DonorsChoose.org

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit website, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, called Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund. Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100).

What your business can do:

• You can search such proposals submitted by Knox County schoolteachers, learn about classroom needs and choose to fund the project(s) you find most compelling.
• Upon completion of a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, and a teacher impact letter.

DonorsChoose.org Contact Information: DonorsChoose.org 347 West 36th Street, Suite 503 New York, NY 10018 Phone Number: (212) 239-3615 Email: national@DonorsChoose.org Website: DonorsChoose.org

Since 1991, Friends of Literacy has been the voice of the illiterate, giving students the basic tools they need to become better workers, parents and citizens. Most students initially read and write below a sixth-grade level.

This fiscal year, Friends of Literacy hopes to provide financial and material support for ELL (English Language Learners) classes, as well as initiate Family Literacy classes. A third area of development is the design and development of Recruitment and Retention programs.

What your business can do:

• You and your business can make a general monetary donation by simply choosing a level of giving and donating online.
• A second area is through item donations, including old magazines for the library (McCall's, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Sports Illustrated, etc.); donating cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products to students to reward students for good attendance; donate classroom supplies – paper, pencils, folders, etc.; bring old books.
• Your business can also raise funds in order to purchase workbooks and testing materials for students; typically, $125 supplies several students for one year.
• Friends of Literacy also has a “wish list,” from which businesses can purchase and donate supplies. This list includes: a teacher lectern, an electric 3-hole punch, Wal-Mart gift cards, white board easels, laptop computers, electric pencil sharpeners, bus tickets, an overhead projector and rolling cart, CD players, a manual 3-hole punch, phonics cards and nonfiction soft cover books.

Friends of Literacy Information: Friends of Literacy Melissa Nance 101 East Fifth Avenue, Room 217 Knoxville, TN 37917 Phone Number: (865) 594-1507 Email: Melissa@friendsofliteracy.org Website: www.friendsofliteracy.org

Started by Dolly Parton in 1996, this organization serves to foster a love of reading in preschool children. Dolly decided to mail a brand new, age appropriate book each month to every child under 5 in Sevier County. With the arrival of every child’s first book, the classic The Little Engine That Could ™, every child could experience the joy of finding his/her very own book in the mailbox. These moments continue each month until the child turns five. In the last month in the program the child receives Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.

Businesses can support the school community through Imagination Library.

• Imagination Library accepts donations of all amounts – and now with online giving, supporting early literacy in our community is even easier. Visit The Governor's Books from Birth Foundation to donate directly to Knox County's Imagination Library (just be sure to select Knox County from the menu).
• Employees can also volunteer at a registration booth, children's festivals, special events, and a host of other Imagination Library-sponsored activities. Most volunteer opportunities can be completed in a few hours and can be done on your own or with a friend. To volunteer, call or email Amy at 215-8784 or anachtrab@knoxlib.org.

Imagination Library Information: Imagination Library Knox County Imagination Library Fund 500 West Church Avenue Knoxville TN 37902 Phone Number: (865) 215-8784. Website: www.imaginationlibrary.com and www.knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/21519_Imagination_Library

The Partners in Education (PIE) program is designed to build relationships between the Knox County School System and community organizations to improve the educational opportunities of the approximately 54,000 students across the county. Individual school partnerships allow community groups to impact public education in a targeted location.

Here is where your business can make a difference:

• This program is flexible enough for businesses to partner with a school in whatever way makes sense for that individual school or class.
• Your business can involve employees in activities at school or host students for a career day.
• You can provide incentives to recognize student achievement or provideprofessional expertise to the school.
• Your business can also invite the team to visit your organization to see where the school can impact your operations. The program also encourages having students out in the community providing entertainment, artwork, or other exhibits of their talents and skills.
• You can sponsor elementary, middle or high schools, or participate in curriculum or special areas, sponsor a system-wide program or non-traditional schools.

Partners in Education Contact Information: Partners in Education Scott Bacon Phone Number: (865) 594-1909 Email: bacons@k12tn.net Website: www.kcs.k12tn.net/public_affairs/PIE/partners-whatis.htm

Advocating support of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act-Reading First Program, Mayor Ragsdale made it a top priority of his administration to provide a program for recruitment and placement of volunteers in 1st grade classrooms in the county. The Read with Me program allows the Knox County community to participate in improving its children's success by building a firm reading background. This program is a partnership of schools, businesses, parents and volunteers working together to improve and enhance the reading skills of children.

How local businesses can become involved:

• We are still seeking support from our local businesses in making this program an even greater success. Mayor Ragsdale is challenging local businesses to encourage their employees to volunteer.
• Volunteers are asked to provide one hour a week in a classroom, which is a small commitment that can produce large benefits.
• Businesses can sponsor a classroom or a school, and sponsors will be mentioned in all media.

Read With Me Contact Information: Read With Me Sandy Garber Phone Number: (865) 215-4770 Grant Rosenberg Phone Number: (865) 215-4751 Email: readwithme@knoxcounty.org Website: www.knoxcounty.org/rwm/corporate.php

School coupon books are sold annually through Knox County Schools. In 2006, students sold 180,435 coupon books during the campaign. Since 1989, a total of 2,248,735 coupon books have been sold to raise $19,253,364.50 for public schools in Knox County.

• You could become involved in the school coupon book annual campaign through sponsorship. Corporate sponsors play a major role in making the School Coupons Book Campaign an annual success.

School Coupon Books Information: Mary Kerr Program Facilitator Phone Number: (865) 594-1928 Email: kerrm@k12tn.net Website: http://www.kcs.k12tn.net/schoolcoupons/sc-index.htm

Often times, teachers must spend their own money to purchase learning and classroom materials. Paired with the other reality that discarded items are costly to businesses and fill our landfills needlessly, the Teacher Supply Depot is a unique way for the community and local businesses to partner with the school system to provide material support to the classroom teacher. The Depot is a clearinghouse for donated surplus materials that can be used in classrooms. Knox County Schools, Knox County Council PTA, KCEA, Goodwill, the Knoxville Chamber, and Knox County Solid Waste are pleased to announce the operation of this project to support the creative efforts of our teachers throughout the school system.

Since its inception, many businesses and community members have stepped forward to donate materials, money and time to the Depot. Educators have taken more than $1,000,000 worth of classroom materials and equipment back to their schools since the Depot opened in January 2001.

What your business can do:

• The Depot is open four times each school year to give teachers an opportunity to replenish supplies they need for the classroom. Donations can be delivered to the Depot Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• The Depot accepts tax-deductible donations, and is in continual need of supplies.
• You can participate through item donation: Art Supplies, Art Tissue Paper, Board erasers -dry erase & chalk, Bulletin Board materials, Calculators, Chalk, Children’s music -tapes, records & books, Clear tape for dispensers, Clip boards, Colored pencils, Coloring markers -all sizes, Compasses, Composition Books, Construction paper, Copy Paper, Crayons, Dividers, D’Nealian ABC Desk Tapes, Dry erase boards -all sizes, Dry erase markers and board cleaner, Erasable pens, Erasers for pencils, Erasers -large pink, First start writing paper, Games for all skills, Glue -assorted size bottle, Glue sticks, Highlighters -all colors and sizes, Hole punches, Holiday decorations, Incentive Items, Index cards, Ink pens, Labels -all sizes, Large writing tablets, Left-hand scissors, Manilla file folders -letter size, Masking Tape, Modeling clay, Note pads, Notebook paper, Number line desk tapes, Overhead markers, Paper clips -all sizes, Pencils -Number 2, Permanent markers, Play-dough, Poster board, Post-it notes -all kinds, Protractors, Push pins/Thumb tacks, Red pencils and pens, Reward/Incentive items, Rubber bands, Rug samples, Rugs, Rulers, School/Pencil boxes, Scissors -round and pointed, Scotch tape, Scotch tape and dispensers, Sharpie pens, Staple removers, Staples, Staplers, Stickers, Tape Dispensers, Tempera paint, Theme/Composition books, Wallpaper books, Water color paint sets, White-out, Work books

Teacher Depot Contact Information: Teacher Depot 232 East Churchwell Knoxville, TN 37917 Phone: (865)-594-1221 Website: http://www.kcs.k12tn.net/tchr-supply-depot/tsd-index.htm

Dine Out for Education is an annual event during which local restaurants in the Knoxville and Knox County areas donate a percentage of the day’s gross sales to fund selected projects in Knox County Schools.

How your business can participate:

• If you own or manage a local restaurant, join the program and donate an agreed percentage of the events’ days’ sales to the cause.
• If you are not in the restaurant business, encourage your employees to dine out on the given day at any of the participating restaurants by advertising the event throughout the company.

Dine Out for Education Contact: Knox County Schools Public Affairs Scott Bacon Phone Number: (865) 594-1909 Email: bacons@k12tn.net

The Distinguished Professionals Education Institute is designed to address the growing need for course matter specialists with expertise in math, science, foreign languages, and other areas of current shortage. The Distinguished Professionals Education Institute will mesh teacher education, mentoring, induction, and professional development to enable schools and districts to leverage resources of personnel, equipment, and dollars.

How your business can participate:

• Professional scientists, linguists and mathematicians holding alternative licenses issued by the state will teach on a “course by course” basis in hard-to-staff and critical shortage areas.
• Allows professionals in math, science, engineering and other careers to teach up to three courses a year -without having to follow the traditional route to becoming a teacher.

DPEI Contact Information: Betty Sue Sparks, Executive Director Distinguished Professionals Education Institute: Phone Number: (865) 687-2757 5300 Tazewell Point Way Knoxville, Tennessee 37918 Website: www.dpteach.com

Parent Involvement

The National Parent Teacher Association instituted a Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification program in an effort to increase and enhance parent involvement in schools nationwide. The program provides schools with information to assess the parent involvement in their institution based on the PTA’s National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement programs. The certification program then recognizes and awards schools that meet the PTA’s standards.

Parent Involvement Certification Program Contact: PTA Office of Programs Phone: (202) 289-6790 1400 L Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20005

PICertification@pta.org

The Teacher Advancement Program is a new program, under the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching that is dedicated to hiring, retaining, training and motivated talented teachers. TAP was developed to improve the profession as a whole by offering incentives to good teachers, such as higher salaries and opportunities for advancement in the hopes of attracting the most talented individuals to the field. TAP also provides mentoring and professional development opportunities to the teachers, and promotes accountability by holding teachers responsible for their work with performance-based compensation.

Your business can:

• Provide funds to support training sessions, celebrations, materials, educational opportunities, laptop computers or other special opportunities for master and mentor teachers.

Teacher Advancement Program Contact: Monty Howell Knox County Schools Phone: 865-594-1697 Andrew Johnson Building, 16^th Floor 912 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 Mailing Address: PO BOX 2188, Knoxville, TN 37901-2188

And

Cheryl Kershaw, Ed.D Executive Director, Great Schools Partnership Ph: 865-215-4505 Fax: 865-215-4254 www.greatschools.us

Vols4Stem is an online clearinghouse of opportunities and resources for educators, students and volunteers to learn about and participate in past, present, and upcoming K-12 STEM programs and projects. STEM careers include the science, technology, engineering and math field. This website provides opportunities for volunteers to partner with individual teachers or schools, or to get involved with existing programs related to STEM fields. The site is a work in process, but will ultimately allow prospective volunteers to sign up via the website and be connected with teachers in need of their expertise.

How your business can get involved:

• Encourage your employees to visit the site and volunteer their time to projects and teachers that may be of interest to them.
• Support a STEM program that exists in a nearby school and provide mentoring to students in competitions and projects.
• Host STEM activities that might not be possible in a classroom.
• Commit to making employees available for career day presentations and activities.

Vols for Stem contact:

Joe Carson Phone: 865-300-5831

jpcarson@tds.net Website: www.vols4stem.org

TACE is an organization established to connect Tennessee College/University Career Placement and Cooperative Education professionals and recruiters of major businesses in Tennessee. The mission is to allow Tennessee college students and recent graduates to meet and network with employers of Tennessee companies in an attempt to provide the students the best available career opportunities that will put them on the track to becoming future business leaders.

How your business can get involved:

• Become a member of TACE. As a member, you will be able to begin networking with colleagues throughout the state through conferences, workshops and committees. You will have access to the membership directory, special events calendar, college information and the TACE newsletter.

Tennessee Association of Colleges and Employers Contact: Nicole Green Communications Director

kngreen@mtsu.edu www.tace.org

Workforce Connections is responsible for the development and operation of a variety of programs focused on employment assistance and related training and support services. One of the programs offered is designed to introduce businesses, career opportunities and job training to students at a high risk of dropping out of high school, as well as students that are out-of-school and in GED classes. The program strives to expose students to the world of work through guest speakers, shadow days and hands-on training. Workforce Connections also provides resources and incentives to businesses that wish to implement internship and apprenticeship programs.

What your business can do:

• Workforce Connections invites Human Resources staff to educate the students on the availability of jobs as well as job opportunities that the students may not be familiar with, or aware of. The speakers can give the students relevant information about the trends in the workforce related to what jobs are, and will be, in demand and what the hiring and training processes are like. Workforce Connections also welcomes information about the skills and education that applicants need, what traits businesses look for in a candidate, how to get promoted, and what will get an employee fired.
• Provide incentive rewards for academic achievement, attendance, and successful completion of activities related to entering the workforce, including resume and cover letter writing.
• Host Job Shadowing -1 day to 1 week periods where students can shadow employees to learn about their jobs, and internships -1 week to 1 month periods where Workforce Connections would pay students minimum wage to assist with tasks in a hands-on experience to learn about working.
• Offer on-the-job training for older youth looking to re-enter the workforce. Training would last 1-6 months and Workforce Connections would pay the trainee while the company teaches the student the skills needed for a specific job, before hiring them for the job after successful training completion.

Contact Information: Lynn Moore Program Manager

Lynn.moore@knoxcac.org

Phone: (865) 544-5200 ext. 1235

Stephanie Jones Case Manager

Stephanie.jones@knoxcac.org

Phone: (865) 544-5200 ext. 1244

Tennessee Scholars Program

Tennessee Scholars is an education initiative sponsored by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, business and industry of Tennessee, policy makers, educators, and parents. It is part of the National State Scholars Initiative and is endorsed by the Governor of the State of Tennessee, the United States Department of Vocational and Adult Education, and many other educational, workforce development, and economic development entities as an exemplary educational and workforce development initiative that has proven to be successful.

The purpose of Tennessee Scholars is to increase the percentage of students graduating from high school with a rigorous, defined academic course of study sufficient to prepare them for higher education, the workforce, or the military. In addition to a rigorous course of study, Knox County Schools require students to have a GPA of 2.5, 95% attendance, pass all gateway exams, no out-of-school suspensions and 20 hours of community service. In 2007 Knox County witnessed its inaugural graduating class of 260 students from 12 public and private high schools. These students were recognized at an awards ceremony where Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale congratulated them and awarded door prizes from local businesses. We hope to make 2008 an even better year and are working with the State Legislature to pass legislation that would grant a supplement to the HOPE Scholarship to students graduating as Tennessee Scholars.

Your business can:

• Contribute to scholarship and incentive opportunities for graduating Tennessee Scholars.
• Encourage your business leaders to enter high school classrooms before students select classes and present the students with information on the importance of completing a rigorous, defined course of study.

Tennessee Scholars Contact Information: Knoxville contact – Jennifer Evans Knoxville Chamber

TNScholars@knoxvillechamber.com

Phone: (865) 246-2641

State representative – Ruth Woodall Tennessee Chamber, TN Scholars Director

TNScholars@knoxvillechamber.com

611 Commerce St., Suite 3030 Nashville, TN 37203-3742

ruth.woodall@tnchamber.org

(615) 256-5141

Weekend Academy

Weekend Academy is a Saturday enrichment program where elementary school students in grades 3-5 from low-income families learn in fun and different ways. Goals include increasing self-esteem and zest for learning, empowering parents with resources for present and future educational support, and equipping students to take advantage of future career and life opportunities. Weekend Academy is a non-profit organization that raises its money through grants, donations and fundraisers. TVA is a partner that donates office and classroom space. Partner schools nominate the students to the program and there is no charge to the child to enroll.

What your business can do:

• Volunteer one Saturday morning to spend some time with students about a topic or profession of interest to you.
• Host a “world of work” field trip for students to your place of business one Saturday morning.
• Sponsor a particular month’s activities by donating the food for healthy session meals or books to be given away for Book of the Month.
• Make a cash donation.
• Participate in the golf tournament fundraiser held traditionally in October byregistering to play or volunteering as part of the event staff.

Contact:

Lisa McClain 400 W. Summit Hill Dr., WT-9C Knoxville, TN 37902 Phone: (865) 632-3113

mcclainrussell@aol.com

Phone: (865) 246-2641 CHARACTER COUNTS! is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition. It is the nation's most widely used character-development framework, adopted by schools as well as youth, sports and civic organizations. It wants to create a community where the “Six Pillars of Character” are understood and seen in every segment of the community so youth and adults in Knoxville will be continually reminded of the importance of good behavior. Its vision is to elevate the quality of character throughout the community to enable Knoxville to become one of the best places in the country in which to live, to raise children, to go to school, and to conduct business.

What your business can do:

• Be a leader in bringing CHARACTER COUNTS! to your business and community.
• Organize business-based or community-based training.
• Encourage employees to be CHARACTER COUNTS! trainers.
• Support CHARACTER COUNTS! activities.

Contact: CHARACTER COUNTS! of Knoxville and Knox County Cansler Family YMCA c/o Phyllis Lockwood 616 Jessamine Street Knoxville, TN 37917 Phone: 865-524-2122 Fax: 865-525-3170 Email: charactercounts@ymcaknoxville.org Website: http://www.discoveret.org/ccknox/index.html

Local Apprenticeship/Internship Programs

These programs are examples of existing partnerships between industry and education. While most programs are not one-size-fits-all, good ideas and practices may be extracted from these to develop a program that works for each business and fits each company’s particular needs.