Partners in Education

10/12/2026

📚 Help a young reader grow! Become a Literacy Mentor!

Our Mentors in Toledo Schools (MiTS) Literacy Program is growing! Once we finish launching at all our partner schools this month, we’ll be in 19 schools across Toledo! 🎉 We’re looking for more volunteers to join us!

As a Volunteer Literacy Mentor, you’ll work one-on-one with K–5 students to strengthen their reading skills, build confidence and develop a positive relationship.❤️

✨ No teaching experience needed! We provide all the training and materials you’ll need, plus a Site Coordinator at each school to support you.

⏰ Most volunteers join us once or twice a week, with morning sessions from approximately 9–11 a.m. and afternoon sessions from 12:45–2:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday. There are flexible opportunities to fit your schedule!

Ready to make a difference in a young reader’s life? 📖 Become a Mentor and help students build reading skills, confidence, and a love of learning!

📩 Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Valerie, at [email protected] or call our office at 419-242-2122 to learn more!

🌐 More details are available at partnerstoledo.org.

Supportingstudents since 1994 Our Programs College & Career Ready This program is designed to empower students with the crucial skills they need to excel in both higher education and their future careers. Through a focus on collaboration, critical thinking, professionalism, and creative problem-solv...

10/08/2026

📚 MiTS is growing!

The launch season continues as Mentors in Toledo Schools (MiTS) literacy programming expands to even more students and school communities!

Last week, we were excited to launch at:

📖 Raymer Elementary
📖 Monac Elementary
📖 McGregor Elementary
📖 Greenwood Elementary

This launch was especially exciting because it marks the beginning of a new partnership with Washington Local Schools! While Raymer is a Toledo Public school, Monac, McGregor, and Greenwood are part of Washington Local Schools—meaning MiTS is reaching new schools and even more students across our city.❤️

We’re so excited to see our literacy program continue to grow and to build new partnerships that help more students strengthen their reading skills!

Check out these pics from programming at Greenwood.📚✨

10/06/2026

🎓🚀 The future is wide open for our CCRSG students!

Students at Horizon Science Academy Toledo recently explored different career pathways and created digital posters to share what they learned.

Our 6th and 7th graders researched and presented on four pathways:

🎓 Community College
🔧 Trade & Technical School
🏫 Four-Year College
🇺🇸 Military

The more students learn about their options now, the more prepared they’ll be to make those big decisions about their futures.

Through CCRSG (College and Career: Ready, Set, Go!), we’re helping students explore their options and start planning for what comes next.

For our Career Connections students, the future is wide open! 🌟

09/23/2026

🎨 ARTIST: Dean Davis of River Gallery Studio

📚 SCHOOL: Birmingham Elementary

Meet our seventh and final little library! 📚✨

🖌️ Dean’s Design

Dean grew up in the Birmingham neighborhood. He remembers the area’s Hungarian influence and the local library, and wanted his design to reflect some of that history.

He drew inspiration from Hungarian folk motifs, incorporating flowers and birds into the design while keeping it fresh with a contemporary background.

Dean said he was glad to give back to an area he loves!

Thank you, Dean, for bringing a piece of Birmingham’s history and a unique design to this project!❤️

And that wraps up our seven little library spotlights! A huge thank-you to all seven artists, Inspired Lumber Workshop, our partner schools and the John H. Eldred Jr. Foundation for helping bring this project to life.

09/22/2026

📚 We’re off and reading!

The launch season continues as we welcome more school partners to Mentors in Toledo Schools (MiTS) literacy programming!

This week, we’re excited to kick things off at:

📖 East Broadway Elementary

📖 Reynolds Elementary

📖 Whittier Elementary

Our tutors and volunteers are settling into their routines, students are getting acquainted with their tutors, and the work of building strong reading skills is officially underway!

Here’s a peek at MiTS in action at Reynolds today!❤️

09/15/2026

📚 Another week of launches!

This week, we’re welcoming four more schools to Mentors in Toledo Schools (MiTS) literacy programming:

📖 Birmingham Elementary

📖 Keyser Elementary

📖 Leverette Elementary

📖 Robinson Elementary

We’re happy to see our students and tutors already diving into their sessions and beginning to build those important relationships that make tutoring so meaningful.

Here’s a quick look at MiTS programming this afternoon at Robinson! ❤️

09/14/2026

🎨 ARTIST: Chris “Chilly” Rodriguez of Mind And Soul Gallery & Studios

📚 SCHOOL: Keyser Elementary

Meet our sixth little library! 📚✨

🖌️ Chris' Design

Chris said he wanted to incorporate a lot of color into his design because, as a child and even now, “color makes me happy and makes me feel good.” He wanted to share that feeling with the students who visit the library to pick out a book!

Chris created a bright, abstract design using spray paints, with each side of the library offering something a little different.

Thank you, Chris, for bringing so much joy and vibrancy to this project! 🌈📚

09/11/2026

🎨 ARTIST: Jessica Ball of Tote & Go Canvas LLC

📚 LIBRARY: Queen of Apostles School

Meet our fifth little library! 📚✨

🖌️ Jessica’s design

Jessica’s design was inspired by an idea she had years ago while drawing with her children: creating characters out of the letters of the alphabet. Her sons helped bring the idea to life!

There’s something interesting on all four sides of this library, including some of her sons’ old toys used as game pieces, a checkered side inspired by Chutes & Ladders, and even unique details like a cicada shell—a nod to Jessica’s childhood hobby of collecting them. 🚗🚁

And when you open the door, you’ll find a challenge: “Can you find the letters A to Z, on the Art of Three?” See if you can spot all 26 letters hidden throughout the artwork! 🔎🔤

Jessica said she has always enjoyed “busy art,” and this library certainly captures that spirit in the best way!

Thank you, Jessica, for bringing so much creativity and personality to this project! ❤️

09/09/2026

🎉 Hooray for launch day!

Today was our first day of Mentors in Toledo Schools (MiTS) literacy programming at four of our sites:

📚 DeVeaux Elementary
📚 Escuela SMART Academy
📚 McKinley STEAM Academy
📚 Sherman Elementary

We’re so excited to get back to working with our students and tutors! Here’s a quick snapshot from DeVeaux, along with a behind-the-scenes look at some of the prep happening at our office as we build dozens of MiTS kits for the schools launching later this month.

Here’s to a wonderful year of learning, reading, and growing with our students!

09/04/2026

🎨 ARTIST: Kayla Cherry of Brass Monkey Tattoo Co.

📚 LIBRARY: DeVeaux Elementary

Meet our fourth little library! 📚✨

🖌️ Kayla’s design

Kayla wanted to bring the look and feel of a classic tattoo design to the library while keeping it fun and welcoming for kids.

One classic tattoo motif is a hand holding an object—in this case, a book! 📖 The design also features butterflies, stars, and roses. 🦋⭐🌹

Kayla first stained the library box and then chose bright, contrasting colors so the artwork would stand out from a distance. She hopes the design catches people’s attention and makes them curious enough to stop and peek inside!

Thank you, Kayla, for bringing your unique artistic style to this project! ❤️