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Our Initiatives

ConnectED Polk is an intermediary that bridges the gap between Polk County schools, students, and industry by helping create and scale industry-led learning opportunities. Often serving as the behind-the-scenes experts, intermediaries support models that strengthen future workforce pipelines and ensure graduates are career-ready.

Polk County businesses, schools, and community organizations work together to keep education relevant, create career pathways, and deliver work-based learning experiences. We have tripled our number of schools, businesses, and strategic partners engaged in our work.

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ConnectED Polk supporter with students

ConnectED Polk event students

ConnectED Polk students

Completed Initiatives

IDEA Lakeland School

IDEA Public Schools was built on the foundation that all children can and will succeed if given the chance.

Junior Achievement 3DE

3DE by Junior Achievement connects high school academics with real-world business challenges to help students build skills for college and careers.

LAKELANDER Education Edition

LAKELANDER Education Edition is a special publication highlighting innovative school programs, student achievements, and educational initiatives that shape Polk County’s learning community.

Superintendent Scholarship

The Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Scholarship Program recognizes and supports outstanding students by awarding scholarships to those who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to their education.

Launched Initiatives

ACE Mentoring Expansion

ACE Mentoring Expansion broadens access to mentorship, networking, and hands-on learning in architecture, construction, and engineering, enabling more students to explore and pursue careers in the ACE industries.

ConnectED Polk Career Engagement Process

ConnectED Polk works one-on-one with businesses to uncover their goals, priorities, and capacity for engagement. We then design exclusive, customized plans that align with each company’s needs—whether that means recruitment support, skills alignment, brand visibility, or workforce development.

Junior Achievement of Polk County – The Barnett Family Discovery Center

The Junior Achievement of Polk County – The Barnett Discovery Center will be an innovative facility consisting of two impactful learning experiences: JA BizTown and JA Finance Park.

Polk County Public Schools Voluntary Pre-K Expansion

The Polk County Public Schools Voluntary Pre-K Expansion leverages collaborative partnerships between private childcare providers and public schools to increase access to high-quality early education for Polk County’s youngest learners.

SchooLinks

SchooLinks Business Profiles allow local companies to showcase their career opportunities, workplace culture, and engagement programs to students, helping connect education with real-world business experiences.

In Process Initiatives

Business Leaders PCPS Superintendent’s Financial Review Committee

ConnectED is convening business leaders to partner with PCPS on a Financial Review Committee, bringing private‑sector expertise to help the district analyze investments in career pathways, work‑based learning, and related initiatives for impact and sustainability.

Polk RISE! Program

The purpose of Polk RISE! is to increase college admission success and post-secondary enrollment of first generation, low-income students.

Polk State ELITE Program

Polk State ELITE Program resurfaces in partnership with PCPS providing students with a seamless path to become a teacher or early learning educator with a conditional job offer to be launched in 2027.

Senior Intern Pilot

This pilot is designing a structured 12th‑grade internship and work‑based learning model that links senior‑year experiences directly to postsecondary and career pathways.

VIVA Polk

VIVA Polk’s Teresa Martinez provides over 400 copies of VIVA Polk to Polk County Public School’s Spanish classes to be utilized as a teacher resource to assist teaching students how to become dual language.

WonderHere Private School Public Academy at Philip Obrien Elementary School

ConnectED Polk is supporting the development of a WonderHere‑inspired “public academy” at Philip O’Brien Elementary, blending innovative, student‑centered learning with the access and equity of a public-school setting.