School + Community Partnerships

Tomorrow’s employees, volunteers and leaders are today’s students – and they need a solid start, high-quality foundation and life-long career and personal development to be prepared to meet the future. Learn more about how the business community, organizations and individuals are partnering with schools to grow successful learners.

Introducing Partners in Education

In 2022, Lakeland Vision and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce formed a collaborative education committee with the goals of resourcing, engaging and celebrating Polk County's educational institutions through business engagement and public awareness.

Our community’s vision includes “lifelong education” as one of four focus areas identified by citizens. With goals for community support, career development, early childhood preparation and outcome-centered curriculum, Lakeland’s vision for high quality educational opportunities can only be realized through cooperation and collaboration.

Together, we can ensure that all students are ready to learn and have the opportunities to succeed as they grow. To achieve this, the Education Committee of Lakeland Vision and the Lakeland Chamber has worked with Polk County Public Schools to develop a toolkit for School and Community Partnerships, and we're implementing these resources and best practices in four pilot schools.

School & community partnerships are an evidence-based strategy that communities can use to address students’ academic and social-emotional needs effectively and efficiently.  

• ​Students with mentors improve their attendance rates by 98%!  
• Guest speakers introduce students to career options, hobbies, and activities. 
• Tutors help improve reading fluency and vocabulary development. ​

PiE School & Community Engagement Toolkit (8.5 × 11 in)

We encourage you, your business, church, civic club - or book club -  to consider how your gifts of time and talents could positively impact the lives of students and teachers within Polk County Public Schools.

Lakeland's 45 public schools benefit from the support of two Community Liaisons who help connect and strengthen partnerships. To learn more about how you can get involved and begin making a difference for our students, please contact Reba Coil or Kylia Carswell.

Reba Coil | Director, Community Liaison, South Lakeland Area
[email protected]

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Pilot Schools

Learn more about our four pilot schools, the students they serve, how they connect with the community and the opportunities for your business or organization to partner to support our students and teachers.

Kathleen Elementary School

3515 Sherertz Road; Lakeland, FL 33810 

• Principal: Tracie Upton 
• School Grade:  C
• Number of Students: 470 
• Number of Staff: 69
• Grade Level: K-5 
• Zoning Map

Ms. Upton Wants You to Know: Serve Homeless Population in North Lakeland; Clothes Closet with Shoes, Socks and Regular clothes.

School Partnership Requests
Family Resource Center: Kathleen Elementary serves a large population of homeless students and coordinates a resources center with clothes, shoes, socks, hygiene items and more to ensure students are able to come to school ready to learn. Partners support with donations of needed items and assist with organizing the resource center when donations are received.

Student Showcase: The Student Showcase will take place on April 18. Students can showcase some of their work on ELA, math, science and social studies, as well as art, music, physical education, and social-emotional wellness. The school seeks a partner to support dinner for families as an incentive to attend as well as volunteers to interact with students and families who showcase their achievements.

Staff Treasure Box (staff attendance incentives): We have created a Staff Treasure Box where staff present the entire week can choose an item for themselves or their classrooms. "Treasures" include $5.00 gift cards, sodas, snacks, teacher-type items, full-size candy bars, lanyards, key chains, office-type supplies, earrings, tumblers, etc. 

Campus Beautification: Assist in making commonly used spaces on and around campus beautiful and free from weeds, adding flowers and other eye-appealing shrubbery and garden decorations. We would need approximately $1,000.00 to supply items like weed barriers, leveling materials, and new flowers that attract butterflies and are low maintenance. 

Learn more about partnering with Kathleen Elementary by contacting:
Reba Coil | Director, Community Liaison, South Lakeland Area
[email protected]

North Lakeland Elementary School

410 West Robson Street, Lakeland, Florida 33809 

• Principal: Talley Miller 
• School Grade: D
• Number of Students: 640 
• Number of Staff: 90 
• ​Grade Level: K-5
• Zoning Map

School Partnership Requests
Leadership Program for our Students at NLE: Would like to start a leadership program next year that is similar to the community leadership program for adults to help build our future leaders and expose them to the different opportunities that are out there for them at all levels of the work field. We envision that 25-50 students will participate. A partner with expertise in leadership could help us source a curriculum and recommend volunteer leaders as program teachers/mentors.
 
Art Mural (on location): Would like to find an artist willing to donate time and supplies to paint murals at the school to improve the look of our school. 

Playground beautification: Our current playground has broken parts and has been worn out for years. Many of our students live in apartments or areas that limit the amount of time they can play outside. Providing them with an area where they can enjoy themselves would continue to build a positive culture at our school. 

Learn more about partnering with North Lakeland Elementary by contacting:
Reba Coil | Director, Community Liaison, South Lakeland Area
[email protected]

Crystal Lake Middle School

2410 N Crystal Lake Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801  

• Principal: Sarah Miranda
• ​School Grade: D
• Number of Students: 840 
• Number of Staff: 96  
• Grade Level: 6-8 
• Zoning Map
  

School Partnership Requests
Student Celebrations: Each quarter, students that have shown positive behavior and attended school regularly will be rewarded. The administration would like to provide food and drinks to celebrate the students who achieved their goals each school quarter. These celebrations will take place in January, March and May. There are approximately 1,200 students expected to participate. 

Student Mentoring: Seeking community members for after-school mentoring. The school has identified about 50 students who would benefit from a positive role model. Mentoring involves visiting with a student one to four times each month and a mentoring guide is available to assist with discussion questions, activities and more.

School Dances: Supporting school pride, positive culture and student friendship, we're bring back the school dance! Partners can help as volunteers, supplying theme decorations or supporting a DJ for the event.​

Staff Celebrations: Seeking opportunities of support for an administration and teacher staff luncheon to celebrate the end of the semester and/or end of the school year, years in education, retirements and best wishes into the summer months There are 120 staff members at Crystal Lake Middle. 

Learn more about partnering with Crystal Lake Middle by contacting:
Reba Coil | Community Liaison Director, South Lakeland Area
[email protected]

R. W. Blake Cambridge Academy

510 Hartsell Avenue, Lakeland, FL, 33815  

• Principal: Ava C. Brown
• ​School Grade: C 
• Number of Students: 600 
• Number of Staff: 85  
• Grade Level: K-8
• Zoning Map
  

Partnership Opportunities
Parent University: Parent University was created to increase the capacity of parents and guardians to be actively engaged in their child’s education at Blake Academy. The goal of the program is to inform and engage parents and guardians as partners, advocates and lifelong teachers in their child's education through a series of educational courses. Blake Academy is looking for guest presenters for next year and support for incentives and snacks for the event. Presentation topics include: Internet Safety,  Tech Training/Parent Portal, Tutoring/Homework Assistance, Nutrition/Cooking Class, Mental Health/Sleep, Finance 101 and ESE Services/504 vs IEP guidelines.

Global Perspectives Night: This event will showcase six community business leaders who will present in various locations throughout campus. The purpose is to allow students and families to glimpse what academic and life skills these leaders have utilized throughout their successful careers. The school would like community volunteers to participate in this event as guest speakers and provide family refreshments. The event will occur every year in the fall (October) and spring (April). ​

Student Mentoring: Seeking community members for student mentoring. The school identifies students who would benefit from a positive role model. Mentoring involves visiting with a student one to four times each month and a mentoring guide is available to assist with discussion questions, activities and more.

Fall Festival: Each year in October, nearly 1,000 students and families are invited to participate in FREE activities on a Saturday. Volunteers man booths and provide activities such as face painting, putt-putt, hayrides, petting zoo, cake walk, food drive, pumpkin decorating contest, costume contest, etc. Blake Cambridge Academy is looking for community members to volunteer at the event and help provide prizes and food. 

Learn more about partnering with Crystal Lake Middle by contacting:
Reba Coil | Community Liaison Director, South Lakeland Area
[email protected]

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Our partners at the Florida Chamber Foundation have developed The Florida Scorecard™ to provide state and local stakeholders with the metrics to measure progress toward meeting the goals outlined in the  Florida 2030 Blueprint, a two-year research program that engaged business and community leaders in each of Florida’s 67 counties and identified key trends and the factors that drive their regional economies.

Talent supply & education metrics are available for Kindergarten Readiness, VPK Completers, 3rd Grade Reading  & Math Scores,  8th Grade Reading  Science & Math Scores, Graduation Rates and Employment Data.

Click HERE to view Polk County metrics