Polk County's Literacy Resource Directory 4th Edition | Page 2
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
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Letter from the
Superintendent
Literacy Team