Partners In Education | Programs and Services
Commissioner's Business Recognition Program
On June 9, 2011, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tampa, businesses from throughout the Sunshine State were recognized for their innovative partnerships and significant contributions of time and resources to Florida’s public schools. The following businesses were recognized for their outstanding partnerships with a public school in Broward County.
Coventry Healthcare Plans
Coventry Health Care of Florida donated 285 Sharon Draper novels that they presented in all 9th and 10th grade-reading classes to encourage student leisure reading at Coconut Creek High School. They also sponsored a "Caught You Reading Program" and book chat luncheons with 30 students a month. A Coventry employee and CCHS teachers facilitated lively and often emotional discussions, connecting the books to students’ lives.
Haliczer, Pettis and Schwamm, Attorneys at Law
The law firm of Haliczer, Pettis and Schwamm (HPS) donated more than 30 Thanksgiving baskets to needy families and purchased holiday gifts for students at Lauderdale Manors Elementary School, a Title 1 school. HPS also donated school supplies and sponsored school-wide incentive programs that recognized the achievements of more than 200 students. In addition, HPS supported a Family Night in which families spent quality time doing “make and take” arts and crafts projects. As a result, parent involvement increased another 30% during the year.
The Gap and Baby Gap
The Gap and Baby Gap employees along with the Gap Foundation donated school supplies to Whispering Pines School, an Emotionally and Behaviorally Disordered center for K-12 students. Twelve Gap employees worked alongside twelve students on a green sustainability project. The Gap also hosted a field trip to the store where students worked in various positions receiving direct career experience shadowing employees. A Gap manager worked closely with one student who had dropped out of school. The Gap promised the student, a homeless young man, employment if he re-enrolled in school and maintained his grades. The student did re-enroll and worked at The Gap for one year.
|
|
|
| Pictured from the left are Michael Matthews, Executive Director of the Central Florida Market, Coventry Healthcare Plans and Florida Education Commissioner, Eric J. Smith. | Pictured from the left are Florida Education Commissioner, Eric J. Smith and Michael Murillo, Manager The Gap Aventura. |