“Schools have historically been the center of the neighborhood. When schools are shut down, due to natural disasters or failure to meet standards, it alters the dynamics of that community. Education is disrupted and families lose a safe place for their children. Partnerships in Education & Service is proud of its legacy assisting the reopening of schools since 2007.”
— Karen Roth, President & Founder
Our Story
In 2007, a group of educators responding to the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina, assembled a team of volunteers to assist in the reopening of a public school. Volunteers worked with the school’s staff to ensure children returning home would enter a building that was academically and socially prepared for the new school year while creating a safe and comforting space for those still traumatized by the storm. From our first service trip, we established a long partnership with the schools of New Orleans. We have since expanded our partnerships to include migrant schools in Utah, high schools in New York city, and an elementary school in Puerto Rico, post Hurricane Irma.
PIES believes that the best way to support a school is to engage in ongoing conversations to better understand the school’s assets and prioritized needs. These priorities are matched to the breadth of knowledge each team uniquely possesses. Therefore, each service trip is unique to the school we partner with and the volunteer who commits to serving.
A typical volunteer often hails from an educational setting and is completing a service learning requirement for graduation. Service learning is the process by which an individual engages in service to a community while acquiring new information or knowledge about that community not previously known. Service learning is a volunteer experience often linked to an academic course in order to better understand the course objectives.
PIES teams are a diverse group of college students, seasoned educators, and passionate civil servants. They are well-known for teams extensive work establishing engaging classrooms, leveling libraries for school-wide use and building school gardens linked to school curriculum. “Our Story” may begin here, but it lives on in “Our Voices” of veteran volunteers and the educators we have served. PIES continues to service school communities and seeks new volunteers for future “Service Learning Trips”.
Our Future
As we move forward, and look ahead to the growth of PIES, we remain committed to serving populations in need, in under-served communities, as well as those affected by disaster. Though NOLA will always be the heartbeat of the organization, we look to expand our volunteer services beyond the United States, partnering with international educational charities to strengthen school relationships and sustain communities.
PIES also plans to expand its collection of donated school supplies, books, instructor and office materials and other items, necessary for learning, development and growth. These items are then donated to the schools where PIES service teams volunteer. Monetary donations assist the growth of the organization, as well as the expenses accumulated by the service teams.
PIES is committed to its growth and sustainability, which relies on its veteran service teams, school partnerships and donors.
Our Partnerships
