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Tag: APP Latest Education Stories

  • Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation’s M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program helping kids succeed

    Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation’s M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program helping kids succeed

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to closing the achievement gap for students living in South St. Pete. They offer after-school programs for children and teens of all ages, and over the summer months, one of their programs focuses on middle and high school students — the High School M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation’s High School M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program is for middle and high school students who live in South St. Pete

    • The goal is to close the achievement gap, and increrase graduation rates

    • Students explore trade school career options, learn interview & communication skills, study black history, and learn financial literacy

    The purpose is to expose teens to different college and career options, while teaching them valuable skills so they can set goals for their own futures, keeping them focused through these formative years.

    The High School M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program students took their weekly black history lesson out of the classroom and into a place where the history itself happened.

    “This space that you’re in was a segregated grocery store, and so my uncles, my parents, my grandparents could not set foot in this building as it was erected,” said Marcus Brooks, Executive Director for the Foundation for a Healthy St. Peterburg’s Center for Healthy Equity.

    The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation partnered with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Peterburg, which intentionally re-wrote the purpose of the building to advance equity, and now, Pinellas County’s civil rights history lines the walls with pictures and descriptions of events.

    “We were learning and talking about black history and more black history in St. Pete and the origins of some of the places we see every day,” said Torri Gammage, who is going into 7th-grade at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.

    Torri has been in the M.A.S.T.R. Program for four years, and says she’s found the black history lessons to be very important. 

    “So that we don’t make the same mistakes over again and we can know why certain things happened and how it affects us, and how we should react to it,” she said.

    Which is exactly why the Foundation includes black history in its High School M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program.

    “What we’ve discovered is that if the kids can get some exposure to African American history, they’re typically very grounded in who they are, why they are here, what are their unique strengths,” said Bridgette Heller, Co-Founder and CEO of the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation.

    Heller says the confidence it builds is key. The Foundation first focused on just closing the achievement gap for reading and math, but then realized, even when students were at grade level, their graduation rates were still lower than other populations, so they created this program.

    “We interviewed people in the community to find out what were some of the barriers and the key was that our kids weren’t really prepared. They didn’t really know or understand what kinds of careers were out there, or what those careers meant or how high school connected to careers, and so we set out to try to do that for them,” said Heller. 

    Through field trips like this, and a partnership with Pinellas Technical College, Heller says the gap is closing because these teenagers now have goals.

    “If you can stay focused on the goal and why you’re there, it makes all the difference,” she said. 

    Torri’s goal is to become a cosmetologist, and she says through the friends she’s made here, there’s nothing that can stop her.

    “You don’t find a lot of people like that at school and stuff. If they’re in the program, then they’re learning a lot of the same stuff you are and you can talk to them about that kind of stuff,” said Torri.

    Students in the High School M.A.S.T.R. Plan Program are exposed to eight different career trades at Pinellas Technical College, and also learn how to interview and communicate, as well as financial literacy.

    Fallon Silcox

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  • Camp Early Bird helps Polk County students prepare for kindergarten

    Camp Early Bird helps Polk County students prepare for kindergarten

    LAKELAND, Fla. — You’ve heard the saying “the early bird gets the worm,” and in a summer camp offered by Polk County Schools, the “worm” is confident, capable kindergarteners. 

    The district offers “Camp Early Bird” over the summer to children who will be starting kindergarten in the fall, and the goal is to get campers on the same level and ready to begin “real” school.

    What You Need To Know

    • Camp Early Bird is offered by Polk County Schools to incoming kindergartners

    • Campers learn letters, numbers and work on social-emotional skills

    • Camp Early Bird is free, and registration opens every April


    According to the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning, 40% of children walk into kindergarten one to three years behind, and those students struggle to catch up.  

    According to the center’s research, most never catch up, which is why Polk County Schools say Camp Early Bird is so important.

    It looks like it’s all fun and games, but the children in Camp Early Bird are actually hard at work, going through a kindergarten crash course.

    “We try to provide enrichment for kids who’ve already been exposed to our VPK (voluntary prekindergarten) curriculum, but some of our kids have not had any exposure,” said Dr. Ben Henry, a regional superintendent for Polk County Schools. “We provide them certain intervention to really get ready for Day 1.”

    Henry said the district started Camp Early Bird three years ago, and it’s grown every year. Students work on learning the basics while having fun. 

    “We do certain things with language for learning, which really gets kids some of the language acquisition skills they need to be ready for the first day of school. We do some number sense activities,” Henry said.

    Social-emotional skills are also very important for incoming kindergartners, and he said a puppet named “Al” helps teachers with those lessons.

    “Al teaches our kids how to really get ready for the first day of school and be able to express some of the emotions they feel so they can have that first day of school and first adventure in big school to be something they’re excited about,” Henry said.

    Getting students excited about learning is most important, Henry said.

    All kindergarteners are given a readiness test, and there’s a direct correlation between those who score well on it, and their future academic success, according to Henry.

    “When we start looking at our kindergarten rate of success and getting them ready for kindergarten, in a couple years we look at third grade reading scores, and we want kids to be ready, so we can really start all kids on the right path starting in kindergarten by third grade. They’ll be ready to read and be successful for everything moving forward,” he said.

    With a head start, students are set for success. 

    The school district accepts open registration for Camp Early Bird every April. The camp is free, and students also receive free breakfast and lunch. 

    Fallon Silcox

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  • Returning to Japan: SPIFFS foreign exchange program restarts

    Returning to Japan: SPIFFS foreign exchange program restarts

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg foreign exchange student program with Japan is starting back up after a four-year hiatus.

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society hasn’t sent students to Japan for four years

    • Between border closings and vaccine requirements due to the pandemic, it wasn’t until this spring the decision came to send students again

    • In total, three students are heading to Japan and three are coming to St. Petersburg from Takamatsu, each staying with a host family


    Paused because of the pandemic, the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) is thrilled to send students across the globe once again. 

    Madison Schmitz is one of the students embarking on a journey to Takamatsu, Japan.

    From Japanese manga, pop culture, to music, Madison said she’s always been fascinated by Japanese culture.

    “It’s one thing to research their culture, any sort of culture from a distance,” she said. “It’s entirely different to actually be immersed in it.”

    Between border closings and vaccine requirements due to the pandemic, it wasn’t until this spring the decision came to restart the program.

    Madison is thrilled to explore Takamatsu, but she’s just as eager to welcome a Japanese student to the area.

    “One of the biggest things I’m excited about with this program is being able to have the chance to show off St. Pete,” she said.

    In total, three students are heading to Japan for ten days and three are coming to St. Petersburg from Takamatsu, each staying with a host family.

    After the trip is finished, Madison will create a project about what she learned and share it with other students.

    Applications for the 2025 exchange program will open Dec. 1.

    Matt Lackritz

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  • Nonprofit foundation helps south St. Pete students close achievement gap

    Nonprofit foundation helps south St. Pete students close achievement gap

    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.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • 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

    • The nonprofit says 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% through their program


    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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  • Manatee County moms to turn homeschool co-op, Unschool Squad, into a nonprofit

    Manatee County moms to turn homeschool co-op, Unschool Squad, into a nonprofit

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — More families in Florida are homeschooling their children. According to the Florida Department of Education, it has increased more than 69% in the 2021-2022 school year since 2017.

    What You Need To Know

    • Three Manatee County moms, Brandy Lemire, Allee Noordzy, and Stephanie Moyers started a year-round homeschool co-op called Unschool Squad

    • The moms said they plan on becoming a nonprofit by 2025 to make school free for families 

    • According to the Florida Department of Education, homeschooling has increased more than 69% in the 2021-2022 school year since 2017

    • The kids are learning to run their own business at Menchies at UTC on Friday, June 28, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    Brandy Lemire and other moms don’t want their kids to have a “typical day at school.”

    “You don’t get to experience things like this. Most schools you are sitting at a desk,” Lemire said.

    Lemire is part of a group of moms in Manatee County that started a year-round homeschool co-op called Unschool Squad. Allee Noordzy, Stephanie Moyers, and Lemire all started the co-op together.

    They created the program in March and already have 50 students enrolled.

    “With the way public school is today, you have zero control over what your kids are learning. So we created this co-op so we could teach the kids what we felt we wanted them to learn,” Lemire said.

    The students went to Menchie’s this month to learn about business and finance. They got to experience firsthand what it would be like to run a business and learned how to write checks and pay the monthly rent.

    “How much did you think the rent was? Did you think it was $10,000? $1,600? What did you think?” she asked the students.

    However, before taking field trips, the group learns the basics in more formal educational situations.

    “If we do excursions and classes and whatnot, they will focus more, they’ll retain it better, and they’ll actually enjoy learning,” she said.

    The goal is to give students some freedom.

    “Their attention span is really short. So if we can do something with the fidget game or something with counting the blocks, it keeps their hands and their minds engaged,” she said.

    This way of learning has been so successful for the families that these moms decided to turn their homeschool co-op into a nonprofit, they claim.

    “These are the options we found. You can either become a 501(c)(3) or a 508(c)(1)(a). And so we’re trying to navigate which one is best for us to do,” she said.

    They hope to make the school free for families.

    “2024, things are crazy expensive. And so I think if we can make it free for families, no family can ever say, like, ‘hey, I can’t go because I can’t afford it,’” she said.

    Now the students are gearing up for their next field trip.

    They are creating tie-dye scrunchies, bracelets, shirts, and other items to sell at their own market while using their new finance and business skills.

    “The stuff we are teaching them is real-life skills that they aren’t teaching in public school,” Lemire said.

    These moms aim to make a difference by pushing their students to focus on real-life experiences.

    The moms said they plan on becoming a nonprofit by 2025. The class will be completing their finance month during their next class on June 28. The students will be selling their handmade items and learning what it means to own their own business for a day.

    Julia Hazel

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  • SofWolf offers STEM program at USF St. Pete for Gold Star family members

    SofWolf offers STEM program at USF St. Pete for Gold Star family members

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Around 25 high school and college students from across the country came to the University of South Florida St. Pete campus in June to take part in SofWolf‘s STEM program for military families. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The STEM program, with a focus on machine learning, automation, robotics and more, is for military youth between the ages of 16-24

    • The program happens once a year but they’re looking to expand
    • Many of the attendees lost a family member that was serving on active duty


    With a focus on machine learning, automation, robotics and more, program leaders say they try to bring in Gold Star family members like Jada Newman, who lost her father while serving in the military.

    The company’s co-founder, Mike Vaughn, said it’s their way of giving back to those who served.

    For Newman, she said the program is about much more than learning. It’s a chance for her to remember her father, who served in the army for nearly a decade.  

    “He wanted to protect everyone that lived in this country and he especially wanted to protect us,” she said. “He knew there would be people who work with him that would take care of us.” 

    Newman is attending nursing school in the fall but sees the course as a way to stay connected to her father.  

    This is Newman’s 6th year attending the program, saying Vaughn and the other leaders have been instrumental in helping her grow. 

    “I think he’d be glad that people are coming around us and supporting us and teaching us skills that we can use that maybe he would have taught us,” she said. “If I can be even half the person he was, I would be successful and a good human being.”

    Vaughn said they hope to expand to other parts of the country and hold the lessons more than once a year.

    Matt Lackritz

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  • ‘FUNctionable Clubhouse’ now open at the Nina Harris ESE Center

    ‘FUNctionable Clubhouse’ now open at the Nina Harris ESE Center

    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Pinellas County students at the Nina Harris ESE Center have a brand new “FUNctionable Clubhouse,” thanks to the Mr. Strong Foundation. All the students have special needs and the clubhouse allows them to play and receive therapy, all at the same time.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Mr. Strong Foundation created the FUNctionable Clubhouse, where students can play while receiving therapy
    • Michelle Morales, creator of the Mr. Strong Foundation, says being a parent to a special needs child has its challenges, but one of the hardest to overcome is the financial aspects of their care

    • The Mr. Strong Foundation is a nonprofit that provides funding for special needs children to get the therapy services they need, but often aren’t covered by insurance

    “Are you going to do ‘shake, shake, shake?’” Michelle Morales asked her son, Landon, while he played a special new video game in the FUNctionable Clubhouse.

    “Landon is 14 years old. He has cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, autism, sensory processing disorder — those are just his diagnoses — but it’s definitely not who he is. He is the happiest little kid. He makes my world,” she said.

    Landon has attended the Nina Harris ESE Center since he was three years old. Morales says being a parent to a special needs child has its challenges, but one of the hardest to overcome is the financial aspects of their care.

    “I was constantly sitting in waiting rooms and I would hear other parents talk about therapies that they needed for their kids, and they couldn’t afford it,” she said.

    Which is why Morales started the Mr. Strong Foundation. It’s a nonprofit that provides funding for special needs children to get the therapy services they need, but often aren’t covered by insurance, and the brand new FUNctionable Clubhouse is one way to do that.

    “A lot of them are adaptive equipment, so even though they’re fun things, they’re actually using their dexterity and fine motor skills, so it’s actually doing therapy in here, but they don’t know they’re doing it,” said Morales.

    There are all kinds of fun and therapeutic activities, like the Rocket League video game Landon likes to play. It’s a co-pilot game where Landon is in charge of shaking his controller to kick the ball.

    Morales says the FUNctionable Clubhouse provides these kids with a safe space where they don’t have to be on the sidelines — they’re in the game.

    “It’s a great space for them to interact and just play with their peers and it’s a place that is safe, and just have fun with their therapist, but in a place where there’s no judgement,” she said.

    The creation of the FUNctionable Clubhouse was made possible with support from several local nonprofits and private donors, like former Tampa Bay Rays player Evan Longoria. 

    Fallon Silcox

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  • Pinellas school board unanimously approves new cell phone policy

    Pinellas school board unanimously approves new cell phone policy

    LARGO, Fla. — Pinellas County School Board members unanimously approved a cell phone policy that creates a standard set of guidelines for all students in the school district. The policy is set to take effect in August.

    Until now, it was up to the discretion of each individual principal to determine school cell phone rules.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County School Board members approved a district-wide cell phone policy

    • To date, it’s up to the discretion of each individual principal

    • The policy is set to take effect in August

    The new policy states that elementary school students must keep phones and other similar devices in the ‘off’ position and stored away during the school day. Phones can be used once the day concludes to coordinate transportation.

    Middle school students have the same guidelines as the elementary schools, but may additionally use phones before school.

    Meantime, high school students can leave their phones on silent but may only use them before and after school, during lunch, and when transitioning between classes. Phones cannot be used in ways that violate academic integrity, in restrooms, locker rooms, or swimming areas. Photos or video recordings cannot be taken while at school without prior consent.

    All rules for cell phones for each age group also apply to smartwatches, the policy states. They must be turned to silent mode during the day and removed during district and state assessments.

    Earlier this year, the school district surveyed more than 8,000 students, parents, and teachers and gathered information on what they felt the best way to enforce the new policy would be. Area Superintendent Dywayne Hinds told school board members during an April meeting that after the policy gets approved, the district will create a plan for how it will be rolled out to teachers and students and create guidelines for students who violate policy.

    “When we did the survey, we did include questions on the survey that gave us some information about what are reasonable consequences of the specific policies related to cell phones,” Hinds said. “So these are things we’ll also be sharing with our administrators when it comes to best practices as they roll this out in their schools.”

    Angie Angers

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  • More female students taking automotive, racing classes in Chapel Hill

    More female students taking automotive, racing classes in Chapel Hill

    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Things rev-up on Friday nights at the Wake County Speedway, and, among the professionals, high school students are learning the ins-and-outs of racing. 

     

    What You Need To Know

    Chapel Hill High School students learn about the automotive and racing industries

    Automotive teacher Robert Ballard and his program have received recognition on the local and national levels 

    Ballard has worked to bring more female students into the automotive and racing classes, seeing the female population in his classes growing by about 30% in the last year

     

    Their teacher, Robert Ballard, is receiving recognition for his efforts to diversify his automotive classes at Chapel Hill High School and, ultimately, the automotive world.

    His students don’t just learn in a classroom. They do the real learning, everything from math and physics to being a part of a team, by solving problems in the garage.

    “If I don’t have a problem to figure out every day, I kind of get a little bit bored. So I like to fix things, figure out problems on a daily basis,” Ballard said. 

    Interest in automotive classes was a big problem he saw when he came on board at the school six years ago

    “They were being pushed toward kind of a university four-year kind of pathway, but I wanted to make sure they understood that they had different pathways available to them,” he said.

    Ballard said he grew the program from 35 students to 115, but there was still a problem. So few of the students were female, so he started female “lunch and learns.”

    He said the female population has grown by about 30% during the past year. 

    “They stay on track usually a lot more. So, they usually bring a different element to the skilled trades,” Ballard said.

    Senior Chloe Claypoole comes from East Chapel Hill High School specifically for the automotive program.

    “I was very, very persistent about trying to get into this course. I was very eager to learn,” she said.

    Claypoole is now one of a few dozen female students in the program. 

    “It is a little bit intimidating, but I think that it’s mostly inspiring that more and more women are slowly showing interest in these kinds of things,” Claypoole said.

    As cars change, Ballard says so are the people who work on them.

    “We’re starting to notice that females are actually starting to fit our parameters better on newer vehicles. Whereas males were fitting our parameters more on older vehicles with more of the mechanical side of things,” Ballard said.

    The school’s racing program also takes them out of the classroom and garage and onto the racetrack. 

    “When I found out there was a racing program here, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that is something that I definitely want to be a part of,’” Claypoole said.

    Ballard hopes the students will be driven by the experience.

    “I just want to give back to the students what I’ve been taught. So, a lot of these guys out here have been mentors to me. So, I want to be mentors for my students. So, I want to see them grow. I also want to see them learn all the different aspects of the racing community,” he said.

    Claypoole said she loves being at the racetrack. 

    “This is definitely going to be a longtime hobby and something that excites me forever. I’ve grown up around it. I never stopped loving it. This is definitely something I would consider going into a career for,” she said.

    Now, students like Claypoole are proof it’s not just gentlemen starting their engines and their automotive careers.

    Chloe Claypoole checking tires at the racetrack. (Spectrum News 1)

    “It’s actually exciting to me because I know that I’m trying to make a difference by being a part of the program and inspiring more women to feel more comfortable being a part of the program,” she said.

    Students can continue learning about racing throughout the summer at the speedway.   

    The school just started a pre-apprenticeship program to jump-start students’ careers. Ballard said it can fast-track them by three or four years.

    He said Chapel Hill High is the first school in the state to have that pre-apprenticeship program, and now that it’s up and running, he said it should be easier for other schools to start similar ones.

    Ballard and his classes have received a number of recognitions. He was named the 2023 Teacher of the Year for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. 

    Chapel Hill High just received $10,000 from WIX Filters and Tomorrow’s Technician magazine for the first place “School of the Year.” Ballard said that’s for the whole nation among both colleges and high schools. He also won Tomorrow’s Technician’s 2023 “Instructor of the Year.” 

    Ballard said the school’s program has a number of sponsors and that they could not do what they do without the community partnerships.

    Justin Quesinberry

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  • Financial expert explains advantages of 529 plan for education expenses

    Financial expert explains advantages of 529 plan for education expenses

    RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s never too late to start thinking about saving for your child’s future.

    The Education Data Initiative says the average cost of college tuition and fees at public four-year institutions has risen 179.2% over the past 20 years.

    What You Need To Know

    • The average cost of college tuition and fees at public four-year institutions has risen 179.2% over 20 years, according to the Education Data Initiative

    • Austin Kobilka of Patriot Wealth in Raleigh says parents can take simple steps to help pay for their child’s post-secondary education 

    • A 529 plan is a way to save for your child’s education costs

    • May 29 is 529 Day

    Financial professional Austin Kobilka from Patriot Wealth in Raleigh says there are simple steps parents can take to help their child’s post-secondary education for 529 Day, which is May 29.

    “The money you contribute grows tax-free and can be used at any time for qualified educational expenses including private school tuition for K-12, college tuition, room and board, books, computers, printers, internet service, as well as graduate schools, trade schools and apprenticeships,” Kobilka said.

    He says anyone can contribute to a 529 plan and the contribution limits are high.

    There are two types of 529 plans. Prepaid tuition plans are offered by a few states and universities.

    “They allow you to lock in your child’s tuition at current rates even if they don’t plan to attend college for a few years,” he said. “Like a savings plan, your money will grow over time and is tax-free.”

    A savings plan is the second 529 option, which is the most common.

    “You can choose which investments you want included (usually mutual funds). How those investments perform will determine how much the account value grows over time,” Kobilka said.

    Starting this year, if you have a 529 account that’s at least 15 years old, you will be able to roll over up to $35,000 of unspent funds into a Roth IRA account, thanks to a provision from the SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022, he said.

    Siobhan Riley

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  • Manatee County private school bans cellphones for all grades

    Manatee County private school bans cellphones for all grades

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As several counties in the Tampa Bay area weigh the pros and cons of using cell phones in classrooms, one private school in Manatee County has already banned cell phones for students in kindergarten through 12th-grade.

    What You Need To Know

    • Educational Harbor Christian School banned cell phones on May 1

    • If a student goes against these rules, there will be a one-day suspension

    • There are special allowances depending on the students’ needs

    The principal and founder of Educational Harbor Christian School Stacey Mayo said that at first, they told students to leave their phones in their bags, but the devices were still too much of a distraction, so the school enforced the cellphone ban on May 1.

    “Our overall goal actually isn’t just academic. Although there are academic benefits, I’ve read studies where having the cell phone in the room can affect their GPA and their attention. Just having the notifications close by them or on vibrate is enough to pull their focus away from their studies,” she said.

    Educational Harbor Christian School is a private K-12th grade school in Manatee County.

    One pastor and teacher in favor of this new policy is Ryan Akers, who teaches math and science.

    “They are able to focus on what we are doing at the time without being distracted, and they are able to be on task a whole lot more,” he said.

    With more than 20 years of teaching experience, he’s seen a lot change over the years.

    “Well, when I started teaching, hardly anybody had a phone, especially the teenagers. There just weren’t very many. As we’ve gotten more and more used to phones in culture, they’ve come inside the classroom. It’s really hard to set down your phone,” said Akers.

    Those distractions led school administrators to ban cellphones for all students.

    When students arrive, they put their phones in this cubby that’s later locked by school staff, but for special circumstances the rules can change depending on the students’ needs. But every student will get their phone back at the end of the school day.

    Educational Harbor Christian School’s phone locker. (Spectrum News/Julia Hazel)

    Akers says he’s already seen a positive impact on the students.

    But not all parents are on board with this new rule. Denise Musso is against the cell phone ban that impacts her 11-year-old daughter. Her main concern is safety.

    “If something were to happen, it would be very nerve-wracking. I think having phones locked up and not on their persons can cause a lot of anxiety. I think that you have to look at it case-by-case,” she said.

    And the school does. There are some exceptions for students, like those with an Individual Education Plan. This family wants the school to change the policy for everyone.

    “I hope that they will have good procedures in place and really get the parents involved and let them have some kind of a say on moving forward,” she said.

    And her daughter likes to stay connected in the classroom. She wishes the rule would change too.

    “I like having the phones more than not having them,” she said.

    But Akers said limiting phones allow him to push his students to reach higher.

    “The biggest hope is for the students to start to achieve their peak level,” he said.

    It’s a new rule for students, but parents and school leaders agree — the goal of education remains unchanged.

    If students don’t abide by the new rules, they will be suspended for one school day.

    Julia Hazel

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  • Northern Kentucky University soon to offer AI minor

    Northern Kentucky University soon to offer AI minor

    HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is introducing an artificial intelligence minor to its list of degree offerings beginning this fall.

    What You Need To Know

    • Beginning in the fall 2024 semester, Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is offering a new artificial intelligence minor 

    • It will be offered through the College of Informatics

    • NKU said the AI minor will provide students with a basic foundation in computing, machine learning and prompt engineering

    • Courses will also cover societal, ethical and legal implications 

    Many believe AI will continue to become a part of everyday life as it advances at a rate that Kevin Kirby, dean of the College of Informatics at NKU, said he has never seen before.

    “I’ve never seen anything change so fast,” Kirby said. “It’s very important to keep our subject matter fresh, and we know students are coming to NKU right now with lots of experience in AI.”

    NKU created the new AI minor through the College of Informatics. The university said according to the Wall Street Journal, AI expertise adds value to a wide variety of careers, which is why it created the minor to pair with nearly any major.

    “When students come here, we want them not to be just users of AI,” Kirby said. “We want them to be, maybe, power users. We want them to understand … this is how it works, this is why it consumes so much data and so much power.”

    “AI is not just tech; it’s not just computer science. It’s about communicating with a new form of intelligence in some way. How do you talk to AI? How do you bend AI to your will?”

    The opposite happening is one of the major concerns some have expressed about AI. It’s a topic Robert Greenleaf Brice said he plans to address in his “philosophy of mind” class.

    “There are issues about consciousness … and of course, that falls right into the full wheelhouse of, ‘What is AI?’” Greenleaf Brice said. “Is it alive in the sense it has consciousness? Or is it just what some philosophers call weak AI, which is just kind of a tool?”

    “My concern is less that there’s a doomsday scenario, the ‘Terminator’ effect, where it will rise and have this consciousness. I’m less concerned about that. My concern is mostly about what it is that we’re putting into these programs. What sort of moral, ethical decision-making process is going into these programs?”

    NKU said the AI minor will provide students with a basic foundation in computing, machine learning and prompt engineering, along with societal, ethical and legal implications. 

    “There are some things to be afraid of with AI, but we want the fear to be informed,” Kirby said. “You are going to be thrown into a world where you’re using AI; your colleagues (and) your students are going to be using AI, so we want to empower you with the ability to deal with that.”

     

    Sam Knef

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  • Hope Services in Pasco County expanding with new programs for students

    Hope Services in Pasco County expanding with new programs for students

    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — A Pasco County nonprofit is helping those with disabilities live independently.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hope Services, a Land O’ Lakes nonprofit, is expanding their operation with new programs on the way

    • The nonprofit teaches students life skills and offers vocational programs with training in areas like culinary arts, as well as construction and hospitality

    • It’s also giving those who volunteer and work at the center a sense of purpose

    Hope Services was founded more than 20 years ago but recently added a new program to its curriculum.

    Last year, the nonprofit opened its very own training center to teach students life skills and offering vocational programs with training in areas like the culinary arts as well as construction and hospitality.

    Executive Director Cindy Bray said they are learning everyday life skills.

    “Everything in our center is centered around not only teaching them life skills but also vocational skills,” said Bray. “So they leave us learning how to live on their own and also to become employed.”

    Bray said they are in the process of finishing a retail training room, which will be a big addition to their program.

    The program is already helping shape students’ lives. For inside one culinary classroom, students are getting a taste of food prep.

    “It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh — I’m doing cooking class!’” Cheyenne Stoltz, a student at Hope Services, said. “I don’t get to cook at home, so it’s a lot of fun for me.”

    Stoltz has been taking classes like this for the last year, honing her culinary skills and making delicious meals, like chicken stir-fry.

    “It’s fun to get to know people and have that feeling that you’re doing something good,” she said.

    It’s all under the watchful eye of chef and teacher Brent Belcher, a local business owner taking time to teach these eager students.

    “It’s kind of flexing a muscle that I don’t get to use on a daily basis in the kitchen,” Belcher, assistant director of Culinary Operations at Hope Services, said. “As far as like teaching and breaking things down and showing someone who is totally green to the industry, the baby steps to getting involved. That’s been very rewarding and challenging at the same time.”

    And the impact Belcher’s lessons have on his students is clear.

    “The teachers are amazing. They’re really kind and respectful,” said Stoltz. “They’ll help you out if there’s a problem and me taking this class here was amazing. It was life changing for me.”

    The nonprofit provides them with the necessary life skills to live independent lives.

    “These classes are changing my life and it’s a lot of fun, like I said,” Stoltz said. “I would do it again if I could.”

    All while making lasting memories and lifelong friends.

    You can learn more about Hope Services and their available classes on their website.

    Calvin Lewis

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  • Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival of free education

    Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival of free education

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Several Florida counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days after the country saw a decline in 2023.

    Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, starting April 20 through May 4.

    One organization in Manatee County is working with parents to get their kids the materials they need to boost their reading levels. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Organizations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days
    • Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations from April 20 through May 4

    • Soar in 4, a Manatee County nonprofit, provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid
    • They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials

    Amanda Quirino is teaching her kids something new through a game of hopscotch.

    Playing hopscotch isn’t the typical way to improve literacy, but it works for her family. Quirino has her kids focus on enunciation.

    “This is a game we don’t see anymore to show them what we grew up with. It’s simple like hopscotch or writing their name,” she said.

    Quirino has a table filled with learning materials, like arts and crafts, she received from Soar in 4, a nonprofit that provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid.

    “I became a mom at the age of 20. So I was a very young mom, and I just wanted to be able to find the right resources,” she said.

    For the past 10 years, Quirino has received about a dozen items each week. Her children are bilingual, and she says those supplies have helped them overcome the hurdles of learning two languages.

    “My third grader, the testing is non-stop sometimes. So she needs to be that fluent reader and she needs to be able to comprehend the questions. My kindergartener, they have sight words. So anytime I can expose them to that, it will help them,” she said.

    According to Soar in 4, 50% of Manatee County students are reading below their grade level. Sheila Halpin, one of the organization coordinators, said the materials they provide help kids improve their reading and writing skills.

    “Soar in 4 has been in existence for 10 years. We have grown and grown and grown. We are seeing that the kids who attend preschool are getting better in 3rd-grade assessment,” Halpin said.

    They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials. Halpin says more than 90% of families who have attended a Soar in 4 event are using the at-home material and are reading more to their kids.

    “Families just don’t have the funds to purchase all of these items. We teach our families that when we are jumping rope, we talk about counting again. How many? 1, 2, 3, once again. Counting leads into literacy,” she said.

    Quirino’s chidlren read every day, and she says their skills have improved with the help of the hands-on tools Soar in 4 provides.

    “I’ve seen them pronouncing the sounds, putting it together, and connecting them. Maybe they would just know one sound, and now if they have the two sounds that go together or we count out syllables, and it’s helped them in their school life,” Quirino said.

    For Quirino, having these free resources is like connecting the pieces of a puzzle.

    “We barely just became homeowners last August. We rented for 10 years with our family, so we are finally able to do bigger and better things with our family. But it was hard, so it was through our programs that we were able to connect and get resources that we needed. It was a journey,” she said.

    Community resources that help families so their kids can have bigger and brighter futures.

    Julia Hazel

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  • Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival to help improve student literacy

    Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival to help improve student literacy

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Several Florida counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days to help improve student literacy rates after the country saw a decline in 2023.

    Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, starting April 20 through May 4.

    One organization in Manatee County is working with parents to get their kids the materials they need to boost their reading levels. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Organizations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days
    • Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations from April 20 through May 4

    • Soar in 4, a Manatee County nonprofit, provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid
    • They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials

    Amanda Quirino is teaching her kids something new through a game of hopscotch.

    Playing hopscotch isn’t the typical way to improve literacy, but it works for her family. Quirino has her kids focus on enunciation.

    “This is a game we don’t see anymore to show them what we grew up with. It’s simple like hopscotch or writing their name,” she said.

    Quirino has a table filled with learning materials, like arts and crafts, she received from Soar in 4, a nonprofit that provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid.

    “I became a mom at the age of 20. So I was a very young mom, and I just wanted to be able to find the right resources,” she said.

    For the past 10 years, Quirino has received about a dozen items each week. Her children are bilingual, and she says those supplies have helped them overcome the hurdles of learning two languages.

    “My third grader, the testing is non-stop sometimes. So she needs to be that fluent reader and she needs to be able to comprehend the questions. My kindergartener, they have sight words. So anytime I can expose them to that, it will help them,” she said.

    According to Soar in 4, 50% of Manatee County students are reading below their grade level. Sheila Halpin, one of the organization coordinators, said the materials they provide help kids improve their reading and writing skills.

    “Soar in 4 has been in existence for 10 years. We have grown and grown and grown. We are seeing that the kids who attend preschool are getting better in 3rd-grade assessment,” Halpin said.

    They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials. Halpin says more than 90% of families who have attended a Soar in 4 event are using the at-home material and are reading more to their kids.

    “Families just don’t have the funds to purchase all of these items. We teach our families that when we are jumping rope, we talk about counting again. How many? 1, 2, 3, once again. Counting leads into literacy,” she said.

    Quirino’s chidlren read every day, and she says their skills have improved with the help of the hands-on tools Soar in 4 provides.

    “I’ve seen them pronouncing the sounds, putting it together, and connecting them. Maybe they would just know one sound, and now if they have the two sounds that go together or we count out syllables, and it’s helped them in their school life,” Quirino said.

    For Quirino, having these free resources is like connecting the pieces of a puzzle.

    “We barely just became homeowners last August. We rented for 10 years with our family, so we are finally able to do bigger and better things with our family. But it was hard, so it was through our programs that we were able to connect and get resources that we needed. It was a journey,” she said.

    Community resources that help families so their kids can have bigger and brighter futures.

    Julia Hazel

    Source link

  • Parents concerned over Pasco County Schools’ PIP policy for students with autism

    Parents concerned over Pasco County Schools’ PIP policy for students with autism

    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Some Pasco County parents are worried about what may happen with their children’s PIP services, or “Private Instructional Personnel.” Primarily, families with children who have autism. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Parents want to meet with district leaders to discuss current PIP policy 

    • PIP services include things like ABA Therapy

    • The current policy allows for limits on when, where and how long services can be offered in schools

    Part of their treatment plan from their doctor often includes an ABA therapist, who goes to school with the child for a prescribed amount of time, giving them the one-on-one therapy they may need to be successful in the classroom. Now, parents are worried the therapists may not be allowed in the classrooms.

    Every day after school, Jessica Sibler and her son, Elliot, spend time together working on school subjects.

    “Elliot has autism, but he is the most intelligent kid I know. He’s wildly smart, and he loves to hug, he loves to cuddle, he loves everything else every five-year-old loves,” Sibler said.

    Before moving to Florida, Sibler worked for agencies serving children and adults with disabilities, so she knew the signs of autism, and says she had concerns early on with Elliot, but his official diagnosis came when he was four-years-old. His doctor prescribed ABA therapy, or Applied Behavior Analyst.

    “Every kid is different, they can get between 10 to 40 hours a week of therapy and so if you’re talking about a kid who is in school full time, plus they’re supposed to have 40 hours of prescribed therapy, that’s two full-time jobs, so being able to combine the two is beneficial,” she said.

    Right now, Elliot is in pre-K, and as the family prepares for him to enter kindergarten, Sibler started looking into Pasco County Schools’ PIP policy, explained in a packet.

    “This new policy says that the services are to be provided to students during non-core settings such as cafeteria, lunch, recess, bus and non-core academic subjects outside the classroom. That’s pretty significant because if you think of kids who need this ABA therapy, to say that they don’t need it in the classroom is pretty significant,” she said, as she read from the PIP packet.

    It also states the “best practice for observation is a maximum of two hours at one time in the classroom,” which concerns Sibler.

    She said right now they plan on doing Elliot’s ABA therapy after school, but if he struggles to transition to kindergarten, having his ABA therapist in school is the best option. But she worries that may not even be an option.

    “We want the option that if that doesn’t work, that we can move it into the school so he does get that therapy, or if he goes into kindergarten and struggles that he can get that therapy. Kindergarten is going to look a lot different,” she said.

    Sibler hopes to meet with district officials to review the PIP policy, so students like Elliot have access to the help they need to succeed. 

    Pasco County Schools said they follow state statute when writing the PIP policy. They say it’s a convenience to allow various therapies to be offered during school hours, and the policy doesn’t exclude a student from receiving those services, but it does give principals the right to decide when it’s appropriate to allow outside therapists into the school.

    Fallon Silcox

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  • USF receives $1 million scholarship gift for St. Pete campus students

    USF receives $1 million scholarship gift for St. Pete campus students

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The University of South Florida announced Monday that it had received a $1 million donation from Tampa Bay resident Johnnie Giffin to provide scholarships to students at its St. Petersburg campus.

    Giffin established the new USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy scholarships in 2023 with a $26,000 gift to the USF Foundation. Now, more students will benefit from the scholarships.

    The WLP Fay S. Baynard Class of 1988 Memorial Scholarship is geared toward full- or part-time undergraduate students in all majors and colleges on the St. Petersburg campus, and is renewable for up to eight semesters. Preference will be given to single parents or guardians of a minor who are employed at least part-time.

    “Many of our students are pursuing their education while balancing other life responsibilities, and we work to ensure they have access to the resources and support they need to be successful during their time at the University of South Florida,” USF President Rhea Law said in a release. “Scholarships such as this one are powerful tools that help our students change the trajectories of their lives, and we are deeply grateful to Johnnie for her generosity.”

    The scholarship honors Giffin’s late mother, Fay Baynard, who died in 2017. Rising from poverty in rural Mississippi, Baynard went on to create a very successful career as a St. Petersburg Realtor, earn a degree in 1988 from USF well into her work life, become a champion sailor and immerse herself in numerous local charities, according to USF.

    “I think as a person you should always try to give back, and I’m doing this for USF and for my mom, and hopefully to help give students in need an opportunity to make their way in the world,” Giffin said, according to USF’s release.

    The donation comes one week before USF’s Giving Week, an annual event that brings alumni and friends together to raise funds for a wide variety of programs, including student scholarships. 

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Polk County reading coach drives students’ success

    Polk County reading coach drives students’ success

    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Renard Thomas wears many hats within Polk County Public Schools.

    He’s the reading coach at Auburndale Central Elementary and recently he started driving kids to and from school to help with the bus driver shortage.

    “I did that because I wanted to reduce the number of school bus referrals that we had at my school,” Thomas said. “So I did it to help with discipline as well as pursue my dream as well.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Renard Thomas, a reading coach at Auburndale Central Elementary, has jumped in as a bus driver this year

    • Thomas said it has helped him build stronger relationships with his students

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    He said he always wanted to become a bus driver, so when the district needed more, he stepped up. Thomas said it has helped him build stronger relationships with his students.

    “It has positively impacted my students. They come to school, they’re happy. When I pick them up, they’re happy and smiling when I get off the bus,” said Thomas.

    He said being happy helps them learn. When he gets to Auburndale Central Elementary to start the school day, he begins by reading a book over the loudspeaker. Then he works with students in small groups on their reading skills and meets with teachers individually to go over reading benchmarks for each grade.

    “Reading is fundamental. If you don’t know how to read, then you can’t really go far in life,” said Thomas.

    Thomas wants every student to go far and accomplish their goals. He is setting an example for them each day. Thomas says he became involved with the school district when he was 19-years-old in 2011. He’s held many roles since then. He’s been a para educator, a custodian and a teacher. He says those roles have helped shape him into who he is today.

    “It has been through my experiences working for Polk County Schools that I first began to understand that my life would be rooted in service and giving back to others,” said Thomas.

    Thomas says his goal is to become a principal one day.

    “The sky is the limit to me, but I know that education is where I want to remain because I can make a powerful impact,” he said.

    Jorja Roman

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  • Community college program aims to ease HVAC labor shortage

    Community college program aims to ease HVAC labor shortage

    GREENSBORO, N.C. — As skilled labor shortages persist across the state, some community colleges are working to ease the problem. 

    What You Need To Know

    • HVAC professionals say a skill gap has contributed to a labor shortage in the industry

    • More than 700 HVAC positions are listed on indeed.com in North Carolina 

    • Guilford Technical Community College held a job fair last week connecting its HVAC program students with businesses 

    • About 90 students are enrolled in the school’s HVAC program

    Guilford Technical Community College held an HVAC job fair on Tuesday. 

    Students training in the school’s HAVC program got the opportunity to be hired by local employers. 

    GTCC student Candice Foreman said it’s one of the many ways the college helps with career development.

    “You have every opportunity out there to be successful, and this job fair is pretty much bringing that to light,” Foreman explained. 

    School officials say fewer people willing to learn a skilled trade is what led to the shortage, but that is something that is starting to shift.  

    “Companies are having to pay more to retain those employees. It is a highly skilled industry, and it is getting more technical,” said Jeff Underwood, director of GTCC’s HVAC program. 

    About 90 students are enrolled in the program.

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows North Carolina is among one of the states that employ the most HVAC workers. 

    Sasha Strong

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  • Pipeline for new nurses: AdventHealth and Saint Leo University form partnership

    Pipeline for new nurses: AdventHealth and Saint Leo University form partnership

    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — There are many reasons to choose the path of nursing as a career. 

    What You Need To Know

    • New Saint Leo University nursing students have been working 12-hour shifts, side-by-side with their AdventHealth mentors

    • The program is part of a state-wide effort to help curb the nursing shortage expected in Florida by 2035

    • The Saint Leo nursing program received $740,000 from the state of Florida’s 2023-2024 budget

    • Saint Leo’s Bachelor of Science in nursing program is expected to add as many as 200 nurses to the workforce

    A desire to help, a need to give back, or for Grace Lundfelt, it was a pull from a higher power. 

    “I felt like it was a path that God was directing me towards,” said Lundfelt of the nursing program at St. Leo University.

    Then, there is Emily Gray. As a kid, she had cancer and spent many days in and out of hospitals, so she knows well the importance of good nursing care. 

    “It can make a big difference on a person’s life,” said Gray.

    The pair are not nurses yet, but they soon will be. They are part of Saint Leo University’s first nursing class. 

    When we visited, they were doing clinical work and training with RNs at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. 

    “This is our first dedicated education unit model that we have followed at AdventHealth Zephyrhills, and we are hoping to make a pipeline for our new nurses,” said Kim Friedmeyer, Nursing Education Manager at AdventHealth Zephyrhills.

    Hospitals across the state are not getting enough people applying to become nurses. Because of this, there is a push to change the strategy on recruiting. 

    This program between AdventHealth and Saint Leo’s is government funded. The Saint Leo’s program received $740,000 from the 2023-24 state budget.

    The hope is that the investment into the Saint Leo program will add 200 nurses into the state. 

    AdventHealth Zephyrhills hopes to fill its halls with several of those new nurses. 

    “We really were trying to target, getting students within a 30-minute radius, so with those intentions that we would actually bring them on as new team members when they were finished,” said Friedmeyer. 

    Both Gray and Lundfelt have thought about applying to AdventHealth Zephyrhills after graduation.

    “Possibly yeah,” said Lundfelt. “I have had a really good experience here.”

    Erin Murray

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