ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Pinellas County nonprofit is determined to close the achievement gap for underserved students in south St. Petersburg, and their work doesn’t stop over the summer.
The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation offers the M.A.S.T.R. kids program while school is out to help prevent what’s known as the “summer slide.”
M.A.S.T.R. stands for “Math, Art, Science, Technology, and Reading,” all of which are covered, and the foundation says 80% of its students at least maintain with more than half who show gains in reading and math.
M.A.S.T.R. kids are spending their summer having fun while learning.
“We know that summer slide is real and instead of having the scholars slide, we have them immersed still in their academics, but through fun, hands-on ways of learning,” said Keisha Snead, the academic director for the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation.
Snead has worked with elementary school children for 24 years, and it’s her passion. She says there are about 150 M.A.S.T.R. kids total, at two locations in south St. Pete. At the beginning of the summer, all the kids take a test to see what their ability level is and they’re grouped accordingly.
“We’re trying to close that achievement gap by filling in those things you don’t know, so those foundational skills you may be missing — phonics, high-frequency words — you may not have a true solid understanding of those things, which is hindering you from not necessarily reading, but comprehending what you’re reading,” said Snead.
She said statistics show only 27% of Black students read at their grade level, but by coming here and working with certified teachers all summer, they’ve seen that number increase to 64%.
It’s not just reading where students are improving: Snead says students are also taught about their culture and history, like learning about Juneteenth.
This summer’s theme is “Inventors and Inventions 101,” encouraging these young scholars to be creative.
“Just because you think it, it doesn’t have to stay in your thoughts. You can put some power behind it and it can become reality,” she said.
M.A.S.T.R. kids are also tested throughout the summer and at the end to monitor the progress they’re making. The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation also offers an after-school program during the school year, where they pick up students from 21 schools in the area.
Fallon Silcox
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