How SPEF Helps Turn Classroom Ideas Into Real Opportunities for South Pasadena Students

For 15 years, Stacey Petersen has watched innovative ideas emerge from South Pasadena classrooms and grow into programs that touch nearly every student in the district.

As executive director of the South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF), Petersen has helped oversee funding for hundreds of teacher-driven projects, enrichment programs and educational initiatives that often begin as a single classroom concept before expanding into something much larger.

“We’re just so blessed with some wonderful teachers that really think outside the box,” Petersen said.

That spirit of innovation has become a hallmark of SPEF’s work. Through its Teacher Grant Program alone, the foundation funded approximately 100 projects during the past school year, supporting everything from sensory tools for neurodiverse learners and outdoor classrooms for young students to cultural immersion experiences and arts education opportunities.

Many grants extend beyond a single classroom. Some involve entire grade levels, while others support schoolwide programs that reach hundreds of students.

“I would venture to say it probably affects close to every student on campus in some way or another,” Petersen said.

One recent example involved an educational animal habitat program that brought live animals directly to school campuses. Students had the opportunity to interact with creatures such as sloths, hawks and snakes while learning about ecosystems and conservation.

“It’s always just to see the sparkle in their eyes and how excited they are,” Petersen said. “Many of them wouldn’t have the opportunity to see these animals in action.”

Over the years, some SPEF-supported projects have evolved into permanent district programs. Petersen points to South Pasadena’s engineering and robotics pathways as examples. What began as summer school offerings eventually expanded into year-round educational programs that continue through high school.

The foundation also provided early support for broadcast journalism programs, helping students gain hands-on experience in media production and storytelling.

At South Pasadena High School, one of the most notable investments has been the Anatomage Table, a sophisticated digital anatomy system used in biology and sports medicine classes. The technology allows students to study the human body in extraordinary detail through interactive digital cadavers.

Petersen said students have credited the experience with helping shape their college and career aspirations.

“It’s been an incredible thing,” she said.

Beyond academics, SPEF has also helped create spaces and programs designed to strengthen student engagement and school culture.

The foundation recently contributed major funding toward the Tiger Den, a collaborative student space created from an underutilized section of the high school library. The area now serves as a gathering place where students can study, meet with clubs and connect with peers in a comfortable environment.

SPEF’s impact can also be seen in the arts. The foundation supports drama programs across multiple grade levels, including the popular fifth-grade musical program that introduces elementary students to every stage of theatrical production, from rehearsals to performance.

Many students discover a passion for theater through that experience and continue participating in drama throughout middle school and high school.

The organization’s work is driven by a volunteer board composed largely of current and former district parents. Unlike individual PTAs or booster clubs, SPEF raises funds that benefit all schools across the district.

For Petersen, that districtwide reach remains one of the organization’s greatest strengths.

“SPEF is the one organization that fundraises for all of our schools, not just a single school,” she said. “Our impact is wide and far for a tiny town.”

As South Pasadena schools continue to develop new programs and opportunities, Petersen believes the foundation’s mission remains the same: helping educators transform creative ideas into meaningful experiences that prepare students for the future.