John P. Ellbogen Foundation
The mission of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation is to create or cause change, primarily for the benefit of the people of the State of Wyoming through the support of science, education, and charity.
Our Founder: John P. “Jack” Ellbogen is the benefactor of the Foundation. He was a Wyoming native, born and raised in Worland. He attended the University of Wyoming earning a bachelor's degree in history, a law degree, and an honorary doctorate from the College of Business. He started his career as a land man for Carter Oil Company (Exxon) and went on to become an Independent Oil Producer, forming several oil and gas companies. He attributed his success in business to his education.
Throughout his adult life, Jack believed profoundly in the importance of quality education for all Americans. He also believed that quality classroom teaching was key to superior student learning. He established programs at the University of Wyoming to emphasize the importance of quality classroom teaching and to recognize and reward teachers voted by their students to be exemplary.
During the later years of his life he became most concerned over continuing international tests that showed American students were falling behind in learning and comprehension, especially in math and science. Observing this trend, he felt a strong obligation to get involved in the public school education process. His research indicated that the program for National Board Certification of teachers was considered a proven professional development vehicle to improve teaching skills.
Subsequently, he arranged a meeting in 1998 to discuss proposed supporting actions from the private sector with the best potential for raising the level of student learning in Wyoming. A pilot program to test the reception of the National Board Certification process was jointly funded by the John P. Ellbogen Foundation and the Ruth R. Ellbogen Foundation.
Jack then began collecting data to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the pilot program to other counties and ultimately to the State's entire public school system. He was actively working on this program in the final months of his life.
Expansion of the National Board Certification on a state-wide basis was approved by the John P. Ellbogen Foundation Board in March 2004.