Polk County's Literacy Resource Directory 4th Edition

Polk County Public Schools is constantly striving to provide a high-quality education for all of our students. One way we achieve this mission is by partnering with community organizations that enhance and supplement the resources and opportunities available to Polk County students. One such partnership that I am particularly proud of is Polk County Public Schools' ongoing collaboration with Polk Vision. Polk Vision has been a constant resource to our school district over the years. Their teams addressing school health, quality of life, and literacy produce outcomes that directly affect Polk's students and their educational opportunities. The most recent example of this collaboration is the publication of Polk County's Literacy Resource Directory, which provides schools and families with critical information about literacy resource providers in their area. Polk Vision's Literacy Team has worked hard to collect information about tutoring, awareness events, programs for parents, websites, books, and other literacy resources. This is the first directory of its kind to be produced, and we anticipate numerous benefits to our students and Polk County as a whole. Pam Craven, Ph.D. - Co-Chair, Learning Resource Center Lindsay Persohn, Ph.D.- Co-Chair, University of South Florida Steve Chapman - AmeriCorps Polk Reads Stacy Davis - Polk County Public Schools Sheri Gieger - Usborne Books Marc Hutek - Early Learning Coalition of Polk County Jennifer Kovac - Polk County Library Cooperative Shaullanda Lacomber - Community Volunteer Audrey Nettlow - Winter Haven PEP It is well-documented that children who cannot read at the appropriate level by third grade struggle to keep up with increasingly challenging lessons later on in school. Students who are not proficient readers have a higher likelihood to drop out of school and not graduate on time. The creation of Polk County's Literacy Resource Directory aligns with Polk County Public Schools' strategic plan priorities to increase the graduation rate, reduce the dropout rate, and become an "A" district. Students with access to supplemental literacy support are more likely to make learning gains, graduate high school, and become more productive citizens later in life. I am proud to support Polk Vision as one of Polk County Public Schools' community partners. We look forward to additional collaborative projects that will benefit Polk County's students and community. Sincerely, Jacqueline M. Byrd Superintendent of Schools Colleen Pizzuti - United Way of Central Florida Nancy Puri - Polk County Public Schools Beverly Putnam - Northeast Polk Literacy Council Sandy Roddenberry - Lakeland Regional Health Systems Juan Seda – Polk County Public Schools SaraBeth Reynolds - Polk County School Board Steve Warner - Polk County Public Schools Nat West - Whinter Haven PEP 1 Letter from the Superintendent Literacy Team

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