expanding this promising model throughout Central North Carolina.

The new fund seeks to cover the certification costs for up to 50 drivers.

Resistance includes our right to joy — a reclamation of the happiness and self-expression that we all deserve, in spite of attempts to take it away. Today we are proud to showcase the artwork of Roan Boucher and other local artists through our “Standing Strong/Estamos de Pie” community art campaign.

Born and raised in Durham, Erika Wilkins left home to pursue a career in education. In 2022 she returned to serve at the DPS Foundation, an organization she’s led as the executive director of since 2023.