Creating a brighter future for society.

Changing the education experience.

The entire community benefits when it includes educators from many different backgrounds. The Phyllis Allen Teacher Recruitment Fund helps address the need for diversity among educators.

This fund provides tuition assistance to local students who intend to pursue an education degree and return to Key West for their careers. In the first few years, the scholarship selection committee will be giving preference to Key West High School students of African-American and Afro-Caribbean heritage.  The goal is to develop a community in which people of diverse backgrounds and experiences  are in positions of authority that build relationships with children of all races and help end racial stereotypes.

The fund is named after a lifelong Key West resident and 50-year educator in the local school district, Phyllis Allen. She devoted her life to education and helping and inspiring others. She was a student, teacher, tutor, principal, deputy superintendent, community activist and fierce advocate for struggling students.

We’d like to thank all those who helped get this off the ground: The Marion Stevens Fund, Cindy Williams, LeighAnn Roach, Margaret Brady and Christine Dalton Godlewski for the start-up cash. Also, a big thanks to Billy Davis from a Positive Step for Monroe County and Jennifer McComb at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and Amy Tripp Designs for their sweat equity.