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Public Education Partners Seeking Outstanding Business Nominations

Greenville, SC, June 6, 2011 – Public Education Partners of Greenville County, one of the state’s leading non-profit supporters of quality education, is once again seeking to recognize those remarkable businesses that have had an outstanding impact on public schools.
The group is accepting nominations for its Public Education Partner of the Year for 2011, which will be recognized at a November awards ceremony. This award will be presented to one large and one small business that have made significant contributions to promoting quality education in Greenville County Schools.

Last year, Dick Wilkerson, President of Michelin North America received the top award that recognizes the Company’s achievements. Public Education Partners selected Michelin for its multiple education initiatives, in particular the Michelin Challenge Education, which gives its 8,000 employees statewide the opportunity to improve education through hands-on involvement. In addition, the company’s “Are You Smarter than a Greenville County Schools Fifth-Grader” generated $175,000 for Greenville County Schools. Each week, Michelin employees throughout the state serve as role models, when they sit down to read, converse and counsel students.
“At Michelin North America we are proud to help further enhance the quality of education in Greenville County Schools and help parents, students, teachers and administrators strive for excellence in education,” Wilkerson said. “Public Education Partners is one of the primary examples in South Carolina of how volunteer service and financial help can transform local schools into outstanding institutions.”

Public Education Partners, founded in 1985, is a non-profit organization that supports and strengthens public education in Greenville County. Public Education Partners of Greenville receives support from corporations, individuals and foundations. The funds raised are used to fund programs that improve teacher quality. These four programs exemplify the outstanding nature of the non-profit’s contributions to public education:

• The Bill Page Award for Excellence in Teaching : Awards grants to teams of teachers allowing them opportunities to improve their teaching skills best practices;
• Teacher Toolkits: Provides new teachers with computer-ready flash drives filled with practical information about getting started in the classroom and about Greenville;
• Teacher Mentors: Pairs first-time teachers with veteran teachers selected for their classroom expertise to strengthen instructional skills and provide year-long support to help new teachers overcome obstacles to their development.
• Greenville County Reading Partnership: Implements a model of professional development to strengthen elementary school teachers’ ability to teach reading effectively thereby increasing the number of students reading on grade level.

“Public Education Partners of Greenville Country has built an intersection between learning and the business community that allows individual students to achieve and our economy to thrive,” said Grier Mullins, Executive Director of Public Education Partners, said. “This has proved to be a collaboration that advances students and the state of South Carolina.”
Primary sponsors of the 2010 luncheon included: Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP; Greenville Hospital System; AT&T; GE Energy; BlueCross Blue Shield; Ogletree Deakins; and ScanSource, among many companies.

The non-profit organization provides support for every public school in Greenville County and has provided grants to 83 schools. “Public Education Partners of Greenville County helps to bridge that gap between education and business by being a medium through which those in the corporate world can affect public schools and contribute in a meaningful way,” said Neil Grayson, partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.

Through the awards program, Public Education Partners recognizes corporations who have had an impact on public education in Greenville County and thus encourages other businesses to support the schools. “Businesses recognize that the success of students in our public schools today ultimately influences the workforce of tomorrow and the future success of area businesses,” Grayson said.

The recipients of the 2011 award will be honored at a November luncheon. The award winners will be chosen on the basis their efforts to help support quality public education in Greenville County. Nomination forms will be received through June 30, 2011. Any individual, school or business may submit a nomination. Businesses may also nominate themselves. You may download nomination forms at www.PublicEdPartnersGC.org.

Public Education Partners of Greenville County is highly recognized. It has received such outstanding awards as the South Carolina National Chapter of School Public Relations Association Award for service to education; Michelin Community Partner’s Award for Outstanding Service to Greenville Community; Teacher Forum Award for work as public education advocates and demonstrating excellent support to public school teachers; SC PTA Teammate for Success; SC School Board Association’s Champion for Public Education; Governor and Mrs. Richard W. Riley Award for Excellence in Dropout Prevention, and The School District of Greenville County’s Superintendent’s Award.

Public Education Partners is also seeking sponsors for its November Awards Luncheon. There are four levels of sponsorship: Summa Cum Laude at $7,500; Magna Cum Laude at $5,000; Cum Laude at $2,500; and Scholar at $1,000.

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About Public Education Partners:
Public Education Partners Greenville County is a non-profit organization established in 1985, supported by contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations; it does not receive public funds. Programs funded by Public Education Partners are based on its mission to collaborate with the community, educators and elected officials to support and strengthen public education and student achievement in Greenville County Schools. For more information about Public Education Partners, visit www.PublicEdPartnersGC.org or call 864-233-4133.