What do you do when you want to recognize the dedication and commitment of school partnership coordinators tasked with actively engaging the community to support student achievement? If you are Chili’s, a Partner in Education (PIE) with 33 schools in the division, you invite all 110 school coordinators to a PIE Appreciation Night in their honor.

“We just wanted the teachers and staff who assist with community partnerships in addition to their instructional responsibilities to know that we realize how much time and effort goes into bringing the community into the schools,” said Tim Little, area director at Chili’s. “We are grateful for the opportunities provided that allow us to help students and families in Virginia Beach. These are the special people who make it happen. They deserve to be celebrated.”

Chili’s staff offered two evenings and two locations to try to accommodate the very busy schedules of the division’s teachers and staff. Rachel Keipe, the new partnership coordinator for Chili’s, set a banquet table filled with some of the restaurant’s most popular menu items and shared a few new items at individual tables, festively decorated for the occasion.

“I felt so appreciated. I enjoyed having the opportunity to share ideas with fellow PIE coordinators, learn about some of the wonderful partnership programs that other schools have in place this year and I actually had some time to brainstorm ideas and activities for the second semester,” said Wendy Tate, Corporate Landing Middle School teacher. “I can’t thank Chili’s enough for such a special event just for us.”

Coordinators left with a special “Beach ornament” handmade by Keipe to commemorate the occasion.

“Our relationship with the Virginia Beach schools means a lot to us. We all need to work together to do what we can to help our students to succeed,” Keipe said.