QPS Foundation awards $18,000 for new staff role of district family support liaison

QUINCY — The Quincy Public Schools Foundation supported the expansion of the QPS Child and Family Mentor Program through a grant of $18,000 awarded in September. The grant was made possible by endowments within the foundation from the Norma Tushaus Circle of Investment fund and the Walden Family Circle of Investment fund.

Kent Embree, Foundation executive director, said the grant would be used to expand the Child and Family Mentor Program by supporting the addition of a new staff role called the district family support liaison.

“We reached out to the district through Tracy Bugh, the director of the program, to find out how the Foundation could better support the initiative, which was originally begun through donations to our Foundation,” Embree said. “It turned out the district was already working on ways to provide additional family-related services through the creation of this position.”

John Lumpkin is the QPS staff member tasked as the district family support liaison. He will directly connect with students and families, particularly at the high-school level, to help with academic success for at-risk students.