Polk County Public Schools
See What's Happening at the Polk Education Foundation!
The second annual Stepping Out for Education event was held on Friday, September 23, at The Lakeland Center. Over 400 guests watched as local “celebrity” dancers, leaders in the Polk County community, strutted their stuff ballroom-style. For the last ten weeks the dancers had been taking professional dance lessons from Lakeland Ballroom and then performed at the event with their professional dance partner. All of the elements of Dancing with the Stars were there - the professional judges who each gave technical remarks and a numbered score, the lifts of the female dancers in the air, the beautiful gowns and sometimes even props. This competition took the celebrity dancers out of their “comfort zone”. As a requirement to participate the celebrities were to have had no formal dance training Susan Copeland, Executive Director of the Polk Education Foundation, said this event, like the first year, “exceeded her expectations”. “After I watched the dress rehearsal, I knew we had another winning program on our hands. The dancers were fabulous!”
Dr. David Misch from the Center for Retina and Macular Disease took home the overall champion trophy in the competition with his professional partner Stephanie Allain. They performed the Quickstep and the Rumba. Deric Feacher from the City of Winter Haven and his professional partner Debbie Kallenborn took First Place in the Male Division. They performed the Waltz and a Salsa/Hip Hop routine. Katie Gernert from Clark, Nikdel & Powell placed first in the Women’s Division. She and professional dance partner, Ben Castellano, performed the Tango and the Cha-Cha. Colleen Burton, Executive Director of Polk Vision and professional dance partner Gene Kallenborn performed the Tango and a Country Melody. Robert Loftin from BB&T Bank and partner Tatyana Frost danced the Tango and Rumba. Kathryn Koch from Lanier Upshaw performed the Fox Trot and Hustle with her partner, Bill Bryant. Also performing at the competition were Gail McKinzie and Tracy Porter. McKinzie, former Polk School Superintendent, was a dancer in the 2010 event. She continued her dance lessons and now travels the country competing in ballroom dance.
Two other awards were given out during the competition. The People’s Choice Award was offered to the dancer who raised the most $1 votes. The winner was Dr. David Misch who raised $7,492. Kathryn Koch was second with $2,757. The People’s Choice voting raised $15,000 for the Polk Education Foundation. The second award given was the Audience Favorite. Guests at the event voted after seeing the two rounds of performances. The Audience Favorite award was presented to Katie Gernert.
The Polk Education Foundation hosted their annual Developer Recognition Reception on September 13, 2011 at the Lake Wales Art Center to recognize teachers from Polk and Hardee counties who won classroom grants based on innovative programs implemented during the 2010-2011 school year.
Over 50 people attended the Reception, including Polk County principals and administration, Hardee school based administration and business sponsors. The teachers received a published webpage highlighting their program as well as a monetary award of up to $1,000.
Developer awards mark the beginning of the new Teacher to Teacher/School to School (T2T/S2S) Connection Cycle. November 15th will bring the 2011 IDEA Expo which will host approximately 60 former developers along with this year’s winners. Teachers from the Central Florida area will be invited to attend the event and then apply to adapt one of the ideas found there. Adapter awards will provide $200.00 in classroom and $800.00 in school project money to adapt already developed programs into classroom projects.
Click here to see a list of the 2011 T2T/S2S Developers
Pictured at the Commissioner's Business Recognition Awards (CBRA) in Tampa recently is Left to Rright: Susan Copeland, Executive Director of the Polk Education Foundation, Tim and Lisa Bosko, Carol Barnett, and Don and Linda Bosko and Buddy Thomas, principal of George Jenkins High School.
Bosko Family Enterprises and Publix Super Markets Charities were Polk County's 2011 nominees for the CBRA award. Click here for complete information on the CBRA awards.
Take Stock in Children is a scholarship-mentoring program administered by the Polk Education Foundation. Donors recently allowed TSIC to add students to the program by sponsoring their scholarships.
Ronald McDonald House Charities/Tampa Bay provided scholarships to Polk County students again his year. Each student will receive a two-year, 60 hour junior college tuition scholarship at graduation. Pictured above are three of the recipients: Laura Gomez, George Jenkins HS, Karielle Helmick, Mulberry HS, and Amado Rodriguez, McKeel Academy. Also chosen was Nicolette Chamberlain, Haines City HS. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay is a long time supporter of the youth in Polk County.
The Chair Scholars Foundation, who provides scholarships for Polk County students with physical disabilities, created lots of smiles when they awarded four-year tuition scholarships for Stephen Lashley, Ridge Community HS; Brandon Hilbert, Mulberry HS; Bibia Rosario, George Jenkins HS; Carrie Facente, Tenoroc HS; Martin Villegas, Lake Region HS; Yamillex Nunez, Haines City HS; and Dollie Vaughn, Lake Gibson HS.
Polk Works provided scholarships for select participants in their Young Leaders program. Students receiving awards were Wilaine Jean, Winter Haven HS; D'aphne Camp, Lakeland HS; Ryan Davis, Ridge Community HS; Akelia Thomas, Tenoroc HS; Keyontaye Williams, Bartow HS; Gregorio Bautista, Ridge Career Center; Charnele Sterling, Winter Haven HS; Lashala Mosley, Lake Wales HS; Brian Prada, Ridge Community HS and Tashera Brown, Fort Meade HS.
Thank you to all of our sponsors and we encourage anyone interested in sponsoring scholarships with the benefit of a dollar for dollar match, to contact Susan Fenich 863-519-8077.
Aramark Education, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Boswell & Dunlap, Bright House Networks, Everest University, Ledger Media Group, Mosaic, Publix Super Markets Charities, TECO Energy
Bank of America, Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., Bunting Tripp & Ingley, Citizens Bank & Trust, Geico, Holland and Knight, Huntington Learning Center, Magnify Credit Union, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney - Lakeland, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney - Winter Haven, Pepsi, Polk Education Association, Polk State College, Progress Energy, SunTrust Bank, Teachers' Exchange
Thanks to the generosity of Wachovia Bank and Wells Fargo, the Polk Education Foundation distributed $5,000 in Environmental Science Grants to selected schools in the district. These schools implemented programs in their science departments to increase FCAT scores and enhance instructional practices in the areas of environmental and life sciences. Congratulations to these schools for their hard work and dedication to students’ success!
Garner Elementary
Teachers Amanda Crane and Samantha Baldus from Garner Elementary, along with AIF Shannan Combee from Inwood Elementary, accept their grants from Wachovia Wells Fargo.
Over 500 educators from Polk & Hardee counties attended the 2010 IDEA Expo, held by the Teacher to Teacher/School to School Connection Program, in conjunction with the Polk and Hardee Education Foundations and local business sponsors.
Featured were over 70 area PreK-8th grade teachers who have developed innovative classroom programs and presented those ideas in order to network and encourage elementary and middle school educators in the task of creating and implementing creative standards-based units for students in the public school system. The Expo not only featured visually exciting displays, but also included area business vendors, such as Bright House Networks, Teachers’ Exchange, Midflorida Federal Credit Union, Bank of America and Bok Tower Gardens. Door prizes and free giveaways were also a part of this great teacher event. Food and refreshments were prepared by the Winter Haven High School Culinary Arts Program. All Education majors attending local colleges and universities were also invited to attend.
Those teachers who visited the Expo are now eligible for Adapter Grants of $200 for their classrooms or $800 for their schools in order to implement the creative programs shown. To date, the Teacher to Teacher/School to School Connection has awarded over 780 grants worth more than $305,000, benefiting numerous teachers and countless students.
For more information regarding the Teacher to Teacher Program, please contact Miranda Collins, Program Director at the Polk Education Foundation, 863.534.0803.
Staff members Monica LePere and Kim Mayes from R. Bruce Wagner Elementary highlight their school-wide recycling program with help from their students at the 2010 Idea Expo.
The Polk Education Foundation, in partnership with the PCSB Hearth Program, is kicking off Project Fill-A-Bucket to benefit homeless students. This annual program provides a bucket of personal hygiene items, a book, stuffed animal or small gift item, and a warm jacket to homeless students in the Polk County School District. Buckets are first decorated by students at our local schools and are then filled with the items and distributed before the Christmas holidays.
Your school, classroom or department can become a donation collection site for the hygiene items, books, and stuffed animals used for this project. Remember- all donated items must be NEW! We have found that many students, in their desire to help, will bring in used items in to donate. Please handle as you see fit, but those items should be sorted out and could be taken to a local shelter or other collection site where they can be used.
Donations must be collected by November 19, 2010, to allow time for sorting, filling buckets and deliveries to the recipients.
If you plan to become a donation collection site, simply email louann.antonelli@polk-fl.net as the November 20th deadline approaches and we will gladly pick up your items. The PCSB Courier will deliver small packages of donations; those should be sent to the District Office, attn. Project Hearth, Route E. Items may also be delivered to the Hearth Portable, located to the north of the Apple a Day Café.
Last year, 512 buckets were filled, giving an estimated $18,000 worth of items to needy students. Thank you in advance for your help, the generosity of our district will make a huge difference in the lives of homeless children in Polk County!
On October 2, 2010, from 9:00am-12:00pm, the Polk Education Foundation and School Board of Polk County will host a New Teacher Blast Off Event in conjunction with the opening of the Free Teacher Market, both on the campus of Bartow High School. Over 800 new educators will be invited to attend the Blast Off, where they can visit vendor booths, enjoy food and enter door prizes throughout the morning.
For more information on becoming a vendor for the Blast Off event, CLICK HERE to download a vendor registration form.
The Free Teacher Market will also be open all year round during specific times to provide free materials and supplies to educators in Polk County. For more information on donating new or used items to the store, click here to visit the Free Teacher Market.
The first annual Stepping Out for Education event was held on Friday, June 18, at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club. Over 250 guests watched as local “celebrity” dancers, leaders in the Polk County community, strutted their stuff ballroom-style. For the last ten weeks the dancers had been taking professional dance lessons from Lakeland Ballroom and then performed at the event with their professional dance partner. Jerry Miller from Progress Energy took first place in the competition with his professional partner Vicki Seaton. They performed the Tango and the Swing. Bonnie Parker from Sun Trust Bank and her professional partner Todd Staley took second place.
They performed the Tango and the Salsa. Dr. Gail McKinzie, Superintendent of Polk County Schools, placed third. She and professional dance partner, Gene Kallenborn, performed the Quick Step and the Jitterbug. Tracy Porter, Executive Director of Polk State College Foundation and professional dance partner Bill Bryant performed the Waltz and the Cha Cha. Tim Harris and Ariel Trazaskos danced the Tango and Rumba. Ariel, a trained dancer from Lakeland Ballroom, is a 2010 graduate of Lakeland High School and received a scholarship from the Polk Education Foundation this year.
Sponsors and dancers for next year’s event are already being sought!
Click here to view the Stepping Out For Education 2010 Photo Gallery
Thank you to our event sponsors:
Wachovia has once again awarded the Polk Education Foundation with a grant to help schools with their lowest achieving students.
Wachovia provided $5,000 which was directed to Correct 2 elementary schools who were awarded grants of $500 - $1,000 to help with student achievement.
Schools receiving these funds are:
**The Polk Education Foundation also provided a $1,000 grant to Oscar Pope Elementary.
Wachovia Representative Katrina Lunsford presents teachers and students at Auburndale Central Elementary with a $1,000 check to help increase student achievement.
Additionally, Wachovia gave the Polk Education Foundation $700 to help with the costs associated with the upcoming Teacher/School Related Employee of the Year Banquet. Thank you Wachovia!
The Polk Education Foundation would like to the honor the Progress Energy Science Grant school recipients for the 2009-2010 school year. These schools, all located in the Progress Energy service area, were recognized at the 2009 Progress Energy Science grant reception held on December 1, 2009 at the Lake Wales Art Center. Each selected school will receive $2,000 to purchase science materials to enhance energy-based curriculum and increase student achievement on state standardized tests. This grant program, now in its fourth year, is sponsored by Progress Energy and has returned over $150,000 back into the classrooms of the Progress Energy service areas. As a result of Progress Energy’s commitment to education, these schools are making great strides to increase students’ scores and enrich the learning process in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
The Polk Education Foundation is a direct support 501(c)(3) organization for the Polk County School Board and raises funds to support school programs for which tax generated dollars may not be used. For more information about the Foundation, please visit our website at www.polkeducationfoundation.org.
Susan Copeland, Executive Director (left) and Mr. Jerry Miller, Progress Energy (far right) presents teacher Rachel Nicholson from Frostproof Middle/Senior High School with a grant check and certificate.
Congratulations to the following schools:
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay recognized local recipients of their Florida Prepaid Foundation tuition scholarships at a luncheon held at the Grand Hyatt in Clearwater on December 1. Emcee Veronica Alfaro-Young (WQYK) welcomed students, parents and other guests. Ernest Hooper, St. Petersburg Times Columnist, spoke to those in attendance on the importance of focusing on life and values that will help them be successful. Ronald McDonald joined executives and owner/operators in presenting a certificate, shoulder pack, sports cup and four tickets to a Lightning hockey game.
Applications for this year’s RMCH scholarships and other scholarships are currently online at www.polkeducationfoundation.org/tsic until December 15. For more information, please email Teresa at tchoquette@polk-fl.net or call 863-519-8076.
Students pictured with Ronald McDonald are:
Students were selected as sophomores and will be mentored and assisted in college planning throughout high school by the Polk Education Foundation’s Take Stock in Children scholarship/mentoring program.
Donations are needed by November 20, 2009
Items for collection:
Each bucket is also stuffed with a jacket appropriately sized for each child. Monetary donations will be accepted to make those purchases and also for the purchase of items for teenage children. Please make checks payable to the Polk Education Foundation with Fill-A-Bucket noted on the memo line. All monetary donations will generate a thank you letter with the Foundation’s 501(c)(3) determination for tax purposes.
Project Hearth and the Polk Education Foundation are partnering together for the fifteenth year to administer Project Fill-A-Bucket. Buckets are given to students in the Polk County public school system who meet the federal criteria as homeless, or who are at risk of becoming homeless. Buckets are decorated, filled and distributed prior to the Christmas holidays. For many children these buckets not only contain basic living necessities, but may be the only items they receive during the holiday season.
We ask that NEW ITEMS ONLY be donated to fill the buckets. If you would like to participate, please send donations by courier to: Dee Dee Wright, Hearth Portable, District Office, Route E. For large quantity pickups, those outside the school system, or if you have questions, please call the Project Hearth Office, 863-534-0801, or the Polk Education Foundation, 863-534-0519, to make an appointment for pickup. Your help in brightening the lives of these disadvantaged children during the holidays is very much appreciated!
Pictured from left to right:
30 members “graduated” from AmeriCorps after fulfilling one year of service. Congratulations to: Michelle Bell, Adele Bell, Ashley Borders, Kathy Clemens, Natalie Day, Roberta Dionne, Holly Finley, Janelle Giroux, Jolene Harthun, Petra Hils, Constance Jimenez, Brenda Johnson, Katie Kearns, Amanda Lake, Lindsay McConnell, Mary Ellen McDonald, Genrri Navarro, Jason Parsley, Ebony Pelemon, Amber Pollock, Jane Renner, Felicia Riedeman, Karen Smith-Addison, Christian Soriano, Linda Stephens, Bertie Ticknor, Amy Lynn Tucker, David Williams, Kristy Williams, Sidney Williams.
AmeriCorps Polk Reads provides one-on-one tutoring for kindergarten through third grade students who read below grade level in selected Polk schools. The program is funded by federal grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism, and local dollars. The program is administered by the Polk Education Foundation.
In the 08-09 school year, 638 Kindergarten through 3rd grade students received one-on-one reading tutoring in the AmeriCorps program. Tutors service totaled over 50,000 hours!
In addition to tutoring, members participated in 28 community service events including Family Fundamentals Children’s Festivals and Back to School Bash, Keep Polk County Beautiful, Eloise and Ft. Meade’s Back to School Bashes and the Read Polk Annual Spelling Bee.
The program also received the Volunteer Florida’s “National Service Includes Everyone” Award in recognition of exemplary inclusion of persons with disabilities in AmeriCorps.
Gavin Wade, Lake Wales High School graduate and recipient of the 4 year Maxcy Foundation Inc. Scholarship is pictured with Cindy Henry, one of the award sponsors.
State Representative John Wood presents PEF Executive Director Susan Copeland with his $8,400 scholarship contribution to start a scholarship in his name for students who attended high school in the district he serves.
The Polk Education Foundation (PEF) in partnership with local individuals, civic organization and businesses, awarded 337 scholarships to Polk County seniors in the class of 2009. These awards totaled $551,250! Donors are able to work with the PEF to design criteria to offer a scholarship that fits their wants and needs. The PEF acts not only as the fiscal agent of the scholarship funds, but also administers the process of application submission, judging, awarding, and dissemination of funds. The Foundation was established in 1988 for the purpose of creating a scholarship vehicle for Polk County public schools, and although the PEF has grown to offer many more programs and services, our scholarship program remains the largest. Donors interested in starting a scholarship should call 863-534-0434. Congratulations to all PEF scholarship recipients and thank you to the donors who make these awards possible!
Please here for a list of all 2009 PEF Scholarship recipients.
From left to right: Connie Harris, Bartow Middle Teacher and Susan Copeland, Executive Director of PEF
Winter Haven, FL – Tri-county K-8th grade educators were honored at the 2009 Developer Grant Meeting held by the Teacher to Teacher/School to School Connection Program, in conjunction with the Polk Education Foundation and local business sponsors.
This year, 34 teachers were awarded Developer Grants totaling up to $1,000 for a classroom or school-wide program he/she developed and implemented at his/her respective schools. These educators will be receiving a monetary gift as well as money to purchase classroom materials to better enhance their teaching methods and opportunities for students. These teachers exemplify the good works being produced in Polk, Hardee and Highlands County school districts. To date, the Teacher to Teacher Connection has awarded over 720 grants worth more than $265,000 and the School to School Connection has awarded 16 grants worth $16,000, benefiting numerous teachers and countless students.
The following teachers were honored:
For more information regarding the 2009 Developer Grant Meeting or to become a business sponsor of the Teacher to Teacher/School to School Connection Program, please contact Miranda Collins at the Polk Education Foundation 863.534.0803
A $25,000 grant from AT&T will provide enhanced services to high school students around Polk County to help ensure students are prepared to graduate from high school and ready them for college or the workforce. The focus of the services will be for underserved students who might not otherwise qualify for college or who may need direction when deciding on a career path that differs from a vocation his/her family has traditionally explored. High Schools will have latitude in determining the greatest need at their particular site, and in which area their services will focus. High schools receiving AT&T Success Grants of $2,500 are: Mulberry, Ridge Community, Frostproof, Fort Meade, George Jenkins, Lake Region Career Academy, Lake Gibson Career Academy, Tenoroc, Winter Haven and Life Skills Center East.
From left to right: