The Transformative Power of Education: A Conversation with Kailee Scales, CEO of Pencils of Promise

Education has the power to change lives, but in many parts of the world, barriers to access, quality, and infrastructure still stand in the way. In my recent conversation with Kailee Scales, the CEO of Pencils of Promise (PoP), we explored how this global nonprofit is working to remove those barriers and ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

A Simple Moment that Sparked a Global Movement

Pencils of Promise was founded on a singular moment—a young boy in India asked for a pencil. That small request led to a global movement to provide educational opportunities to children in underserved communities. As Kailee explained, “When the child asked for a pencil, he explained it was because when he saw other children going to school, he knew they were doing something very important and special. And he wanted to be like those children.” This profound encounter shaped the mission of PoP, which now operates in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos.

The story is simple, but its impact is enormous. I’ve seen firsthand how such moments can snowball into large-scale change. It’s often in these simple, human connections that the seeds for profound movements are planted. Pencils of Promise didn’t just stop at building schools—it went further by tackling the systemic issues that prevent children from accessing quality education.

Breaking Barriers: Infrastructure, Hygiene, and Gender Equality

The challenge in many rural communities is more than just building schools; it’s about creating a supportive environment where students can thrive. Kailee highlighted the multi-faceted approach PoP takes to ensure that every barrier to education is addressed. “In the areas where we are, children often don’t have access to clean water, even in their home environment. If they drink that water, they will get sick, and that will prevent them from going to school,” she explained. This led PoP to incorporate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs as a crucial component of their work.

For many girls, education is even more challenging due to cultural and infrastructural barriers. “When girls have the onset of their periods, many times in their communities, they’re encouraged to stay home,” Kailee pointed out. To combat this, PoP has implemented initiatives to provide hygiene education and private bathrooms, ensuring that girls can continue attending school. These efforts reflect a deeper commitment to not only educating but empowering girls to break the cycle of poverty and undereducation.

This approach resonates with my own experience in nonprofit work— addressing surface-level issues isn’t enough. To create real, sustainable change, you need to dig deeper into the root causes and work with local communities to develop solutions that last.

Holistic Teacher Training: Beyond Academics

Quality education requires more than just physical infrastructure. Teacher support and development are essential components of PoP’s success. Kailee shared a unique aspect of their teacher training program, emphasizing the importance of social-emotional learning. “We teach them things like how to ask children their names and how to encourage them as opposed to frighten them at times because we want to ensure that both teachers and students have a good experience in the classroom,” she said.

This focus on holistic development, for both teachers and students, is something I deeply appreciate. In my work as a strategic communications coach, I’ve seen how essential it is for leaders to be trained in not just hard skills but also in creating environments of trust and support. PoP’s teacher training reflects that same understanding—education isn’t just about academics; it’s about nurturing a child’s emotional and social wellbeing.

Technology and AI: The Future of Education

As education evolves, technology plays an increasingly critical role in enhancing learning outcomes. Kailee discussed PoP’s integration of AI into their teacher training programs, explaining that “AI can certainly help and has helped. We’ve piloted an AI program to help both our team members devise and conceive a curriculum to train our teachers very specifically.”

While technology can be a game-changer, it’s important to balance it with the human touch. PoP is navigating this balance thoughtfully, ensuring that technology serves as an enhancement rather than a replacement for the personal connections that are so vital to education.

In my own work with nonprofit leaders, I see a growing interest in leveraging technology for greater impact, but like PoP, it’s crucial to ensure that we don’t lose sight of the human element. AI and other tools are most powerful when they empower people, not replace them.

To listen to the full interview or read the transcript, just click here.

Denver Frederick, Host of The Business of Giving serves as a Trusted Advisor and Executive Coach to Nonprofit Leaders. His Book,?The Business of Giving: New Best Practices for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders in an Uncertain World, is available now on?Amazon?and?Barnes & Noble.