As executive director of the El Dorado Education Foundation, Phillips oversees the independent nonprofit organization formed to promote academic excellence in the El Dorado Public Schools.
Assisting the EDEF Board of Directors since 1996, Mrs. Phillips has helped to write, raise funds for and establish foundation activities. Among these initiatives is an EDEF/EDPS endowed chair partnership — the only known program of its kind in the United States — for K-12 math, science, foreign language and literacy. Other annual EDEF projects/partnerships developed through the years have included: Academic Signing Day for the El Dorado Promise, Teacher Grants, Educator Excellence Awards, Arkansas Scholars, Bridge to College Algebra, Read for the Record, You Be the Chemist and GLAMS – Girls Learning About Math and Science.
Phillips helped with background research on Murphy Oil Corporation’s El Dorado Promise scholarship program, prior to its establishment in 2007. As a volunteer and committee member, she assisted in subsequent successful campaigns through the Chamber of Commerce; first for economic development, then for “Build on the Promise,” a millage increase to build a new high school. She helped the high school theater troupe raise funds for international performances at the American High School Theatre Festival, and accompanied the group to Edinburgh, Scotland.
With a B.A. in mass communications from Southern Arkansas University, Phillips has experience in grant writing, public relations, healthcare, hospitality, and broadcasting; having won state and national awards in promotional video.
Her youngest of two children is an El Dorado Promise graduate.
PromiseNet 2014 