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About

Uniting our community in support of quality public education since 1986

The Pinellas Education Foundation is a coalition of business and community leaders who collaborate to improve the quality of public education. Together, we advocate for public education achievement, create programs to improve student and teacher performance and raise funds for scholarships, grants and teacher recognition.

Read on to learn more about our vision, or click below to meet the team who’s working to fulfill it.

Our Vision

Our vision is that every student will be prepared for life after high school, whether the choice is to attend college, to enter the workforce, or to obtain technical training.

Our Mission

Our mission is to accelerate educational achievement for ALL students through the effective mobilization of innovation, relationships and resources.

Belief Statements

Equity for All

We believe everyone deserves a high-quality education.

Value of Public Education

We believe that public education is a primary determinant of our county’s economic prosperity and future success.

Multiple Pathways

We believe in preparing students for the variety of postsecondary and career pathways available to them.

Innovation

We believe in serving as a catalyst that activates new, more effective solutions to some of education’s most pressing issues.

Continuous Improvement

We believe in learning from our work and using these discoveries to inform the best solutions and investments in education.

History

In 1986, our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Gus A. Stavros, started a local, economic education impact program for Pinellas County Schools called Enterprise Village. In the years since, the Pinellas Education Foundation has grown and championed many innovative programs in support of this initiative, including Youth Connect, Take Stock in Children Scholarship Program, Enterprise Village and Finance Park. Our efforts have raised more than $188 million to support the students and teachers of Pinellas County Schools, and the Foundation is consistently ranked among some of the top public school education foundations in the United States.

The Pinellas Education Foundation has also been rated four stars by Charity Navigator, named Clearwater Chamber’s 2018 Not for Profit Business of the Year, and ranked the #1 Education Foundation according to a national study featured in Education Week.

Vice President of Advancement

The Vice President of Advancement demonstrates and reflects an understanding of and commitment to the mission and core values of the Foundation. She/he is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive advancement programs and recruiting and developing talented team members focused toward the ultimate goal of significantly increasing constituent involvement and fundraising outcomes. The advancement function includes responsibility for annual fund, corporate and foundation relations, major gifts and gift planning, endowment and campaign initiatives, stewardship and advancement services. The Vice President of Advancement serves on the senior administrative team of the Foundation, directly supervises three people and manages a five-member team.

College and Career Readiness District Manager

The College & Career Readiness District Manager is the primary point of contact and first line of district support for the assigned cohort of school-based College & Career Centers. The District Manager assists the school college and career-readiness teams with postsecondary preparation activities and events, including those conducted through the College and Career Center.

Youth Employment Specialist

The Youth Employment Specialist performs varied duties in assisting qualified youth, ages 16 – 24, with securing and maintaining employment. Builds effective relationships with local corporations, non-profit and government organizations and community partners to identify employment opportunities and to promote qualified youth participants. Facilitates and ensures program goals through the development and implementation of strategies designed to meet the desired outcomes of the program.

Development and Database Specialist

The Development and Database Specialist provides support to the Development Department in the areas of donor-related data management, event data processing, daily gift entry, donor research, reporting and data analysis and also provides administrative support to the VP of Advancement.

Finances