Boston Partners in Education Recognizes Melrose Native for Commitment to Serving Boston Public Schools

June 8, 2015 (Boston, MA) – Today, Boston Partners in Education honored Melrose native Kim Connolly with the Isabel G. Besecker Award for her dedication to the education of students in the Boston Public Schools.

Each year Boston Partners in Education hosts the AMP! Academic Mentoring Party, delivering awards in seven categories to honor the committed volunteer academic mentors, teachers, and corporate partners who serve Boston’s public school students. The Isabel G. Besecker Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a passionate support of public education. This person leads by example, advocating for Boston Public Schools and its students. The recipient involves friends, family, and the community in the cause of providing excellent education to all students.

Kim Connolly grew up in Melrose and currently resides in Dorchester. Kim brings her extensive experience in the education field to her role as the Assistant Director of Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Operations for the Boston Public Schools. This is Kim’s first year as a volunteer academic mentor at the Trotter School.

“I believe the disparity between the haves and have-nots is everyone’s problem, whether they have kids in public school or not,” said Connolly. “Everyone should contribute in some way even if they don’t have a direct investment. In the long-run if someone makes a small investment now it will have a big payoff later. Boston Partners makes it so easy for someone to make that impact, it’s just an hour a week.”

Since 1966, Boston Partners in Education has provided tens of thousands of children who are struggling in school with the tools necessary to become better learners, by mobilizing and training community members to serve as volunteer academic mentors to K-12 students across the BPS district. Teachers nominate individual students who could use additional academic or socio-emotional support, and Boston Partners in Education pairs a mentor to work independently each week with the student throughout the school year.

“We are so pleased to honor Kim for her continued dedication to our mission of ensuring students in every neighborhood of the city are receiving the academic and socio-emotional support they need to stay in school and graduate,” said Pamela Civins, Executive Director of Boston Partners in Education. “The personal rapport that she’s built with his students has made her an effective academic mentor. Without volunteers like Kim, a piece of our foundation would be missing.”

To learn more about how to get involved as an academic mentor, please visit www.bostonpartners.org or fill out a volunteer application.