Support Our Work
Help every student find their lighthouse
Your support helps us expand and strengthen mental health services for students across Boston Public Schools. Every contribution directly supports our mission and makes a meaningful difference.
SAIL
School Psychologists Advancing Impact and Learning
SAIL is a Boston Public Schools initiative focused on strengthening the school psychology workforce and expanding access to prevention and intervention services so every student has the support needed to thrive.
The SAIL campaign invests in recruitment, training, and retention of school psychologists while strengthening prevention and intervention systems across schools.
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Mary Jane Drinkwater Memorial Fund
An award for professional development travel
We are pleased to have established the Mary Jane Drinkwater Memorial Fund in honor of Mary Jane Drinkwater (1943–2024), whose remarkable career and dedication continue to inspire us all. The fund reflects the spirit of her commitment to education, advocacy, and professional development.
Mary Jane began her professional journey as a dedicated elementary school teacher in the Boston Public Schools, where she earned recognition for her fairness and commitment to her students. She later transitioned to the role of school psychologist, specializing in the needs of students with visual impairments. Her exceptional work was acknowledged when she was named School Psychologist of the Year in 1993.
Beyond her professional achievements, Mary Jane had a profound passion for art, music, and exploration, and delighted in sharing her love of culture and history with family and friends.
The fund provides financial support to school psychologists within the Boston Public Schools, enabling them to attend and present at professional development events, ensuring that her legacy reaches future generations of school psychologists.
How the Work Is Funded
City funding, braided with grants and gifts
To deliver high-quality services to students, Behavioral Health Services secures external funding to braid with city funding. During the 2025–26 school year, the department mobilized about $1.44 million in combined funding for behavioral health initiatives district-wide.
Together, these funds support the training, development, and retention of school mental health staff serving BPS communities, and equip them with the tools to deliver high-quality services to students and families. The resources were directed to six areas:
- District-wide access to universal mental and behavioral health screening with the BIMAS-2.
- School mental health education and awareness events for students and families, during and outside school hours, in multiple languages.
- High-impact training and professional development for school mental health staff.
- University training experiences, including paid internship opportunities.
- Central staffing capacity for ongoing program improvement.
- Materials used in delivering mental health services to students.
Funds Awarded, 2025–26
- Private funds
- $373,809
- State-level funds
- $69,910
- Federal funds
- about $1,070,381
- Combined funding
- about $1.44 million
Private funding includes the Mary Jane Drinkwater Memorial Fund and the Boston Children's Hospital CBHM grant. State funding is the DESE SEL & Mental Health Continuation Grant. Federal funding is the Project PROVIDE grant. Source: BHS Annual Report 2025–26, Table 1.
Other Ways to Help
Not every contribution is a check
Partner with us, host a trainee, share our resources with a family who needs them, or simply tell a school psychologist thank you.