Our Priorities

The Equity Exchange is a collaboration between Burroughs and the St. Louis Public Schools. It was conceived through numerous conversations with educators around the nation who wanted to go beyond "Diversity 101." With a grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, in July 2014, independent, private and public school educators and professionals met for a retreat in St. Louis. After two days of intensive workshopping, they identified the core principles that launched the Equity Exchange in July 2015. The Exchange has since welcomed more than 100 participants from 13 states representing 42 different independent, private, public and charter schools, school districts or organizations. Endowed funds to advance the programming of the Equity Exchange, including its Summer Institute, are needed. 

Burroughs provides—and requires—ongoing in-house diversity and cultural competency training for our faculty and staff. Since 1999, local, regional and national experts have led workshops on campus for our faculty, staff, and quite often for the wider St. Louis community. In the last five years, we more intentionlly extended this programming to our adult community through the JBS Community & Equity Partnership, while also bringing together national cohorts of educators through The Equity Exchange. Preparing for our globally oriented society requires community-wide commitments to assure our diversity initiatives are broadly defined and culturally relevant. To further advance these goals, JBS is seeking donors who are interested in establishing an endowed fund to advance conversations that help students and their families further develop their cultural competency skills. Funds would be used to underwrite programming and events that encourage conversations and raise awareness, conversations and action supporting diversity, equity and inclusivity.  

To bring young and diverse educators to Burroughs, the school must compete for the best talent to see professional opportunity in St. Louis. Endowed funds are needed to develop partnerships with outstanding teacher training programs throughout the world. In addition, endowed funds would be used to ensure Burroughs Teaching Fellows are paid a reasonable stipend, as well as room and board, to make fellowships at Burroughs more attractive.

As part of the school's Centennial Campaign, Burroughs is seeking funds to hire a Coordinator for Alumni Mentoring to foster greater connectivity between recent graduates and other Burroughs alumni. More than ever, college and university students want access to knowledgeable “insiders.” They want to talk with Burroughs grads who have pursued successful career paths to gain visibility into how their academic training will help pave the way toward professional success. Robust advising structures can have a dramatic impact on degree completion because students can see how their degree or diploma translates into real world opportunities.

In 1969, Leo Drey ’34 offered to lease 44 acres of Ozark woodland in the Pioneer Forest to Burroughs for an annual fee of $1. 

Currently, Drey Land supports the Burroughs biology curriculum, outdoor education, programs for incoming 7th and 9th graders, and the twelfth-grade leadership trip. During the school’s most recent strategic planning process, Drey Land was prioritized for capital improvements to better accommodate students and staff.

Identified needs include a larger lodge with handicap accessibility, more storage, ease of maintenance, improved refrigeration, a dedicated infirmary, an expanded dining room and accommodations for faculty chaperones.

To make a gift to this project, click here, or contact Amy Dunaway ’92 at 314-993-4045, ext. 315.
 

Share your Drey Land memories with us!

As part of the Board of Trustees' five-year strategic plan, the administration and Board identified several improvements to strengthen the school's athletic facilities. These improvements impact our field hockey, golf, lacrosse, squash, swimming, diving and water polo programs, at all levels—and, as a bonus, provide additional parking to support all of these activities. These enhancements also provide much-needed flexibility for the varsity teams, PE program, middle school teams and youth sports program.

• A GOLF PRACTICE AREA north of the tennis courts was completed in spring 2019.
• As part of the scheduled replacement of synthetic turf on the FIELD HOCKEY FIELD, the field was expanded to support practice and regulation play for LACROSSE. The project also included a spectator PAVILION and was completed in time for the fall 2020 season.
• A NEW NATATORIUM, including an eight-lane regulation pool, new locker rooms and spectator seating for 200+, opened in November, 2020. 
• Four regulation SQUASH COURTS were built on the old pool footprint. Opened in December 2020, the venue also includes additional flexible court space and a viewing area. 
• ADDITIONAL PARKING off Clayton Road added 72 more parking spaces. The exit to Clayton Road was also widened to create two full lanes — one for left turns and one for right turns. 

We are grateful for the early and generous support of these projects by more than 60 families (past and present). Please contact Ginger Imster (314-993-4045 ext. 256) if you would like to learn more or donate.