Information Sessions

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Information Sessions

• Partners in Education
• Please follow Tya to the Board Room
• School Representatives
• Will be staying in the Community Room

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Two Levels of Partnership

• Partner in Education
• Partner at Large

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Partner at Large (PAL)

• A business or organization that forms a
  partnership with three or more schools
• and
• Does not meet the one activity per quarter
  requirement

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How PAL Partnerships are Formed

1. A business or organization contacts the CCED
   sharing a desire to be involved with Cobb County
   school system(s).
2. The CCED supplies the business/organization with
   a Partnership Plan.
3. Once the Partnership Plan is completed it is
   reviewed by the Chamber and then sent to the
   appropriate school system(s).
4. The school system(s) will approve or deny the
   business proposal to become a Partner at Large.
5. The CCED will send a letter to the
   business/organization informing them of the
   decision.
6. Upon approval only will the CCED send an e-mail
   to the appropriate school system(s) informing
   them of the new Partner at Large.
7. The business/organization then contacts and
   markets to the schools within the appropriate
   school system(s) as they see fit.
8. The new PAL will receive a Declaration of
   Partnership certificate with their confirmation
   letter that can be displayed at their office.

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Partner in Education (PIE)

• A business or organization that partners with one
  school
• and
• Commits to participate in at least one activity a
  quarter
• A business may become a PIE with up to three
  schools a calendar year.

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How PIE Partnerships are Formed

1. A business or organization contacts the CCED
   sharing a desire to work with a Cobb County or
   Marietta City school.
2. The CCED supplies the business/organization with
   a community handbook, checklist and Partnership
   Plan. The school may also provide the
   business/organization with a Partnership Plan.
   Note If a business/organization approaches the
   school first, start at Step 3.
3. The business/organization contacts the school to
   discuss the needs of the school and the resources
   it can provide.
4. If the business/organization and the school
   believe the partnership is mutually beneficial,
   the Partnership Plan should be completed at this
   time.
5. The business/organization and school should keep
   a copy of the Partnership Plan and fax a copy to
   the Cobb Chamber.
6. The Partnership Plan will be reviewed by the CCED
   once it is received. If the Partnership Plan is
   approved, the business/organization and the
   school will receive a confirmation letter and
   e-mail from the CCED.
7. Once approved, the business/organization and the
   school may schedule a Signing Ceremony to
   formalize and publicize the partnership.

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Planning a Signing Ceremony

• The partner and the school should agree upon a
  date and time to hold a Signing Ceremony. The
  school is responsible for inviting its community
  partner to the signing.
• Once scheduled, the school should contact the
  CCED to request Declarations of Partnership.
  Request should be made two weeks prior to the
  signing.
• The school can mail signing invitations to their
  school district superintendent, area
  superintendent, area Board of Education member
  and other guests, if desired. The CCED provides a
  suggested invitation list.
• School administration should conduct the Signing
  Ceremony.

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Preparing for a Signing Ceremony

• Remember to set up a table or podium to use for
  signing the certificates.
• Remember to have working pens available to sign
  the certificates.
• Confirm the partners attendance a day in advance
  and ask them to arrive 15 minutes early.
• Schedule the signing at the start of the meeting.
  Consult with the person responsible for agenda,
  if necessary, so that the partner may leave after
  their part.
• Arrange for someone to take pictures at the
  signing and record the names of those pictured.

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Performing a Signing Ceremony

• Inform the audience of who the new partner is and
  share the activities that the partner has planned
  for the school year.
• Introduce the partner representative(s) by name
  and ask them to come forward to sign the
  certificates. (There are two certificates per
  partnership one copy for the school, one copy
  for the partner. The school representative should
  sign every certificate on the designated line).
• Take several pictures of the signing. The school
  representative and partner shake hands.
• The school representative should slide the
  partners certificate in the provided folder and
  present it to them.
• Please e-mail the pictures from your signing
  ceremony with name identifications to
  partners_at_cobbchamber.org for possible inclusion
  in the Partners in Education Newsletter A Slice
  of PIE.

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Partnership Recommitments

• Partnership Plan - Two school years
• You will be notified about renewals
• Meet annually to discuss activities

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What is an Unofficial Partner?

• A business or organization that works with school
  that has not completed a Partnership Plan for the
  Cobb Chamber.

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The Importance of Formalizing Partnerships

• To have partners who are educated on the program
• To allow your new partner to participate in a
  Signing Ceremony
• To receive Declaration of Partnership
  certificates
• To allow your partner to be recognized through
  Cobb Chamber publications, events, etc.
• To nominate your schools outstanding partners
  for the Outstanding Partners in Education Awards
• To ensure that your partner is informed and
  invited to participate in other programs
• To allow your partner to be acknowledged before
  the Cobb County and Marietta City Boards of
  Education

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Communication

• Develop a system
• Designate a liaison
• Stay in touch!

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Obstacles to Avoid

• Too much emphasis on the monetary and material
  aspects of the partnership
• Lack of involvement
• Not communicating with your partners
• Failing to communicate needs to your partners
• Not viewing partnerships as a two-way street
• Not thanking your partners

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How to Make the Partnership a Two-Way Street

• Thank them in person, by phone, by letter, or by
  e-mail
• Recognize them at faculty and PTA meetings and at
  school assemblies or events
• Display their names in PTSA newsletters, on
  school websites, on school bulletin boards,
  banners, marquees, and murals
• Offer student artwork for them to display
• Provide students to perform for company events
• Invite them to participate in special school
  activities and recognize their attendance
• Allow them to use the school facility
• Place partner logos on school t-shirts or list
  partners on school paper products
• Invite them to an annual Partners in Education
  appreciation/recommitment luncheon

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How to Make the Partnership a Two-Way Street cont.

• Give them small gifts, goodies, holiday cards
• Provide special recognition for partner employees
  (i.e. birthdays, special events, etc.)
• Assist partners with community service projects
• Be tuned into publicity regarding your partners
  and offer them congratulations
• Do business with your partners whenever feasible
• Allow your partners to display marketing
  materials at the school
• Add your partners on the school mailing list to
  inform them of school news and events
• Encourage teachers and staff to get to know your
  partners and greet them by name
• Nominate them for outstanding partner recognition

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Recruitment

• Determine the needs of the school.
• Start with most pressing needs.
• Target businesses or organizations that you think
  are most appropriate or best positioned to
  assist.
• Research targeted businesses and organizations
  before making contact.
• Be prepared to answer their questions.
• Explore different methods of recruiting.
• Phone calls
• Schedule an appointment
• Invite a company representative to a school event
• Letters
• Seek help with your recruitment efforts.

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Common PIE Myths

• A business has to be a member of the Cobb Chamber
  to be a PIE or PAL.
• FALSE
• There is a fee to become a PIE or PAL.
• FALSE
• A business can only partner with one school.
• FALSE

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