News
Back to News Archive | Back to Current News
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Names New Staff to Lead Education Efforts
Nashville, TN, December 2004 - The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a charitable organization that benefits nonprofits serving those in need in 40 Middle Tennessee counties, has announced that Patricia L. Cole will fill the newly-created Educational Services position.
Cole, who has extensive experience as a teacher and guidance counselor, will oversee and implement the Tapping Individual Potential program, which matches Metro school students who have demonstrated talent or outstanding potential with appropriate enrichment opportunities. She will work with school counselors to identify students in grades K through 8 who would benefit from the program. Cole will also coordinate and lead all scholarship programs and other education-related services administered by The Community Foundation.
"Pat is the ideal person for this position and her wealth of experience and talent will help us expand our educational services at The Foundation,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “She understands students’ needs, and will work seamlessly with educators to identify those children who will flower when given access to special programs and services.”
Before joining the Community Foundation, Cole served as coordinator of guidance and counseling/health services for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools where she managed the school counseling program and oversaw guidance counselors for all Metro Public Schools. She was a guidance counselor at Glencliff High School and Cameron Middle School prior to becoming guidance coordinator. Before joining Metro Schools, Cole was a teacher at Newton Boys High School and Petersham Girls High School in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She began her career in education as a guidance counselor at Westwood Junior High School in Gainesville, Florida.
Cole was appointed to the State Council on Vocational Technical Education in 1989 by Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, and to the Tennessee Board of Licensure for Professional Counselors and Marital and Family Therapists in 1991. She also has been an active member of numerous state and national associations and committees. After receiving her bachelor’s of arts degree in English from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she earned a master’s of education from the University of Florida in Gainesville.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 480 charitable funds. In the past twelve years, The Community Foundation has distributed $220 million to community programs and institutions. Currently, The Community Foundation manages endowment, unrestricted and memorial funds totaling $300 million. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
