VISION
Before 2030, Polk County
will have a world-class,
fully integrated education
system that supports
the needs of a vibrant,
progressive community.
DID YOU
KNOW?
1 in 7
Kindergarteners
were chronically
absent last
year - that’s
approximately
157 hours of
class time!
Brett Butler - Co-Chair, Polk
County Public Schools
Janet Lamoureux - Co-Chair,
Polk County Council PTA
Jackie Bryan - Polk County
Public Schools
Pam Craven, Ph.D. - Learning
Resource Center
Kenneth Franklin - Early
Learning Coalition of Polk
County ABOVE ABOVE
Matti Friedt - Polk County
Public Schools Attendance Managers and Social Workers gather at work session to discuss ways to A key component of the Challenge 5 TM campaign is a video featuring School
decrease absenteeism. Superintendent Jackie Byrd, Sheriff Grady Judd and the School Principals of the
Challenge 5 TM schools promoting the importance of attendance.
Shannon Gillespie - Polk
County Public Schools
Sandy Hightower -
Community Volunteer
ATTENDANCE LEAD TEAM Identified as a key need by the Polk Starting as early as pre-school and County Public Schools is implementing a
Brenda Johnson - Community
Volunteer Education is one of life’s greatest County School District’s Strategic Plan, kindergarten, chronic absence can leave multi-pronged tactical plan that will be
Patty Linder - Polk State
College equalizers. It opens minds to new the Attendance Team devoted the 2016- third graders unable to read proficiently, piloted in five area elementary schools.
understanding, unveils new possibilities 2017 school year to conducting research, sixth graders struggling with coursework and unlocks doors to new opportunity and making presentations, visiting schools, and high school students off track for Creating accountability at the District and
success. (Believe 2 Become, 2016) and holding one-on-one meetings with graduation. School leadership level is at the core of the
Jodi Miller - United Way of
Central Florida
Rolanda Sealey - Polk County
Public Schools
Carol Sherron - Huntington
Learning Center
Neal Steiger - Lakeland North
Rotary Club
Shandale Terrell - Polk
County Public Schools
counselors and principals, in order to
pilot program.
develop a comprehensive Tactical Plan Inspired by the success achieved by the students gaining the academic and social targeted to decrease the rate of student Grand Rapids, Michigan School District The pilot will launch in fall of 2017 with an
skills they need to succeed. absenteeism. (Believe 2 Become, 2016), the