Need
School Supplies? -- Ask and You Shall Receive!
An organization
called PENCIL connects the dots between New York City schools and businesses
that have surplus supplies to give. Through PENCIL programs, the schools
obtain funds, materials, and support. Is it possible to obtain similar
benefits for your school? One principal offers his best suggestions for
forging an educational partnership with your community. Also: Information
about a handful of programs that help provide needed supplies for schools.
Hillary Clinton shares her views of her Principal
for a Day experience with 500 other PFADs at PENCIL's Town Meeting
at the New York Public Library on April 29, 1999. Looking on in the
background are PENCIL's president and founder, Lisa Belzberg, and
Charlie Rose, host of the Charlie Rose Show and CBS's 60
Minutes II, who served as moderator.
Photo: Daniel Root
"Don't judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins,"
says a Native American proverb. That wisdom could be applied to the administrator
in the public school. While many people complain about the public education
system, PENCIL (Public
Education Needs Civic Involvement) invites civic leaders, heads of corporations,
and well-known writers and entertainers to walk in the shoes of principals
in New York City schools. And minds are changing!
Established in 1995, PENCIL was created to provide a bridge between
the New York City schools and the community they serve. Through the cooperation
and participation of individuals and companies, PENCIL has obtained millions
of dollars, materials, and immeasurable time for the more than 1 million
public school students in the city. The organization has two main programs
that have direct benefits for the participants: Principal for a Day and
the Resource Bank.
PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY
Among the famous participants in the Principal for a Day program have
been Richard Riley, secretary of education; Donna Shalala, secretary of
the Department of Health and Human Services; and Tipper Gore, wife of
vice president Al Gore. This year the occasion drew an even more prominent
figure -- the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. She was a Principal
for a Day at Virgil I. Grissom Junior High School in Ozone Park, in Queens.
"Like the thousand other Principals for a Day placed in schools across
the city, Mrs. Clinton spent the entire day at her school," reported Jennifer
Eason, director of communications at PENCIL. "She opened up the school
by making the morning announcements, visited classrooms and teachers,
and also met with a group of eighth graders to discuss social issues,
current events (such as Kosovo and Littleton, Colorado), and the challenges
of being teenagers in this day and age. At the end of the day, Mrs. Clinton
joined 500 other Principals for a Day at the New York Public Library,
where she sat in the audience and listened to people discuss what they
experienced and their impressions of New York City's public schools."
Jane Pauley, Dateline NBC anchor,
addresses the annual Principal for a Day Town Meeting, hosted by PENCIL.
"PENCIL's point is that the private sector can't afford not
to be involved in public schools," Pauley told the gathering. "The
genius of Principal for a Day isn't only linking people and schools-but
also people with resources."
Photo: Gerald Peart
Celebrities, politicians, and business leaders have left their offices
and volunteered to spend a day in a school building, side-by-side with
its principal, to see just what is happening in New York's public schools.
More than a thousand individuals have signed up for PENCIL's Principal
for a Day program, representing more than 95 major corporations.
The experiences of some participants have led to the creation of student-run
businesses, funds for new construction and renovation, mentoring and internship
programs, and more.
Lisa Belzberg, president of PENCIL, said, "We are proud that the program
has literally changed the face of many schools with large projects such
as new gardens, playgrounds, media centers and the Book Fund -- as well
as with important smaller donations. Scores of PFAD (Principal for a Day)-initiated
reading and tutoring programs are available throughout the school system.
Students are now eligible for new internships and summer jobs, contributing
to a vibrant learning environment in the New York City public schools."
The PENCIL Book Fund is an annual initiative with the publishing community
that replenishes depleted book supplies in public schools. To date, 1.6
million books have been distributed. VH1 collaborated with PENCIL to establish
the VH1
Save the Music initiative. The program has contributed 1 million dollars
to New York City schools for music programs. Another endeavor is the New
York City Youth Video Festival, an annual contest that offers real opportunities
for students to learn the media arts. All those programs began through
the efforts of Principal for a Day.
"We bring many sectors of the city together for this one day. An investment
banker meets a nine-year-old who just moved here from Pakistan. A 30-year
veteran educator spends the day with the owner of the chicest restaurant
in the city. A bank vice president and a city council member confer on
how they can help the neighborhood school; etc.," Belzburg explained.
"By far my favorite comment from participants, and one that I hear often,
is that after being in the schools, PFADs look at kids in this city differently."
This year, the PENCIL Principal for a Day program was launched in two
additional cities: Chicago and Los Angeles. New York's program was held
on April 29, and the observance occurred on April 20 in Chicago and April
30 in Los Angeles. PENCIL representatives assisted organizers in those
locations and offered consultation so the cities were able to implement
the program effectively.
A PRINCIPAL IN THE TRENCHES
As the principal of CES 166, a middle school in the Bronx, New York,
Nelson Abreu has made it his goal to create an "island" out of the school.
Although the focus is on academics, staff members also strive to meet
students' other needs. Located in an extremely low-income district, the
school building houses more than 1,300 students in grades 5 through 8.
The school has two goals in Abreu's view: to provide enough materials
and instructors so that no student can use a lack of anything as an excuse
to fail and to keep the building open as much as possible to allow students
to extend the learning experience.
Abreu first learned about the Principal for a Day program from PENCIL
at its inception. Several individuals have visited the school in PFAD
capacity during the school year. When Abreu has the opportunity, he makes
a point of encouraging the visitor to adopt a child in the classroom,
several children, or the entire school.
His efforts are paying off. Abreu has forged partnerships that supply
the school with computers, basketballs, and other materials. A representative
from Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., has shown particular interest in the
school and has arranged for several shipments of "obsolete" office supplies
that have been put to good use in the building. A recent donation from
Microsoft included four new computers! The Principal for a Day program
has worked very well in Abreu's school, both in the short term and the
long term.
RESOURCE BANK
Principal for a Day is not the only initiative sponsored by PENCIL.
The Resource Bank is another way for administrators to secure materials
from the private sector through the organization. Principals submit their
"wish lists" of supplies -- art materials, musical instruments, furniture,
services, and more -- and PENCIL publishes their requests on the Resource
Bank Web page. Companies root around their offices for surplus materials
that match these needs. In some cases, individuals purchase the items
to donate. It is a win-win situation -- schools get exactly what they
need, and corporate leaders feel better for making use of extra materials
that might otherwise go to waste.
Eason says that the materials desired by schools in the program vary
greatly. "In terms of the resource needs we are serving, there is not
any one item that we go after or that schools have indicated they are
in need of," she explained. "Schools tell us what they need, and we post
those items on the Resource Bank. Schools have asked for everything from
art supplies to furniture to computers to sports equipment -- we list
everything. I would have to say schools' immediate needs cover a little
bit of everything; however, in general we give away computers, books,
and art supplies in the largest numbers."
PENCIL appears to be an organization that is unique in its purpose and
existence. "Although we have searched, we have not found any programs
similar to the Resource Bank being run elsewhere," Eason said. PENCIL
organizers, however, are eager to assist those who want to learn more
about the operation.
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES FILL EMPTY SPACES
In addition to his dealings with PENCIL, Nelson Abreu has made it his
mission to contact health-care facilities, businesses, and individuals
in the community and invite them into the school. He doesn't come empty-handed
to such meetings; he looks for ways that the school can return the favors
granted by its contributors. The school gives many performances throughout
the year, including dance, such as ballet. It has taken a shelter for
battered women under its wing, and its students performed a Christmas
show for the residents this year.
According to Abreu, the key to bringing funds and materials into a school
is "outreach." "Consider the community a mutual partner," he suggested.
"Contact hospitals, clinics, and doctors and ask them to invite students
who are interested in medicine to come into their buildings. Call your
congressional representative, and tell him or her what you need. Look
for benefactors." Abreu knows what he's talking about. His school recently
secured a federal grant that will allow the building to remain open after
the end of after-school programs, until 9:30 p.m., during the school year
so that students may study and receive special instruction to supplement
their school day.
Abreu also looks for opportunities to introduce his students to role
models and to connect with the community. "We have two career days in
our school," said Abreu. "The Navy, the Marines, and transportation people
are there. We invite social workers and people who are in food service
to come. They all come for the day; we give them lunch, and they talk
to our students. People from the courthouse visit for mock trials. Lawyers
come to school weekly to teach the students about the law and the courtroom."
In an endeavor called the Lovables, a group of women from New York City
adopted 15 children at CES 166. They have helped not only the kids but
their families as well. The aid they provide has included help in finding
jobs, medical attention, nutrition workshops, after-school programs, and
tutoring. The group has followed the children through the middle school
and into high school.
"What the community gets back ... are wholesome children who help the
community survive," says Abreu.
MORE THAN JUST PENCILS
The following national programs can help you collect more than pencils
for your school!
Box Tops
for Education from General Mills involves collecting box tops from
cereals and snacks and submitting them to the company in return for funds.
In existence for three years, the program pays 10 to 15 cents per box
top in the form of a check made out to the school. Schools use the money
to buy any supplies they choose.
Many educators are already familiar with the Campbell's
Labels for Education program, which has been around for 27 years.
This means of support enables schools to select from a variety of materials
in a merchandise catalog. Participating schools gather labels from Campbell's
products and ship them to the company in exchange for these supplies.
Although AT&T
Learning Points is changing, this offering from the telephone company
will be in place in a new form for this coming school year. Customers
who register can obtain five points for a school of their choice for every
dollar they spend on AT&T charges. Participating schools redeem the points
for educational technology products. See the Web site for the latest information.
Share the
Technology donates computer equipment to schools and nonprofit organizations
in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley. Though it does not ship materials
out of state, it does operate a database that provides a means of connecting
schools with companies in their area that have computers to offer. Schools
may post requests to the site, and companies can submit lists of what
they have available to give.
Another organization that helps schools collect computer equipment is
Computers for
Learning. To register for the program, go to the Web site. Materials
come from federal offices and are granted to schools and educational nonprofit
organizations. Special consideration is given to those groups with the
greatest need.
Need
School Supplies? -- Ask and You Shall Receive! 
