425-280-6371  PAS@riseupacademynw.org

I’m looking forward to October 16th! Here are the paragraphs that you asked of me. Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks again for the opportunity!

Here is the paragraph that can be used to introduce me:

Rev. Dr. Paul A. Stoot, Sr. is a native of Houston, Texas, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and a Washingtonian since 1990, when he relocated here to work for Boeing as a Manufacturing Engineer. In 1993, he established Greater Trinity Church in Everett and six years later in 1999, founded Rise Up Academy, an early childhood learning center, with the help of his good friend, former safety for the Seattle Seahawks and now NFL Hall of Famer, Kenny Easley. For 25 years, he has been the CEO and Executive Director of the school, leading fundraising efforts and networking with a "who's who" of Pacific Northwest royalty in order to maintain the high standards of quality education for students who are so often underserved and disregarded. He continues to be the "voice for the voiceless" in as many arenas as possible, aiming to always put a hand out and a head start to those who need the help.

Here is the paragraph that can be used to introduce Rise Up Academy:

As mentioned, Rise Up Academy was established in 1999 by Dr. Stoot with the aim of serving low-income BIPOC families, emphasizing early childhood education over simple daycare services. The teachers use an established curriculum for children aged 2.5 to 6 years old and the results speak for themselves: students are reading by the age of 3 and doing simple math and reading at a 1st-2nd grade level by the time they enter Kindergarten. The school also has before and after school programming for 6–12-year-olds, not only giving children a safe place to be during the times they aren't at school, but transporting them from Rise Up to their respective elementary schools in the morning and picking them up and bringing them back in the afternoon. Additionally, the school has recently been approved to break ground on a brand-new learning facility at their current location! Through multiple state grants and fundraising from folks like you fine people sitting here today, the school is about halfway to their $7 million target - the goal is to have the remainder raised by the end of the 25th Anniversary Gala on November 1st. We'd love to have you join us!