Empowering Futures: The Impact of Polk Education Foundation Programs

The Polk Education Foundation (PEF) stands as a pillar of support for Polk County Public Schools, driving initiatives that pave the way for student success from kindergarten through post-secondary education and beyond. As a nonprofit organization, the Foundation works tirelessly to bridge resource gaps and create opportunities for students to thrive academically, professionally, and personally. Through a diverse range of programs, PEF addresses critical needs within the community, fostering a brighter future for Polk County's youth.

Take Stock in Children: A Comprehensive Approach to Student Success

One of the flagship programs of the Polk Education Foundation is Take Stock in Children. Founded in 1995, this initiative recognizes that financial assistance alone is not enough to ensure a student's success. Take Stock in Children adopts a holistic approach, providing comprehensive support to underserved students, guiding them through high school, college, and into the workforce.

The program enrolls students as early as the eighth grade, offering a multi-faceted support system that includes:

College Tuition Scholarship: Providing financial assistance to make higher education accessible.
Volunteer Mentors: Connecting students with caring adults who offer guidance, encouragement, and a positive role model.
Case Managers: Providing individualized support and monitoring students' academic progress, ensuring they stay on track for graduation and college readiness.

Students participating in Take Stock in Children commit to upholding high standards of academic performance, behavior, and personal conduct. They sign performance contracts, agreeing to maintain good grades, exhibit positive behavior, and remain drug and crime-free. This emphasis on accountability and personal responsibility further empowers students to take ownership of their future.

A testament to the program's effectiveness, all funds raised for Take Stock in Children are matched dollar for dollar by Florida Prepaid Project STARS program. This matching mechanism doubles the impact of donations, allowing the program to provide scholarships for even more deserving students.

Read also: Application Process

Preparing Students for Life After Graduation

Recognizing that planning for the future begins long before senior year, Polk County Public Schools, with the support of the Polk Education Foundation, is committed to equipping students with the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about their post-secondary options. The school counseling program provides comprehensive support, addressing the academic, career preparation, and personal/social needs of all students.

The Foundation understands that navigating the world after high school involves numerous choices, whether it be pursuing postsecondary education or entering the workforce. To help students and their families prepare for these transitions, Polk County Public Schools offers a variety of resources.

Understanding financial aid is a critical component of college planning. The Polk Education Foundation provides guidance and resources to help students and families navigate the often-complex process of applying for financial assistance. This includes assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for federal student aid programs.

The Polk Education Foundation facilitates access to various forms of financial aid, including:

Grants and Scholarships: These funds do not require repayment. Grants are typically awarded based on financial need, while scholarships are often awarded based on academic achievement, test scores, extracurricular activities, or essays.
Loans: These funds must be repaid, often with interest.
Work-Study Programs: These programs provide students with the opportunity to earn money through part-time employment, helping to offset the cost of college.

The Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, also administers state and federally funded student financial assistance programs, providing additional avenues for eligible students to access financial support for postsecondary education.

AmeriCorps Polk Reads: Fostering Literacy and Academic Growth

Literacy is the cornerstone of academic success, and the Polk Education Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to develop strong reading skills. AmeriCorps Polk Reads is a reading tutoring program that provides targeted support to struggling kindergarten through third-grade readers in select Polk County schools.

During the 2024-2025 school year, AmeriCorps Polk Reads had over 40 members serving in teams at Crystal Lake Elementary, Elbert Elementary, Eagle Lake Elementary, Griffin Elementary, and Inwood Elementary. These dedicated members provide (3) 30-minute, one-on-one tutoring sessions per week to students who are behind in reading.

The tutoring sessions focus on the five components of effective reading instruction:

Phonemic Awareness: Understanding the sounds of language.
Phonics: Connecting sounds to letters.
Vocabulary Development: Building a strong understanding of words.
Reading Fluency: Reading accurately and at an appropriate pace.
Reading Comprehension Strategies: Understanding the meaning of what is read.

The impact of AmeriCorps Polk Reads is significant. In the 2024-2025 school year, the program served over 424 students, with 84% (356 students) making significant reading gains. This program generated over 35,000 hours of member service in our schools and community which if paid for by parents or schools for private tutoring would be a cost of over $1,000,000 annually.

AmeriCorps members receive a living wage stipend for their service and may also be eligible for an educational award upon completion of their term. Members can serve up to four terms, further contributing to the program's sustainability and impact.

Read also: Educators in Polk County

Investing in Schools and Classrooms

The Polk Education Foundation actively seeks funding opportunities to support innovative projects and address critical needs within Polk County schools. Through various grant programs, the Foundation empowers educators to enhance their teaching practices and create engaging learning experiences for their students.

School Matching Grants

The 2024-2025 School Matching Grant program, made possible through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, provides matching funds to public and charter schools in Polk County. This program encourages schools to solicit and acquire new funds from private or community donors, with the promise of a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000 per grant. This matching mechanism incentivizes community involvement and amplifies the impact of local fundraising efforts.

Suncoast Credit Union Grants

Suncoast Credit Union is a strong supporter of education in Polk County. In 2024-2025, the Suncoast Credit Union grant awarded nine grants to meet specific needs at the school site. Berkley Elementary and Highland City Elementary focused on literacy activities. Four other schools focused on enhancing STEM education with activities such as rocketry, studying the effects of microplastics in a Marine Biology class, providing additional hands-on activities, and more. Highland City and Eagle Lake Elementary received funds to replenish books for their book vending machines.

Wells Fargo Financial Health Grant

The 2024-2025 Wells Fargo Financial Health Grant, also facilitated through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, funded one $5,000 grant in Polk County. This grant supported the "Financial Knowledge Beyond the Classroom" program, which taught financial literacy lessons to students. By equipping students with the knowledge and skills to manage money effectively, the program aims to empower them to become more informed, confident, and proactive in navigating the financial responsibilities of higher education and adulthood.

Explore & Excel in Healthcare Career Pathways

The Polk Education Foundation received a grant for $33,750 as part of a three-year $1,200,000 grant through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations aimed at increasing student interest in healthcare careers and successful participation in high school healthcare career academies, particularly among students from underrepresented rural communities. Through the âExplore & Excel in Healthcare Career Pathways' program grant, Polk Education Foundation will help reduce barriers for students interested in the healthcare field, provide classroom materials/equipment, and fund transportation for students to participate career exploration activities.

Clay's for Classroom Grants

With funds from the annual Clayâs for Classroom event, seven grants totaling $30,000 were awarded to schools across the district. Grants focused on literacy, supporting low performers, and STEM education. Tenoroc High School used funds to provide professional development on the topic of Understanding Poverty. Davenport High School continued their study on the impact of small plastic pieces in the environment, food web, and health.

Florida Blue Foundation Healthy Communities Grant Program

Polk Education Foundation received $10,000 from Florida Blue Foundation as part of their Healthy Communities Grant Program. This funding was split, supporting both school-based food pantries and the AmeriCorps Polk Reads Program. Schools could apply for $500 grants to help restock the shelves in their food pantries. Schools provided food to students who needed healthy resources outside of school hours.

Junior League of Greater Winter Haven Mini-Grants

The Junior League of Greater Winter Haven Mini-Grants through Polk Education Foundation provided $1,500 in funding to local educators to assist with Back-to-School basics, implementation of projects, and/or the purchase of necessary classroom items not available through school funding. This investment in teachers and classrooms was matched dollar-for-dollar through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program.

Additional Grants

The Jahna Foundation awarded $30,000 through Polk Education Foundation to meet the needs at the three public schools in Lake Wales. Polk Education Foundation received funding for the New Leadership, New Team, New Opportunities! Grant. In addition, funding was received for Accessible Free Teacher Market Pop-Ups. This opportunity allows us to serve teachers who are unable to shop at the Free Teacher Market located in Bartow due to extended driving distance. Universal Orlando Foundation invested $12,000 in funding to support Cultivating Creativity in the Art Classroom! Through the AT&T Connected Learning, AT&T invested $30,000 to narrow the digital divide by providing todayâs learners with equitable opportunity to learn and thrive. Grant funds provide select graduating seniors with a laptop and digital literacy training in preparation for post-secondary education.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Polk Education Foundation plays a vital role in connecting students with scholarship opportunities to help them pursue their higher education goals. The Foundation administers a variety of scholarships, each with its own specific criteria and eligibility requirements.

Hard copy applications posted here are open to students outside the Polk County public or charter school system, the Adult Schools or Ridge and Traviss, or, are scholarships started after the online application opened.

Donors can sponsor a scholarship for Polk County High School graduating seniors in your club or business name, or, in memory of a loved one. After the application period ends, all scholarship applications are collected, screened and recipients selected through a competitive application process using the criteria each donor has set. We strive to make sure each application is given focus and attention to allow for the best candidates to be awarded scholarships. Donors can choose to participate in the selection process or allow a PEF committee to make those selections. Donors determine the criteria and the amount for the award. Scholarships can be designated for certain schools or groups of recipients. Scholarships are promoted online each fall through the Polk County School District and Polk Education Foundation.

Scholarship funds are awarded in the spring of each year; funds are not distributed directly to the student.

By creating an endowed scholarship, you will have a perpetual scholarship awarded each year with no other investment needed. Endowed funds must however be invested for one year before they pay for an award. PEF's endowment funds are professionally managed by at least 2 management firms per PEF policy. Currently a $12,000.00 donation equals a perpetual $500 scholarship. Endowed amounts and corresponding awards increase incrementally by each $12,500 donated.

Scholarship Recipient Success Stories

The impact of these scholarships is evident in the success stories of past recipients.

T.J. Kasie, a graduate in the top ten at WHHS, an active member in the band and multiple other clubs on campus, and heavily involved in the community as well as music theatre. At Florida State University, Kasie was a member of the Florida State Marching Chiefs and went on to earn a Medal of Honor. She also had the amazing opportunity to serve as President for her sorority and be a peer counselor to the college kids on campus. Kasie graduated in December of 2021 with two degrees and three certificates. She is starting her masters in the fall of 2022 focused on mental health counseling while earning accreditation in play therapy. After completing, Kasie wants to begin working in low economic areas to provide resources to children who are in search for help. She also plans on pursuing her PhD in Counseling Psychology. Kasie's end destination will be owning her own private practice providing all types of therapy for kiddos including music therapy, speech therapy, sports therapy, etcâ¦ Children and their families will participate in talk therapy, completing their initial intakes.

Kasie shared, "These scholarships allowed me to enter college with an eagerness to explore and find my place in the world post high school graduation. The world is a scary place and having the security of scholarships to help lessen the scariness of money aspects allowed me to be more engrossed in the world of a normal college student. It allowed me to obtain two degrees and become one step closer to the career I've always dreamed of having. I am forever thankful for all of the encouragement and support from the Polk Education Foundation and others who funded my way through college."

Another scholarship recipient shared, "As a first-generation college student, the opportunity to further my education was very important to me. I was so nervous I wouldn't be able to afford the cost but, the Polk Education Foundation (PEF) made my college career possible. I will never forget the day during the Harrison School for the Arts senior award ceremony when PEF announced I won a scholarship. I remember being so incredibly honored. All my dreams were finally possible. I truly believe the opportunities I have been presented with would not have been possible if it weren't for PEF and Maxcy Foundation paving the path for me. Once I finished my undergraduate degree and decided to pursue the ambition of higher education, I was matched with an all too familiar struggle. The US Virgin Islands challenged me with high living expenses, travel fees, and international tuition rates. I was not expecting to receive any aid from Maxcy Foundation and was overwhelmed with gratitude when I was notified that they wanted to assist in funding my graduate degree."

Madyson, after graduating from high school, majored in Marine Biology at the University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola, FL. During her undergraduate years, Madyson had several opportunities to dip her toes in the field of Marine Biology. She worked as a lab technician in The Janosik Research Lab where she executed an entire project called "Microplastic Ingestion in Mysid Shrimp from the Great Lakes". She was also the President of the Marine Ecology Research Society at UWF. Madyson's most exciting undergraduate adventure was when she got to study abroad in Indonesia! There she got to work on several different research projects located on a tiny remote island in the middle of the Coral Triangle (a massive coral reef system). Following her undergraduate, Madyson worked in Biloxi, Mississippi on the Salt Marsh Bird Project through Mississippi State University for 6 months before deciding to pack up and move to the US Virgin Islands where she would complete her master's degree at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). At UVI, Madyson studied an invasive seagrass in the Caribbean. In addition to her thesis research, Madyson collaborated on a published research project ping into the coral disease that is plaguing Florida and the wider Caribbean. While completing a degree during COVID-19 wasn't easy, Madyson made the most of it and even won a World Water Day video contest that allowed her to travel to Hawai'i to attend an International Youth Ocean Policy Summit. In addition to Hawai'i, Madyson's advisor invited her to work as his summer research assistant in Bodega Bay, California. While there, she worked with some of the ocean's strangest critters! Madyson passed her thesis defense and graduated with her M.S. in December 2021 with a GPA of 3.8! Before graduating, Madyson received a prestigious honor awarded by the National Sea Grant College Program called the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. This fellowship has allowed Madyson, and her new cat, to move to the Washington DC area to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program.

tags: #Polk #Education #Foundation #programs