Our Vision
East Side Students Succeeding in School and Beyond: College, Career, Community
Our Mission
To promote and create bold and innovative programs, services, and partnerships that measurably elevate sustainable student success.
Our Core Values & Beliefs
Unlimited Capacity
We believe in the unlimited capacity of our students to achieve their goals and dreams.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of collaboration to most effectively achieve our goals and objectives.
Equitable Access & Results
We believe in the urgency of realizing equitable access and results for all our students.
Inclusiveness
We believe in the strength of inclusiveness to expand our impact.
Innovation
We believe in the dynamic potential of innovation to create novel solutions and powerful ways of working.
Our History
Budget cuts during the Great Recession significantly impacted the East Side Union High School District's ability to fund education, co-curricular, and sports programs. The effect of this crisis was felt at every level of our schools and community. The district took a number of steps to address this financial crisis, but there was a need for our East Side community to get involved and provide direct support for critical district programs.
The East Side Education Foundation was created to provide an avenue for that support. From re-establishing the Thomas P. Ryan East Side Hall of Fame to developing the Spartan East Side Promise in collaboration with San José State and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, ESEF showcases the significant accomplishments of East Side graduates, promotes an added sense of pride in the East Side community, and provides unique opportunities for East Side students to continue in their education journey.
ESEF is managed by a 100% volunteer Board of Directors and supported by a small but mighty team of contract professionals who assist with finances, marketing, and events. This means nearly all the funds raised by the Foundation go directly to support East Side students, teachers, and community.
Since 2011, the Foundation has hosted a biennial Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to honor the contributions of East Side graduates in a variety of fields. We also hold an annual Crab Feed to raise money for school clubs, teams, and other extracurricular programs.
Over the past decade, ESEF has raised nearly $1 million to support Teacher Innovation Grants, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs, Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez Awards, the Special Education Prom, and the Spartan East Side Promise.