AN OVERVIEW OF OUR
ORGANIZATION
Public
Education
Needs
Community
Involvement &
Leadership
 MISSION
Linking community resources with Nashville public schools to
help young people achieve academic success and prepare for life
 VISION
Community involvement and leadership in public education lead
to academic success and life-sustaining careers for all Nashville
citizens.
PENCIL Programs
COMMUNITY-SCHOOL
PARTNERSHIPS
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PENCIL Partners
Reading Partners
Math Partners
CHOICES
CAT Student Writers Showcase
Saint Thomas Science Scholars
SCHOOL-TO-CAREER TRAINING
 Jobs for Tennessee Graduates
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
 Job Skills Training & Employment
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
 LP® PENCIL Box
 Volunteer Database
PENCIL . . .
 Collaborates with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to
ensure that our educational programs support the system’s
strategic plan.
 Designs our programs to align with district instructional and
curricular standards.
 Provides learning opportunities that help students
achieve, foster positive attitudes, and recognize
outstanding performance.
PENCIL Partners
 PENCIL Partners are area businesses,
organizations, universities, and faith
communities that partner with and volunteer in
Nashville public schools
 Beginning with 37 “adoptions” in 1982, the
number of PENCIL partnerships has grown to
more than 450.
Reading Partners
 Reading Partners volunteers help
students (pre-K-4) improve their reading
ability and increase their enjoyment of
reading.
 They serve as Classroom Readers and
One-on-One Readers.
Math Partners
 Math Partners volunteers assist
students (5-6) in acquiring basic skills,
improving math performance, and
building self-confidence.
 Volunteers work with groups of four
students engaging them in interactive,
hands-on activities.
CHOICES
 CHOICES volunteers lead eighth-graders in seminars that
help them explore the importance of making wise
academic decisions.
 Students learn that their decisions impact career options
and that they can achieve their goals by applying “The Key
to Success”—SELF-DISCIPLINE.
CAT Student Writers Showcase
 SWS is a creative writing competition
open to students in grades 3-12.
 Professional writers judge student
entries in twelve categories.
 Competition winners receive cash
prizes and gifts.
Saint Thomas
Science Scholars
 Ninth-grade students who excel in science and have an
interest in healthcare careers are nominated by their
schools for program participation.
 During their sophomore year, selected students attend six
hands-on, hospital-based learning sessions.
 Saint Thomas staff design and lead the Saturday morning
sessions focusing on topics such as the immune system and
oncology.
Jobs for Tennessee
Graduates
 JTG staff help high school seniors acquire the employability
and leadership skills necessary for transition to work
and/or post-secondary education.
 Students are selected based upon need for service and their
desire to participate in the program.
 Staff provide twelve months of follow-up services after
graduation.
Job Skills Training &
Employment Program
 JSTEP staff provide education, employability skills training,
and career placement assistance for economically
disadvantaged adults.
 The program has helped thousands of Nashville residents
overcome economic, academic and career barriers.
 Participants’ school-age children attend Nashville public
schools.
LP PENCIL Box
 LP PENCIL Box, developed in collaboration with Louisiana
Pacific, is Nashville’s school supply partnership providing
donated materials for students.
 Using a voucher system, schools may select supplies free of
charge for their students in need.
 LP PENCIL Box, located at old Hickman Elementary,
provides an additional means for community support of
public education.
Volunteer Database
 This online system is a user-friendly tool providing schools with
ongoing information about parent and volunteer involvement.
 It enables schools to document this involvement and generate
important data for reporting purposes.
 It provides a means for schools to list their needs and for local
organizations to become involved in meeting those needs.
For more information about PENCIL,
please visit www.pencilfoundation.org
or call 242-3167.
The PENCIL staff looks forward
to hearing from you.