Letter from the Superintendent
Polk County Public Schools is dedicated to providing a high-quality education for all students . Our teachers and school staff work hard each day to foster a love of learning in our more than 110,000 students . Our goal is to best prepare students for success beyond the classroom .
PCPS is fortunate to have strong partnerships with community organizations that share our passion for serving Polk County ’ s youth , and preparing them for bright futures . For years , Polk Vision has been an outstanding advocate for local education .
Literacy Team
Jennifer Kovac - Co-Chair , Polk County Library Cooperative
Lindsay Persohn , Ph . D . - Co-Chair , University of South Florida
Kristi Anderson – Huntington Learning Center
P O L K V I S I O N . C O M
Polk Vision has brought together various stakeholders to address tough issues , including how to improve literacy . They noticed there were many resources available to help our community ’ s youth improve their reading and writing skills . Families weren ’ t always aware that free or low-cost services were right in their neighborhood .
This publication — the fifth edition of the Polk County ’ s Literacy Resource Directory — was created to help guide families to information about tutoring , websites , books , programs , and tips for nurturing literacy .
Literacy remains the solid foundation for a child ’ s education . Reading and writing skills are essential for our students . They must be effective communicators and critical thinkers as they navigate a world much different than previous generations . Our modern society is filled with ever-evolving technology , instant connection through social media and fast-paced access to digital information . This current edition of the Literacy Resource Directory includes a new section entirely devoted to online resources for literacy .
We thank Polk Vision for spearheading this project and its continued commitment to improving education and supporting our students .
Sincerely , Frederick Heid Superintendent Polk County Public Schools
Pam Craven , Ph . D . - Learning Resource Center
Jeanette Crowley – Polk County Public Schools
Stacy Davis - Polk County Public Schools
Sheri Gieger - Usborne Books
Suzanne Howe – Mulberry Community Service Center
Jennifer Olivas – Mulberry Community Service Center
Kathy Raub – Lake Shipp Elementary School
Lisa Reuther - Lakeland Regional Health Systems
Sara Beth Reynolds - Polk County School Board
Sandy Roddenberry - Lakeland Regional Health Systems
Kate Wallace - Lakeland Leads
Steve Warner , Ed . D . - Polk County Public Schools
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