A Letter from our Executive Director

Sometimes it takes getting to the end of a school year to make you pause and think back over the amazing accomplishments of our students and staff. From August to May, we are working, reacting, solving, and supporting. The hustle and bustle of the school year does not allow much time for contemplation. But as with any family, it brings you great pride to see the youngest members grow and begin to find their identity. When the students in our Class of 2025 received their diplomas, it was the culmination of much hard work, challenges met, and goals achieved. Rest assured, their Street School family, in addition to their loved ones, continue to beam with pride.

We often say that we could not accomplish our mission without your support. More accurately, our students could not realize their dreams without your financial contributions, in-kind gifts, and volunteer time. In the last three years, that support has become more important than ever, as the Street School is now serving record numbers of students. We started the 2024/2025 school year with 74 students in our high school and 43 in our adult online program. In order to maintain the small student / teacher ratio (10:1 or less) the Street School is known for, more staff and resources were needed. You, our stakeholders, listened and answered as we shared our need for additional support. Our goal now is to sustain this level of funding. I feel more confident than ever that you will continue to answer the call every time we accept a new student into our program, insuring they have everything they need, tuition-free, to succeed in their educational and personal journey.

This coming year, the Street School is ready for a technology upgrade, which will involve purchasing new laptops and operating systems for our students. We pride ourselves on getting the most out of our equipment, but there comes a time when you must purchase replacements, and this summer is that time. Your continued support will allow us to make these upgrades, ensuring our students have the necessary resources for a productive and successful experience while in our program. Supporting this need is another example of how your contributions to the Street School make a tangible difference in our program and the growth of the students we serve, ultimately, strengthening this community.

If you want to see the work you are supporting firsthand, I invite you to set up a time for a visit to the Street School. We can share success stories through our annual report, but nothing compares to seeing the student / teacher interaction that takes place in our programs daily. You might be encouraged to take your commitment to our mission to a new level, financially or through your volunteer time.

The work continues as we prepare to greet a new group of students in August. Over the next couple months, our team will hone what is working well, tweak areas that need improvement, and focus on how we can make 2025/2026 the most amazing experience possible for students looking for hope and a fresh start. Thank you for your continued support, your belief in our work, and for choosing to come alongside the Winston-Salem Street School to see lives changed forever.

Sincerely,

Mike Foster

WSSS Executive Director