Amplify Mainspring! Help us Get $5K in Matching Funds

We are excitedly gearing up for the big day of giving in our lovely Austin, TX! Amplify Austin will occur on March 5th & 6th, 2015 and is set to raise a whopping $7 MILLION for local non-profits! The Anderson Foundation has generously agreed to provide FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS in matching funds in support of our Food Program!! We ask you to team up with us to help us get these matching funds. 75 percent of the kiddos that attend our school are living below the current poverty level. That means that most healthful meals are eaten while they are at school. It is our mission to provide our kids with farm to table meals every day they are with us. Learn more about our wonderful program here.

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Schedule your donation today! Help us hit our goal to receive $5k in matching funds!

Become a Luncheon Sponsor

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Mainspring Schools will host its annual Speaker Series Fundraising Luncheon on Thursday, April 16th, 2015. This wonderful event will take place in the beautiful Glass Oaks Ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel here in Austin. Dr. Casey Call from the TCU Institute of Child Development will speak about an emerging trust-based model for a wide range of childhood behaviors that Mainspring has used with great success.To ensure every dollar raised at the event goes directly to programming at Mainspring, we are looking for generous individuals and business to underwrite the event.

To ensure every dollar raised at the event goes directly to Mainspring programming, we are seeking generous individuals and businesses to help underwrite the event.  Benefits of sponsorship are listed below.  Please consider sponsoring so that you can join 300 other community leaders and show your support of quality early education for disadvantaged children in our community.

Sponsorship Levels

$10000 - Valedictorian

• 2 tables of 10 with prominent placement
• Event signage and special mention at the event
• Listing in event program and materials

$5000 - Salutatorian

• 1 table of 10 with prominent placement
• Event Signage and special mention at the event
• Listing in event program materials

$3000 - Class President

• 8 luncheon tickets
• Event signage and special mention at the event
• Listing in program and materials

$1500 - Straight A’s

• 4 luncheon tickets
• Signage at event
• Listing in program and materials

$500 - Honor Roll

• 2 luncheon tickets
• Signage at event
• Listing in program and materials

$200 - Teacher’s Helper

• 1 seat + 1 seat for Mainspring Teacher
• Listing in event program

Mainspring Schools seeking Marketing and PR Intern

Job Description Position: Marketing & PR Intern

10-20 hours/week

Mainspring Schools is Austin’s premier nonprofit early childhood education center for economically disadvantaged children. 87% of children brought up in Austin’s low-income neighborhoods will enter kindergarten behind readiness levels, and when children start kindergarten behind, they are likely to stay behind for the rest of their lives.

Mainspring Schools eliminates the early childhood education gap and empowers families. 95% of our graduates start kindergarten at or above the State of Texas Pre-K readiness level & on par with their advantaged peers. Our model is based on a loving & individualized learning environment that systematically prepares the child and parents for success in school & life.

Mainspring Schools is seeking a dynamic and creative Marketing & PR Intern with outstanding communications skills who, through Marketing and promotions, wants to make a difference in the lives of Austin’s children in need.

We are committed to providing back to the ideal candidate through mentorship by our Board members - employees of Google, Humana, Innography and Excelleration Partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow Mainspring Schools’ social media presence on Facebook and Instagram (photograph classroom activities, write posts, promote pages)
• Write and format monthly email marketing communications; track performance
• Help strategize the communication plan for our new “Adopt a Child” fundraising initiative
• Find and pursue opportunities for media mentions in local news & blogs
• Update website weekly and as needed

Minimum Qualifications

• Love, compassion and patience with children (must also pass background check)
• Self-motivated, good organizational skills, ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Proficiency with basic technology & social media platforms
• Exceptional interpersonal and writing communications skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Graphic design skills including Photoshop photo editing and creation of marketing materials (mailers, web graphics)
• Experience writing and distributing press releases, social media posts and email marketing messages (Constant Contact)
• Experience performing Wordpress website updates
• Creative and DIY approach to building community awareness for a small but growing nonprofit school

If interested, contact Anthony - anthony@mainspringschools.org for more details.

Meet our new Education Director!

Help us welcome our newest addition to the Mainspring family, Sam Schlickeisen: I discovered my passion for working with families when I was a teenager working as a camp counselor for the YMCA of Austin. I led summer and after school programs for children in Manor, TX and later at a mixed use space on East 6th Street. I was always the one in the dirt, taking pies to the face (as a way to reward my group meeting a goal) and leading the Mini Mardi Gras parade of bikes and wagons we'd organize each year. 

Through college and after, I worked in a variety of childcare settings and during my senior year was accepted as an intern at The Children's AdvocacyCenter for DentonCounty working with children who had been victims of sexual abuse. I was part of a team helping the children and their families move past the trauma and toward healing and closure.

After graduating with my degree in Development and Family Studies my husband and I moved back to Austin as quick as we could. I have since worked for The Meadows Center for the Prevention of Education Risk and at Pearson doing educational research and assessment. I also worked at the ACC Lab School, which gave me first hand knowledge of the inner workings of an extremely loving and high quality early childhood education center, which led me to Mainspring Schools.

I firmly believe that being a part of the "village" that helps raise a child is a special gift and an awesome responsibility. My husband and I are foster parents to two children (a brother and sister) and every day with them reminds me that having a supportive network in invaluable to parents. I'm hoping to be a part of that network for parents at Mainspring.

I am a passionate educator and look forward to putting my skills to work to improve and innovate the education your children receive here at Mainspring! I am excited to get to know you, your children and your families as we work together to ensure the brightest possible future for all of the students at Mainspring. Please feel free to come to me with questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's life and learning at Mainspring. I am excited to partner will you and with the amazing teachers and administrators here.