Honoring Our SCS Teachers and Staff: The Heart Behind The Shepherds’ Fund
Every October, Springfield Catholic Schools pauses to honor the people, our teachers and staff, who make our mission come alive every day. These are the Shepherds who guide students in faith, knowledge, and service, and whose quiet dedication fills our classrooms, cafeterias, offices, and hallways with light.
This month, as we Celebrate Our Shepherds, we also celebrate the SCS community that stands behind them. The Shepherds’ Fund Endowment is one of the most powerful ways we come together to support, sustain, and strengthen the people who make Springfield Catholic Schools feel like home.
The Story of The Shepherds’ Fund at Springfield Catholic Schools
Established in 2020, The Shepherds’ Fund Endowment began with a simple but transformative goal: to ensure that Springfield Catholic Schools could continue to attract, support, and retain exceptional educators and staff for generations to come.
With fewer people entering education and public and private schools often offering higher pay, recruiting and retaining outstanding Catholic educators is a growing challenge. The Shepherds’ Fund seeks to address this challenge by becoming financially competitive with local public and private schools. By directly helping increase teacher and staff salaries through this endowment fund, we hope to add just another reason to be part of the Catholic school community in Springfield, MO.
Unlike tuition or annual gifts, endowment contributions are never spent. They are invested, and the return provides sustainable, long-term support for our schools. The original donations remain in the fund, allowing it to grow and impact countless lives, today and for years to come.
And the results are already visible. Since the launch of the endowment, starting salaries for SCS teachers have increased by 35%. That growth reflects not only the generosity of our community but also the shared commitment to ensuring that Catholic education remains both fulfilling and sustainable for those called to it.
Supporting Catholic School Education, One Shepherd at a Time
When people think of Springfield Catholic Schools, they often picture classrooms filled with students and teachers. But the heartbeat of our schools extends far beyond those walls.
It’s a warm welcome from office staff who know every family by name. It’s in the calm leadership of principals and academic counselors, the hands of the food service team who nourish students daily, and the dedication of our IT, maintenance, and security teams who make our schools safe and inviting.
The Shepherds’ Fund supports all the teachers and staff who make our schools not just places of learning, but communities of faith, belonging, and care. Every contribution helps ensure that our educators and staff have the resources, stability, safety, and support they need to continue their vital work.
Your Support Matters for the Future of Springfield Catholic Schools
While progress has been substantial, our teachers and staff still earn about 91% of what their public school counterparts make. Closing this gap remains an important goal. By continuing to grow The Shepherds’ Fund, we can provide competitive salaries, professional development, and the resources our educators need to thrive without compromising the values that make SCS unique.
We also recognize that increasing tuition to meet these needs would create barriers for families and risk reducing enrollment. Our mission has always been to make Catholic education accessible to all. That’s why a strong, conservatively managed endowment is so essential as it allows us to maintain high-quality education and fair compensation without placing the burden on families. The Shepherds’ Fund provides a perpetual revenue stream that supplements the resources needed to pay our teachers and staff what they deserve and what they are worth.
The Shepherds’ Fund also supports newer programs and positions, including our School Protection Officers, intervention specialists, and mental health services. Continuing to grow this fund means keeping these programs strong and opening doors for future initiatives that serve students and families.
Every contribution to The Shepherds’ Fund is 100% tax-deductible and directly supports the people behind our mission of faith, learning, and community.
Celebrate Our SCS Teachers and Staff
Throughout October, we’re spotlighting the many faces of our shepherds by sharing stories of impact, gratitude, and faith across our four schools.
You can join the celebration in many ways:
- Sponsor a Shamrock for a Shepherd at your school
- Write a note of thanks to a teacher or staff member
- Share a story about how a Shepherd has made a difference in your life
- Pray for our educators
- Or make a gift to The Shepherds’ Fund today
Because when we support our Shepherds, we’re not just investing in their work, we’re investing in the future of Springfield Catholic Schools.
Learn more here: TheShepherdsFund.com
Donate today: https://springfieldcatholicschool.formstack.com/forms/shepherds_fund
