AN OVERVIEW OF OUR ORGANIZATION

Public

Education

Needs

Community

Involvement &

Leadership

MISSION

Linking community resources with Nashville public schools to help young people achieve academic success and prepare for life

VISION

Community involvement and leadership in public education lead to academic success and life-sustaining careers for all Nashville citizens.

PENCIL Programs

COMMUNITY-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

PENCIL Partners Reading Partners Math Partners CHOICES CAT Student Writers Showcase Saint Thomas Science Scholars

SCHOOL-TO-CAREER TRAINING Jobs for Tennessee Graduates

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Job Skills Training &

Employment

EDUCATOR RESOURCES LP® PENCIL Box

Volunteer Database

PENCIL . . .

Collaborates with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to ensure that our educational programs support the system’s strategic plan.

Designs our programs to align with district instructional and curricular standards.

Provides learning opportunities that help students achieve, foster positive attitudes, and recognize outstanding performance.

PENCIL Partners

PENCIL Partners are area businesses, organizations, universities, and faith communities that partner with and volunteer in Nashville public schools

Beginning with 37 “adoptions” in 1982, the number of PENCIL partnerships has grown to more than 450.

Reading Partners

Reading Partners volunteers help students (pre-K-4) improve their reading ability and increase their enjoyment of reading.

They serve as Classroom Readers and One-on-One Readers.

Math Partners

Math Partners volunteers assist students (5-6) in acquiring basic skills, improving math performance, and building self-confidence.

Volunteers work with groups of four students engaging them in interactive, hands-on activities.

CHOICES

CHOICES volunteers lead eighth-graders in seminars that help them explore the importance of making wise academic decisions.

Students learn that their decisions impact career options and that they can achieve their goals by applying “The Key to Success”—SELF-DISCIPLINE.

CAT Student Writers Showcase

SWS is a creative writing competition open to students in grades 3-12.

Professional writers judge student entries in twelve categories.

Competition winners receive cash prizes and gifts.

Saint Thomas Science Scholars

Ninth-grade students who excel in science and have an interest in healthcare careers are nominated by their schools for program participation.

During their sophomore year, selected students attend six hands-on, hospital-based learning sessions.

Saint Thomas staff design and lead the Saturday morning sessions focusing on topics such as the immune system and oncology.

Jobs for Tennessee Graduates

JTG staff help high school seniors acquire the employability and leadership skills necessary for transition to work and/or post-secondary education.

Students are selected based upon need for service and their desire to participate in the program.

Staff provide twelve months of follow-up services after graduation.

Job Skills Training & Employment Program JSTEP staff provide education, employability

skills training, and career placement assistance for economically disadvantaged adults.

The program has helped thousands of Nashville residents overcome economic, academic and career barriers.

Participants’ school-age children attend Nashville public schools.

LP PENCIL Box

LP PENCIL Box, developed in collaboration with Louisiana Pacific, is Nashville’s school supply partnership providing donated materials for students.

Using a voucher system, schools may select supplies free of charge for their students in need.

LP PENCIL Box, located at old Hickman Elementary, provides an additional means for community support of public education.

Volunteer Database

This online system is a user-friendly tool providing schools with ongoing information about parent and volunteer involvement.

It enables schools to document this involvement and generate important data for reporting purposes.

It provides a means for schools to list their needs and for local organizations to become involved in meeting those needs.

For more information about PENCIL, please visit

www.pencilfoundation.orgor call 242-3167.

The PENCIL staff looks

forward to hearing from you.