LSEF Foundation Staff
Chrissy Symes
Director
Chrissy is the Director of the Lee's Summit Educational Foundation. Having previously worked for the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce, she has seven years of experience in the non-profit sector along with over 10 years of corporate experience. Symes feels a great sense of pride in the Lee's Summit community, especially when it comes to the passion and dedication of the numerous citizens and volunteers that allow organizations such as this to thrive and serve. Chrissy graduated from Lee's Summit High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from The University of Central Missouri. She also gained certification from the Institute for Organization Management through the U.S. Chamber of commerce. Symes and her husband, Joe, have two young boys that are both LSR7 students, as well as a Goldendoodle puppy named Archie. They enjoy being with family and friends, traveling, movie-nights, and spending time on the lake.
Cindy Swatek
Programs & Development
Cindy is the Program and Development Specialist of the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation. She is a proud alumna of Lee’s Summit High School. Cindy graduated from Baker University with degrees in Psychology and Physical Education, with a secondary teaching certification and she has a Master’s degree in Sport Psychology from KU. In addition to working for the LSEF, Cindy is on the Advisory Board of ALDEA, which does work in rural Mayan communities in Guatemala to battle chronic malnutrition through education, partnership, and empowerment. She has also volunteered her time with several other nonprofits over the past 20 years. Cindy and her husband, Matthew are the proud parents of two adult children who were adopted as infants from Guatemala. The Swatek family enjoys cheering on the Chiefs and Jayhawks, and traveling whenever and wherever they can. Cindy owns her own business as a Mental Performance Consultant and she enjoys working with athletes to help them reach peak performance.
Christa Fish
Administrative Assistant
Christa is the Administrative Assistant of the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation. She has worked in local public schools for the last twelve years. Before that, she and her family lived overseas for nine years working through nonprofit organizations at two different international schools. Christa believes that community support is a key element to a successful school district. She has gone back to school and obtained her Bachelor’s degree through Evangel University and has begun her Master’s in School Counseling degree. Christa and her husband have three adult children, two sons and a daughter plus each of their spouses. She and her husband live nearby in Peculiar and enjoy spending time with family, their two Labrador Retrievers Stu and Lona, and sitting on their patio.