The Foundation for Lee County Public

Schools

Our Mission

The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is a non-profit, charitable education foundation which enhances and enriches the quality of public education in Lee County for students and

educators. The Foundation’s programs, resources, and experiences are made possible through corporate, individual,

and educational partnerships.

Foundation Board of Directors 2013-2014 Officers and Executive Committee Robbie Roepstorff, Chairman Jon C. Cecil, Vice Chair Steve Pontius, Treasurer Kimberly Presanzano, Secretary Kenneth A. O’Donnell, Immediate Past Chair Marshall T. Bower, Esq., President & CEO Wilson G. Bradshaw, Ph.D. Nancy J. Graham, Ed.D Gary Griffin Richard G. Lewis, II, Ph.D. Sara Stensrud

Board Members Gregory J. Blurton Barbara Calabro, Ph.D. Mark J. Castellano Brent Crawford Kelli L. Eastman Terry Eberle Thomas Fewster, Jr. Dan Fitzgerald Thomas H. Giles Katie Haas David Carleton Hall John Hayes Mayor Randy Henderson Michele Laboda, D.M.D. Mark Loren Stacey Mercado John Miller, Esq. Joe Mitchell Thomas A. Mueller Greg Pasanen Cole Peacock Joe L. Pressler

Chuck Reynolds Gerald Roberts Jonathan L. Romine Patricia Sala Bruce A. Schultz Sheriff Mike Scott Thomas Scott Peter Tuffo Emeritus Richard Ackert* Chris Bundschu* Eva Freeman* Charles K. Idelson* Gerald Laboda, D.M.D.* Harlan C. Parrish* Steve Personette* Steven C. Shimp* E. Bruce Strayhorn* Linda K. Taylor* Gary V. Trippe* *Past Board Chairman

Did You Know? • With nearly 86,000 students,

Lee County is the 34th largest school district in the country.

• With about 5,000 teachers and another 5,000 support staff, The School District is the second largest employer in Lee County.

• 70% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

• There are approximately 1,800 homeless students in our district.

• The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools has been ranked 16th of the top 20 education foundations nationwide!

Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program • We received more than 2,000 nominations, and more than

350 teachers applied for the Golden Apple in 2013-14.

• The 27th Annual Golden Apple Banquet was held at Harborside Event Center on April 11th, 2014.

Golden Futures Scholarship • Introduced by the 2013 Golden Apple

Recipients, funds were raised in partnership with the Academy of Teachers and Galeana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

• This four-year, tuition scholarship to Edison State College is awarded to a high school senior who wants to become a teacher.

• The recipient agrees to teach in a Lee County District School for a minimum of four years.

Collegium for the Advancement of Education

• Select teachers from the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program and representatives from schools in the National Education Association Foundation (NEAF) initiative are invited to participate.

• Sterling/Glasser Quality training is presented in an interactive format.

• Collegium 2014 will be held at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, June 9th through 14th.

A-Team Challenge • The only televised high school academic competition in Florida on a national affiliate. • The program goal is to encourage, promote, and spotlight academic achievement and

excellence. • More than 245 students from 33 high schools in the surrounding six southwest Florida

counties participated in the A-Team Challenge this year. • A-Team began taping in January 2014, at the Lee County Public Education Center, with

students involved in production of the programs. • Gulf Coast High School was the champion, and Community School of Naples was the

2014 runner up.

Art Speak • A visual arts enrichment program designed to encourage children with

Autism Spectrum Disorders to express themselves through art. • Schools currently receiving program benefits are North Fort Myers

Academy For The Arts, Harns Marsh Middle, Edgewood Elementary, Trafalgar Elementary, Three Oaks Middle.

“Each child has special needs and differences, but all of the children have a need to communicate and express themselves. ArtSpeak challenges children in new ways that build confidence. It compliments and further extends opportunities for the students to express themselves in art and develop their creative skills.” - Ms. Angela Roles, Principal, Diplomat Middle

Anti-Bullying Initiative • Carol McCloud, author of the

award-winning bestsellers: • “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” • “Growing Up with a Bucket Full of

Happiness” • Co-author of “Fill a Bucket” and

“Will You Fill a Bucket?”

• The Foundation hosted a workshop presented by Ms. McCloud for approximately 54 teachers and school counselors. • Buckets, books, bracelets and

stickers were given to all who attended to take back to their schools and work with their students.

Anti-Bullying Initiative • Beware What You Share is a

highly interactive safety program, implemented in partnership between The Foundation and Kleist Health Education Center.

• It is an outreach program to students attending Lee County District Schools.

• 2,711 fourth graders participated in this highly interactive program in 2014.

Classroom Grants • Classroom Grants are awarded to teachers

and schools, allowing them to purchase the tools necessary to create unique learning experiences for students.

• 93 applications were received in Round One.

• 60 grants were awarded: • 10 grants in Arts

• 8 grants in Health, Fitness, and Nutrition

• 24 grants in Literacy

• 16 grants in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

• 2 Marjorie A. Snell Grants towards Sea Camp

• The total awarded was $54,473.51.

• In Classroom Grants Round Two, an additional 5 projects were funded in the amount of $4,137.50 for State Farm and Bamboozles sponsored grants.

• Since its inception, this program has awarded well over $1,000,000 to fund innovative learning projects.

Classroom Grants

Dancing Classrooms • A national program utilizing ballroom dance as a vehicle to build social

awareness, confidence, and self-esteem. • Participation in Dancing Classrooms has been proven to encourage positive

behavior, improve grades, and reduce school attendance issues. • Fifth grade students from seven Title I schools participated in exhibition

events at Miromar Outlets, the major sponsor of Dancing Classrooms. • Colors of the Rainbow, the culminating event, was held at Miromar Design

Center on April 12, 2014.

Digital Divide • Digital Divide is a new initiative to address

the “digital divide” experienced by students from low-income families without access to technology in their home.

• Students are at a disadvantage if their only access to a computer is at school or the library.

• Qualified applicants receive refurbished District computers, including the tower, monitor, mouse, speakers, and cords.

• Students receive instruction guides for downloading software, and an application to receive discounted internet access.

• To date, we have given 64 computers to deserving Lee County students.

Education Resource Center • This year, the Education Resource Center

averaged 150 teacher visits per month. • In addition to funds we raised to purchase

needed supplies, many businesses collected supplies in order to keep the resource center stocked throughout the year.

• The Foundation expanded its reach by offering backpacks filled with supplies to students in need.

• Under our Discretionary Funds initiative, we collected personal hygiene items, and purchased glasses, hearing aids, and other requested items, which we distributed to school nurses and social workers for students in need.

Food for Thought

• This year, families from Littleton Elementary School received food staples before school breaks (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

• Almost 90% of children at this school qualify for free or reduced lunch. For many of these kids, no school means missed meals.

• Funded by Foundation Board Members for 2013/14 • Brent Crawford and Joe Mitchell • Additional support provided by

Busey Bank and Trevett Capital • The McNew Foundation has recently

awarded us a grant for this program, allowing us to expand to other schools next year.

The NEA Foundation Grant

• The purpose of the NEAF Grant initiative is to ensure that teachers are provided with the strategies and support necessary to enable all students to meet or exceed academic standards.

• The project employs a continuous improvement model that utilizes the criteria of the national Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and integrates William Glasser’s Quality Principles to close the achievement gap.

• Two key areas of focus for this project initiative are Collaborative Leadership and Teacher Effectiveness.

• Parental involvement was added in year two, by establishing student-led conferencing.

• The 10 current participating schools are: Manatee Elementary, Patriot Elementary, Pinewoods Elementary, Tropic Isles Elementary, Challenger Middle, Fort Myers Middle Academy, Veterans Park Academy for the Arts, East Lee County High, Fort Myers High, and Mariner High.

• In addition, 10 new schools have been added for the coming year: Bonita Springs Elementary, Diplomat Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, Skyline Elementary, Tortuga Preserve Elementary, Caloosa Middle, Diplomat Middle, Lehigh Acres Middle, Cape Coral High, and South Fort Myers High.

The NEA Foundation Grant

The NEA Foundation Grant • We were recognized by the

NEAF as being a leader in the nation with our Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative, a collaborative effort of The Foundation, the Teachers Association of Lee County, and The District.

• We were invited to Washington DC to participate in their annual Excellence in Education Gala.

• We were highlighted in national publications for our Closing the Achievement Gap initiatives.

The NEA Foundation Grant • Because of our success, First

Book donated 40,000 children’s literature books to The Foundation for Title I Schools.

• With help from Foundation staff, TALC members, District staff, JROTC students, and community volunteers, all of the pallets of books were sorted and distributed.

• There are now 40,000 more books in the hands of deserving students in Lee County!

STEM@Work • This program offers students the opportunity to learn more about STEM-related career options

and the importance of STEM education.

• We accomplish this by engaging students with STEM-oriented businesses in the community who help us by providing hands-on learning activities.

• Business partners have made this possible by offering shadowing, field trip opportunities, and internships to high school students and educators.

• STEM@Work is offered to each of the 13 district high schools.

• The program has grown to 325 students who participated in 2013/14, up from 50 students in 2010/11, the inaugural year.

Teacher Immersion • STEM@Work was expanded to include

educators through our Teacher Immersion Program, implemented in partnership with The Horizon Council.

• We show teachers and administrators applications of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in the workplace, in order to more effectively incorporate STEM in the curriculum. • 13 Career Education Teachers • 13 Science or Math Teachers • 13 High School Administrators

(District Science, Math, and CTE Representatives)

• Targeted Businesses include: The News-Press Media Group, CenturyLink, Waterman Broadcasting, Lee Memorial Health Systems, LeeSar, Shaw Development, Arthrex, Algenol, FGCU, Spiro & Associates and Chico’s FAS, just to name a few.

STEMtastic Showcase • This popular event gives Lee County families the opportunity to

explore hands-on exhibits, meet local scientists and engineers, and engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math activities.

• This year’s event, held on April 5, 2014, attracted a crowd of more than 3,000 students and parents to the Lee County Public Education Center for a day filled with fun, learning, and prizes.

• Sponsorship opportunities are available for next year.

Take Stock in Children • Take Stock in Children is a multi-year

commitment for at-risk children, from low-income homes, who attend Lee County District Schools.

• Each TSIC student signs a contract promising to: • remain crime and drug free • maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA • exhibit good behavior • meet with their mentor regularly

through high school graduation

• Upon graduation, students receive a four-year college tuition scholarship.

• We received over 300 applications for 2013/14.

• Our ten-member selection committee had the arduous task of reading and ranking all the applications, and choosing which students to accept.

• In March, 45 new scholars were inducted.

• For less than $9,000, you can provide a four-year tuition scholarship for a deserving student! Please contact The Foundation for more information.

Take Stock in Children • We currently have 179 active students

in the program. • We have 165 active mentors, as some

mentor more than one student. • There were well over 2,000 mentor

sessions logged for the 2013/14 school year.

• Our devoted mentors invested over 5,000 hours in our students.

• This program is effective because of the caring, dedication of our mentors and we can’t thank you enough!

• To learn about becoming a mentor, please contact The Foundation.

Take Stock 5K Walk/Run • February 1, 2014 - Third Annual Strides for Education 5K Walk/Run

• Over 800 people participated.

• Raised over $35,000 for scholarships.

Take Stock in Children • We recently honored 32 graduating seniors.

• They met all program requirements, and will be attending college in the Fall!

Student Advocacy and Mentoring Partnership

• The Student Advocacy and Mentoring Partnership (STAMP) is a mentoring program for high school students that commenced in 2013.

• It is a multi-year commitment for at-risk children, seeking to reduce the high school drop-out rate by offering resources and a volunteer mentor.

• For the second year, FGCU partnered with The Foundation to welcome new STAMP students and their mentors into the program, bringing them onto a college campus, and introducing them to the future career possibilities.

Student Advocacy and Mentoring Partnership

• The first group of STAMP students are currently sophomores, and have been meeting regularly with mentors.

• Edison College hosted a college readiness workshop for these students, their parents, and their mentors.

• Twenty-four freshmen were brought into the program in March.

• We now have a total of 44 STAMP students.

FutureMakers inspire more high school seniors to take the next step after graduation.

• Regional initiative in partnership with Southwest Florida Community Foundation. • Students who complete the FAFSA are 53% more likely to enroll in college than

students who do not. • This year our efforts targeted seniors at Cypress Lake High, East Lee County High, and

Lehigh Senior High. • We’ve seen significant increases in FAFSA completions so far, including a 54% increase

at East Lee County High. • More than two-thirds of these high school seniors have determined what they plan to

do after graduation.

College & Career Resource Center • Renovation work is underway, with the grand opening scheduled for August 2014.

• We will provide workshops for students to develop much needed soft skills, as well as information on financial literacy, digital literacy, financial aid, and scholarships.

• Special thanks to B & I Contractors, Suffolk Construction, The Foulds Foundation, and Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for donating their time, talent, and treasure to make this project a reality!

• Ample opportunities exist for community involvement in this exciting initiative.

Scholarship Opportunities

• Take Stock in Children Scholarship

• Richard Hagy Memorial Scholarship

• Fred & Jean Allegretti Foundation Scholarship

• Golden Futures Scholarship

• Carol Patti McLaughlin Scholarship

Give the gift of EDUCATION! If you are interested in establishing a

named or anonymous scholarship fund, please contact The Foundation office.

Partners in Education Academy • A joint effort of The District and The

Foundation, to educate our business and community leaders about the inner workings of the School District of Lee County.

• The inaugural Partners in Education Academy was put on in partnership with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Topics covered include: operations, administration, funding, and planning for growth.

• More than 30 business and community leaders will be graduating from the first Academy in June.

• We plan to rotate the Partners in Education Academy throughout Lee County.

• Enrollment for our second Partners in Education Academy session will begin soon.

Business Partners of the Year • Business Partners of the year for 2013-2014 are:

- CenturyLink ~ Mrs. Kim Presanzano - Tartan Consulting ~ Dr. Steve McIntosh

• All Business Partners are recognized for their contribution to The Foundation and to District Schools.

• Businesses can "adopt" a particular school, pledging to volunteer their time, talents, and/or resources for one school year.

• Businesses can also partner with the entire District through The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.

Community Partner of the Year • The Verandah Community in Fort Myers was nominated by Orange

River Elementary School as an exemplary Community Partner.

• Because the members of the community have gone so far above and beyond for the students and staff of Orange River Elementary School, we created a new category to recognize their dedication to this school.

• The community’s investment in the school includes countless hours working with all grade levels; Verandah “book clubs” have joined together to sponsor the Library Revitalization by donating books and/or money, and much more.

• Thank you to the caring Verandah Community!

Opportunities for Involvement • Classroom Grants • Mentoring

• TSIC • STAMP • FutureMakers

• Strides for Education 5K – build a team!

• Education Resource Center— hold a supply drive, volunteer, donate supplies and furniture.

• Golden Ticket Fundraiser— buy and help us sell tickets!

• Principal for a Day— business leaders needed.

• Event and Program Sponsorships

• Offer internships – for students and for educators

• STEM Field Trips • MONETARY DONATIONS ARE

ALWAYS WELCOME!