Every Child, Every Need, MET.

The PEP Foundation

The Putnam Education Partnership (PEP) Foundation is a 501-(c)-3 non-profit supporting the Putnam County School System (PCSS) (TN) and its students and is a registered school support organization for the Putnam County School System.

The PEP Foundation supports PCSS’s efforts to meet the needs of its students by helping provide resources, support, and funding to various programs and initiatives.

The PEP Foundation began in 2008 as a classroom grant program and shifted to coordinate the BackPack Program for students in 2011. For many years, the BACKPACK Program was the sole focus of the PEP Foundation, but over the years, they learned about the vast number of other needs of Children in the Putnam County School System. Committed to their goals, the board expanded their assistance to include a Student Needs Fund, Needs Drives, Performing Arts Grants, and School Care Closets.

You can learn more about each program, fund, and initiative by clicking the link below!

Mission

The mission of Putnam Education Partnership Foundation is to STRENGTHEN our COMMUNITY by REMOVING BARRIERS to ACHIEVEMENT for Public Education Students of all ages. 

Vision


It is the vision of the Putnam Education Partnership Foundation for EVERY STUDENT to graduate into a fulfilling CAREER and LIFE.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Rachael Stile

    President, Rachael Stiles

  • Vice President, Rafferty Cleary

  • Secretary, Dr. Julie Baker

  • Treasurer, Benjamin Rogers

  • Corby King, PCSS Director of Schools , Ex-Officio Member

    Corby King, PCSS Director of Schools, Ex-Officio Member

  • Lisa Bumbalough

  • Past President, Brandon Smith

  • Heath Waters

  • Alex Garcia, PCSS Interpreter

    Alex Garcia

A word from

Katelyn Steakley

The PEP Foundation’s EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

“I am excited you are here learning more about PEP!

The PEP Foundation and its community partners have worked for many years to support students through their Backpack Program. In the process of providing weekly food bags, they discovered there was more work to be done. The fact is the PCSS has over 55% of students who qualify as Economically Disadvantaged, and many times, these families are unable to provide resources that would increase their child's ability to participate in school in the same capacity as their peers.

The PEP Foundation doesn’t want that to be the case and has made removing barriers to achievement their focus.

I feel excited to be a part of an initiative that has the potential to change the trajectory of the lives of not only the students we serve but the future of our community.

I hope you will consider partnering with us to continue the work we are doing and increase our ability to provide for the most vulnerable children in our community. “ -Katelyn