Editor’s note: The Sun Journal has partnered with the Nonprofit Council from the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce as part of the Giving Tuesday initiative. We will be featuring local nonprofits. This year, giving Tuesday will be Dec. 1.
Giving Tuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a movement to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.
Name of Nonprofit: Craven County Partners in Education (PIE)
Your nonprofit’s mission: The mission of Craven County Partners In Education is to support and advance educational experiences within Craven County Schools through collaborative community involvement. Partners In Education is separate from but aligned with the goals of Craven County Schools. While Partners In Education realizes there are many needs within the district, it focuses on three main areas: • Optimum student achievement • Classroom innovation • Teacher recruitment and retention
Director: Darlene Brown
Board members: Craven County Partners In Education 2020-21 Board of Directors Executive Committee President – Mike McCoy, Wells Fargo Past President – David Baxter, Sumrell Sugg, Attorneys at Law 1st Vice President – Daniel Rhyne, Piedmont Natural Gas 2nd Vice President – Jason Jones, Craven County Commissioner Board Members Nicole Ashenfelder, Beginning Teacher Representative Katy Chadwick, Roger Bell New Tech Academy Dr. NeShawn Dawson, Community Partner Tripp Eure, MBF Architects Joey Haddock, Community Partner Gayle Hardy, Teacher Ambassador of the Year Christy Hazlett, H.J. MacDonald Middle Debra Hurst, W.J. Gurganus Elementary Erin Knight, Havelock Chamber of Commerce Rodnesha Minor, J.T. Barber Elementary Alison Parker, AlphaGraphics Dr. Ervin Patrick, Craven County Schools Brandy Popp, CarolinaEast Health System Kevin Roberts, New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce Kimberly Scott, Oaks Road Academy Lori Sanford Sugg, Grover C. Fields Middle Sherri Thomas, James W. Smith Elementary Lori Worley, Community Partner Ex-Officio Members Craig Warren, Finance Officer, Craven County Jason Jones, Craven County Commissioner Staff/Ex-Officio Board Member Darlene Brown, Executive Director
Best contact information: Darlene.Brown@Cravenk12.org – 514-6321
How has Craven County Partners in Education (PIE) and those you serve been impacted by COVID-19?
COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on inequality in America: School closures and social isolation have affected all students, but particularly those living in poverty. Adding to the damage to their learning, a mental health crisis is emerging as many students have lost access to services that are offered by schools. Teachers are facing a pressing issue: How can they help students recover and stay on track throughout the year even as their lives are likely to continue to be disrupted by the pandemic? Researchers at Annenberg Brown University predict that, on average, students will experience substantial drops in reading and math, losing roughly three months’ worth of gains in reading and five months’ worth of gains in math.The biggest takeaway isn’t that learning loss will happen—that’s a given by this point—but that students will come back to school having declined at vastly different rates. As PIE gears up its annual fall/end of year fundraising efforts, now more than ever, we have urgent needs for our students and educators that require your help. Although the pandemic has disrupted lives — the care of our children and their education must continue.
How does Giving Tuesday benefit Craven County Partners in Education (PIE)?
Where does your money go when you give to PIE? We use that money to fund several grants and many programs made available throughout the school year to our teachers and administrators. One of those programs is PIE Grants. PIE Grants are made available to our teachers and teaching teams twice each school year with the purpose of increasing classroom innovation and creativity. PIE Grants are designed to help boost the learning opportunities for students in all grades and subjects. Teachers may request up to $1,500 in funding with each grant request. During the 2020-21 school year, PIE was able to provide $25,000 to 19 deserving teachers. These grants support teacher-initiatives that strengthen and improve learning environments – including, but not limited to, classroom enrichment, books, and supplies. Grants have also helped replace much loved, much-used equipment. Since 1988, PIE supporters have donated over $8.9 million to fund our grants and programs! But the work continues, and now more than ever we need to help teachers and our children as they redefine and adapt to new educational models. We must collaborate during this pandemic.
