Our Mission
Invested in Education
Fort Osage Education Foundation’s mission is to build philanthropic support and secure financial resources to stimulate and enhance learning opportunities that cannot be met through traditional funding sources.
Board of Directors
Our vision is to provide support for academic programs, staff enrichment, student grants, and special projects.
Mr. Eric Wilson, President
Ms. Dylan Peterson, Vice President
Mrs. Amanda Brown, Director
Ms. Anita Jonas, Director
Mrs. Sharon Dankenbring, Director
Mr. Philip Snodgrass, Director
Mr. Marc Dickensheets, Director
Ms. Tammi Krones, Director
Ex-Officio Members
Dr. Jason Snodgrass, Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Amy Buntin, Secretary
Mrs. Stacey Holzwarth, Treasurer
Mrs. Stephanie Smith, APR, Director of Public Relations
Board of Directors – Bios
Mr. Eric Wilson
President
Eric Wilson and his wife are graduates from Fort Osage High School (class of 1994 and 1996 respectively) and currently have four children enrolled in the district. Additionally, Eric’s mother-in-law taught for over 25 years in the school district, mostly at Buckner Elementary where he and his wife both attended. Wilson has several aunts, uncles, and cousins who are Fort Osage Alumni, a handful of which still live in the district. Wilson has deep roots in the community and a strong desire to see the school district succeed.
Wilson has been employed for 20 years at American Century Investments. His greatest strengths include data and analytics, a background in marketing, and leadership skills. He is actively involved in his local youth ministry, and frequently assists Troop 221 each Summer at Boy Scout Camp in Osceola, Missouri. Previous to serving on the Fort Osage Education Foundation, Wilson was a board member and secretary on the Center Place Educational Foundation.
Wilson’s accolades and achievements include a Certificate of Appreciation from the Fort Osage Alumni Association for his contributions to enhancing the alumni database, and the Circle of Honor Award for Innovation from American Century Investments.
Ms. Dylan Peterson
Vice President
Dylan graduated from the Fort Osage School District in 2011. Her current role as Business and Community Coordinator with the Fort Osage School District is to help support the district’s Real World Learning Initiative to connect students with business so that they are life-ready after high school.
Before working at Fort Osage, Dylan worked in Cairo, Egypt running an English program at a language center and starting a marketing business.
Her strengths include marketing, photography, and videography. In addition to volunteering her time with the Foundation, Dylan serves as treasurer of the Buckner Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Sharon Dankenbring
Director
Sharon Dankenbring has been active for many years through the PTA, Athletic Booster Club, and Project Graduation. Chaired twice, Dankenbring is a Fort Osage School Board member, serving as president and currently vice-president. Additionally, Dankenbring is a Fort Osage Education Foundation board member, with two children that graduated from Fort Osage and two grandchildren currently attending the district.
Dankenbring is a retired ad and marketing director from The Examiner newspaper. Her expertise includes fund raising for the community. Dankenbring is part of the Junior Service League and the Past Community Service League. She is currently overseeing the fundraising for the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, the Drumm Farm Center for Children Sunshine Center in Blue Springs, and Wild About Harry fundraising event for Truman Library.
Dankenbring was named one of Eastern Jackson County’s “Women of Distinction” and awarded an “Old Pro Award” by the Missouri Advertising Manager’s Association.
Mrs. Amanda Brown
Director
Mrs. Brown is a parent to three children in the Fort Osage School District. Her husband, Chad Brown, and many family members are Fort Osage Alumni. She has been an active member of the Buckner PTO and has served in all board positions. Mrs. Brown brings to the board a passion for education- (Former Teacher- Liberty Public Schools, Former Manager of Student Engagement & Achievement/ Client Service Manager – Online Learning Company- Stride, Inc). She and her husband own Alternative Risk Company, a wholesale insurance brokerage company, where she serves as Vice- President.
Ms. Anita Jonas
Director
Ms. Jonas has two children who graduated from the Fort Osage School District. She is self-employed as a real estate agent and investor and also owns Clarity, a gluten free retail shop in historic downtown Buckner. Her sucess as a small business owner is evident as Clarity was a finalist as the Best Health Food Store in The Pitch Best of Kansas City 2021
Ms. Jonas is retired from GEHA, and brings experience to the board in strategic planning, marketing and event planning. She is currently President of the Buckner Chamber of Commerce and is a newly appointed Board Member of Community Services League.
Mr. Philip Snodgrass
Director
Mr. Snodgrass is the owner of the State Farm Insurance Agency in the Fort Osage School District. He brings to the board the ability to meet and interact with other businesses in the area to solicit support of the foundation. He is actively involved in the Independence Chamber of Commerce and serves as a board member for the Buckner Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Marc Dickensheets
Director
Ms. Tammi Krones
Director
Every Contribution Helps
Your Support Fuels Our Mission and Vision
The Red Barn Bash is an annual Fall event with dinner & drinks, dancing, live music from an all-alumni band, and a silent auction. Get the latest updates on Facebook @RedBarnBash, or contact Stephanie Smith at 816.650.7019 for additional information.
GivingTuesday begins the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and kicks off the end-of-year charitable season. Your gift supports, teachers, students and the community. Make your donation online, or contact Stephanie Smith at 816.650.7019.
We are always looking for individuals to serve in a variety of volunteer roles with the foundation. Please click here to see a description of these opportunities. We appreciate your interest and we hope to talk with you soon!
A Bit About
Our History
The Fort Osage R-1 School District Education Foundation was created during the 2000-2001 school year to raise, manage, and distribute scholarships for seniors from Fort Osage High School. In June 2000, nine scholarship endowment funds were transferred to Truman Heartland Community Foundation for an estimated total of $78,000.
One of the first decisions made by the board was to ask teachers to contribute through payroll deduction to the Foundation
Truman Heartland Community Foundation at that time managed funds for about 67 different charities. A small group of community members and school district personnel made up the first Board of Directors for the Fort Osage R-1 School District Foundation. The Board of Directors began collecting as much information as possible about the workings of an educational foundation.
In the early days, we had Paul Thompson, President and CEO of Truman Heartland Community Foundation, and Don Ross, Coordinator of Development for the Independence School District Foundation, talk with the Board. One of the first decisions made by the Board was to ask teachers to contribute through payroll deduction to the Foundation. Many still do.
Testimonials
What Teachers are Saying
“The Rekenrek is a unique tool that allows children to develop number sense at their own pace and build number relationships that lead to more advanced strategies.”
“Literature Circles allow students to work in small groups to read and discuss the same book. This enables students to become more fluent, and practice comprehension strategies.”
“I frequently assess my students’ thinking by asking them to talk about their poetry collections, write about their thinking, and raise their voices by creating their own poetry collection.”
Students
Annual Senior Scholarships
Staff Members
Annual Teacher Grants
Get In Touch
Location: 2101 N. Twyman Road, Independence, MO 64058
Telephone: (816) 650-7019
Email: foedfoundation@fortosage.net
School Hours: M-F: 8am – 3pm
MEMBER
