School Group Aims For Better Links Between Parents 

Parents, teachers and principals of Florence School District 1 recently attended the inaugural meeting of the Council of Parent Leaders of Florence School District 1 for an opportunity to network and develop stronger communicational ties among parent leaders.

The School Foundation announced the formation of the council, which represents members of the Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) and School Improvement Council (SIC) in each of the district’s 23 schools.

Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said the council’s goal is to allow active members of the school community to create greater communication with and development of parent leaders within the district.

Hyler said The School Foundation will convene roundtable discussions; provide parent leaders with the opportunity to network with other parent leaders; develop a communication structure for parent leaders; arrange for the council members to meet with Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson several times a year; and sponsor speakers of interest.

The council’s first meeting was held Tuesday at the Poynor Adult/Community Education Center and featured Charles “Chuck” J. Saylors, the 2007-09 national president-elect of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), as the group’s first guest speaker.

Saylors is the group’s first male national president-elect.

“I’m very pleased (with the attendance),” Hyler said. “You could feel the energy in the room by the end of the night.

Saylors discussed best practices in parent organizations, Hyler said. Saylors highlighted four areas: finance, programs, membership and communications.

He also discussed the importance of involving men in these parent organizations.

Tom Snider, 2008-09 president of Carver Elementary School’s APT, said the council’s formation will help parent organizations become better.

“The more ideas you get together with other people, the more you can put together and maybe build something better,” Snider said. “It was a great thing.”

Hyler said the meetings will be held quarterly, and she will survey participants to get information on future topics and possible meeting dates.

For more details on the council, contact Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschool foundation.org

From The Executive Director....

This past year has been a successful one for The School Foundation.  I hope you will take a few moments to review our Annual Report.  It is encouraging to see the support of many businesses and individuals who have partnered with us this year for the first time either as a donor or a volunteer. 

Some of the most satisfying experiences this year were interactions with students and teachers.  In addition to the grant funds provided for the Florence Career Center’s Mechatronics curriculum and equipment, we were able to arrange for them to tour Wellman, Inc.  For perhaps the first time, students were able to see real career opportunities, and how the skills they are learning in the Mechatronics class are relevant in today’s competitive workplace.  This valuable experience energized the students!

Time was also spent time at the Career Center with students benefiting from The Foundation’s support of the Health Science curriculum.  The students are thriving in this environment, which, with much of the necessary equipment and supplies, provides a rich, hands-on learning experience.  These students are excited about making a difference in the lives of others by becoming health care professionals!

We encourage you to capture some of our excitement and to become involved with educating the future workers of Florence!   We look forward to partnering with you in the coming year.   By bringing the business and education communities together to become actively involved with public education, each of us can make a dynamic difference in the education of the students of Florence School District 1!

Best Wishes,

Debbie Hyler

2007 Gala Recap

The 2007 School Foundation Gala was a resounding success. Our sweep through nostalgic 1940s America brought out the best of swing dancing, big band sound, and ballroom glitz. The School Foundation honored Ed Young as the distinguished graduate. His long commitment to our community and his many astounding achievements were widely applauded. Benjamin Dunlap, the president of Wofford College was the guest speaker, who delivered a poignant message, in a very entertaining, frequently humorous package. We would like to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers. Without you, our mission could not carry forward. We invite everyone to join us for next year’s gala on September 18; it promises to be equally as exciting.  Visit our website to pre-reserve your spot…

For photos, head over to our photo gallery to see shots from this and other School Foundation events!

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2007

The School Foundation and its supporters have worked hard to create a financial reservoir supporting excellence in Florence School District 1. To date, the Florence community has created an endowment totaling roughly $1.5 million – the largest private endowment for K-12 public education in South Carolina.  The financial needs continue, and the Foundation’s efforts have made it easy for folks to help – simply visit www.theschoolfoundation.org – while knowing your gifts will be handled responsibly.

But we’re also leveraging our human and information resources to be far more helpful to the district’s children. Executive Director Debbie Hyler has begun bringing businesses together with the educators who are training their potential future employees. Already, she’s connected manufacturer Wellman, Inc. with students at the Career Center. She’s also working on future alliances with area hospitals, printers and other companies. Her work through the School Foundation is combining the teachers – traditionally focused on their students – with the companies – focused on their customers – and given them a safe place to make sure each get what they need. This is truly a case where one plus one could equal three.

In the months and years to come, I predict you’ll see The School Foundation continue to grow and evolve. We’ll always seek to build excellence in Florence School District 1. Money is a great resource to use, but it is simply one of many that the Foundation will use to reach its goals.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Trip DuBard

Chairman

ATTENTION TEACHERS!

Great news for the 08/09 school year! The School Foundation is proud to announce the availability of a limited number of mini grants. Watch future emails for further details.

It’s not too late to make a year-end gift to The School Foundation.  You can donate securely online using your credit card at www.theschoolfoundation.org or send your check directly to The School Foundation, 320 W. Cheves Street, Suite 175, Florence, SC  29501. 

Spotlight on The School Foundation Board

At its December meeting, The School Foundation welcomed two new members. These individuals were elected because of their great interest in improving the quality of education for the students of Florence District 1.  We look forward to working with them in the coming months.   Visit our website for more information about The School Foundation Board of Directors.

Ed Love

Edward Andrew Love was born and raised in Florence, where he graduated from South Florence High School. Ed attended the Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2000. He received his Juris Doctor from Mercer University in 2003.

From 2002 to 2005, Ed practiced law in Macon, Georgia with the distinguished firm of Almand & Wiggins. While there he practiced in state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

After the birth of his first child, Ed returned to Florence and has practiced with the Willcox Law Firm since then. Love is a member of the South Carolina and Georgia bars, the Georgia trial lawyers associations, and the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorney's Association.

Ed co-chaired the spectacularly successful 2007 Celebration Gala this year.  His interests include hiking, fishing, carpentry, and helping his son grow up. 

Harlana Vaughan

Harlana Vaughan, the 2007-2008 Florence District 1's Teacher of the Year, is a kindergarten teacher at McLaurin Elementary. She has been teaching kindergarten for eighteen years in Florence 1 schools, and she is also a National Board Certified teacher.

She has developed and implemented a writing program where children are given opportunities to write freely during the day and illustrate their own books. She also implemented the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in her classroom. Because of her success with that program, the State Department of Education asked her to appear on South Carolina Educational Television to discuss her expertise with ECERS in the classroom.

Part of Vaughan’s teaching philosophy is: "I believe that on the first day, every child that enters my kindergarten classroom should receive the message, 'You are the most special person on earth, and I believe you can do anything!' Every child needs this message to carry with them throughout the day, throughout the year and throughout life…There are many children out there that need (the message) more than one could ever imagine and some who will never get it anywhere else but in the classroom."

Harlana Vaughan with some of her students