Head of the Class

Thomas Riley has built his Naples business on an overriding principle: Pass along knowledge and usable skills to the next generation. For years, he and master cabinetmakers and craftsmen with The Thomas Riley Artisans' Guild have dedicated countless hours to help Collier County students. Riley has closed his shop on Fridays so his employees could work with students. He's also hosted field trips, provided apprenticeships and developed practical courses that allow his employees to teach their skills to students such as those at Immokalee High School.

As a result, many of those teen-agers have been exposed to career paths they may not have considered, says Riley, who chaired The Education Foundation of Collier County from 2001 to 2002. "I like to think we enhance education," he says.

To traditionalists, these efforts may not seem to teach practical, textbook-centered skills that will lead these students to college and lucrative careers. But the esoteric lessons of algebra, geometry and trigonometry books that make students wonder why they're studying subjects seemingly inapplicable to the real world come to life in a workshop. Kids learn that right angles and diameters and circumferences do come into play beyond the confines of a math class.

From neighborhood mom-and-pop shops to multimillion-dollar real estate companies, Southwest Florida businesses are mentoring students, awarding teacher grants, sponsoring fund-raising events and offering an array of other aid to cash- and resource-strapped schools. The relationships tend to be decentralized from school districts, with businesses and schools agreeing on the type of help that will work best for their circumstances.

Cheryl Dooley, a second-grade teacher at Bonita Springs Elementary School, says her job would be more difficult without the contributions of individuals and businesses. "Tax dollars go only so far, and they're earmarked for certain things," she says.

At times, the money isn't there for extra books or supplies for a project. That's why businesses are vital. "No school can be without them," she says. "They make the difference."

Being involved in education also makes good business sense, executives say. Student mentoring, cash donations, corporate sponsorships and other efforts are improving schools. Better schools mean better students. Better students mean a better future workforce. Besides, top-notch schools are selling points that companies use to lure potential workers with school-age children to Southwest Florida. "It's critically important at all levels, but it's also a way for people to judge quality-of-life issues," says Janet Watermeier, executive director of the Lee County Economic Development Office.

Indeed, the state of schools is a primary concern for businesses considering whether to relocate here, Watermeier says. Standardized test scores, other student performance indicators and school district administration may affect their decision. "They will tell you the number-one issue is, 'Can I find the work skills that I need?'" Watermeier says.

The question isn't always simple to answer.

Part of the problem is that schools have become disenfranchised from the community, says Steve Shimp, president of Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., a Fort Myers building firm. Contentious administrative issues fought in the public eye-the recent bus scheduling snafu in Lee, and Collier's fractured school board, for example-give the impression that school districts are mismanaged and are hardly a way to entice businesses to partner with schools. So it's up to businesses and the community at large to take the initiative, he says. "I really think until we get that attitude [fixed] ... we will never solve what everybody perceives to be the problem in our schools," he says. "I don't think a school board is going to do it. That's asking too much of five people."

Owen-Ames-Kimball is a major sponsor of the nationally recognized Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program, which each year honors outstanding area educators. Four years ago, the company helped begin a work skills program in Lee in which high schoolers spend one day per month working with a tradesman. An electrical contractor may teach a pupil about wiring, for example.

Shimp, whose commitment to education garnered him the 2002 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, is a proponent of a "seamless" education: the concept that education is a lifelong proposition, not just kindergarten through high school and perhaps college. His workers, for instance, can improve their skills by taking courses at Florida Gulf Coast University. His company also offers tuition reimbursement to employees who maintain a B or better average in courses that will further their careers. The classes aren't restricted to engineering or other areas of the construction field. A project manager, say, may take a creative writing course to hone his communication skills for work.

With Southwest Florida's growing business community as well as its substantial population of former and retired executives, businesspeople and educators say the area offers a wealth of opportunities for partnerships with schools.

This year, The Education Foundation of Collier County is asking executives and business owners who have been involved with the organization how it can recruit more current and retired executives. The foundation is at a critical point as it examines plans to establish an endowment to fund future projects. "What is it we can do to help kids become an overall contributor to the society?" asks John James, foundation chairman and president and chief executive officer of Bank of Florida.

Dick Bruce, program director for the Whitaker Wellness Center at Naples Community Hospital, has pondered that question for years. The more active Bruce became in his children's schools, the more he realized things needed to change in the conflict-plagued Collier school district. Last year the Golden Gate Estates resident waged a successful election bid to represent the school board's District Five (Golden Gate Estates, Everglades City and Immokalee). Among Bruce's concerns are students who don't plan to attend or complete high school. Through shadowing programs that enable kids to intern at area hospitals, arts centers and architectural firms, for example, businesses can show students that good jobs await them at the end of their school years, he says. "We need to do a better job . to let our students learn firsthand about different vocations," Bruce says.

In turn, the district should do a better job at selling businesses on the idea that their time, money and effort will pay off with a skilled workforce. But to do that, administrators and school board officials need to be more open-minded when businesses approach them with ways to improve schools, he says.

Over the years, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools has developed a myriad of partnerships between schools and businesses. The foundation has spearheaded programs from the Golden Apple awards to the ubiquitous School Checks-$12 coupon books that students, parents and teachers sell to friends and neighbors. In 11 years, the drive has raised more than $3 million. The coupons offer discounts to restaurants and stores, with proceeds from checkbook sales going to schools.

The foundation also awards up to $500 mini-grants to teachers so they can buy supplies or other items to help with instruction. The grants are paid through individual and business donations and the sale of specialty auto- mobile tags. "We do what the tax dollars don't," says foundation president Darlene Grossman.

Another program the foundation supports is Take Stock in Children. Low-income high school freshmen with a desire to go to college may apply for full scholarships funded by businesses and private contributions. Business sponsorships for the program run from $250 to $15,000. In return, students agree to maintain their grades, remain drug- and crime-free, and demonstrate good behavior. Students are paired with mentors who offer guidance and encouragement. "Even if they have a low grade point average, with the promise of a scholarship and mentor, their grades go up," Grossman says.

Oswald, Trippe and Co. spends more than $25,000 a year sponsoring programs such as Take Stock in Children and the Golden Apple awards, says foundation chairman Gary Trippe. "The resources are not always there," he says. "What we're interested in doing is helping raise money."

Some businesses have taken such an interest in schools that the relationship is akin to that of an adoptive parent and child. Bonita Springs Elementary has formed more than 70 partnerships with businesses and organizations that help the school's 400 students in some way. Publix provides food for school functions. The Lion's Club donates $2,500 for student school planners, which outline their class progress and homework for tracking at home. "Almost every business that you can think of is willing to help just by placing a phone call," says principal David Short.

The Bonita Bay Group contributes $2,500 annually to Bonita Springs Elementary for projects that assist students. The money this year went to programs to help Hispanic students and their families learn English.

Over the past 12 years, Bonita Bay has awarded $192,000 in grants to several schools in Lee by asking schools for proposals on how they would spend the money. The company also gives $3 per student so that teachers can buy supplies, a generous offer considering that teachers spend an average of $400 to $500 from their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies, principals say. "We're doing this because we're trying to lead by example," says Bonita Bay Group chairman David Lucas. "There is tremendous support by the business commu-nity for education, but we can do more."