Hello. My name is Megan Hendricks, Alachua County public school parent and proud graduate of Hawthorne High School and the University of Florida.
I’m here today to talk about the impact of test-based accountability on our schools and our community.
Florida’s public schools are under attack. The focus seems to be on accountability, with the primary measurement being standardized tests (namely, the FSA).
There is an assumption that these tests are accurate measurements of student learning, teacher effectiveness and overall school quality. Research and real world experience has challenged those assumptions. Studies have shown that standardized tests do not translate into long-term learning gains or better cognition. I have provided you with more information about that in your packets.
The impact of Florida’s test-based accountability system is profound.
- Families are making decisions about where to send their children to school, or even where to purchase a home, based on school grades – which use a formula almost entirely based on test scores.
- College readiness has been shown to decrease when emphasis is placed on test scores.
- The teacher shortage in our state is reaching crisis levels. In 2011/2012 in Alachua County, there were 3,440 applications for teaching positions. In 2017/2018, there were 584. This isn’t an Alachua County issue. In August, 2018, there were 4,000 vacancies statewide, which is up from 3,000 the same time last year. This is equal to 1.4 million students without a teacher for one or more of their classes.
- Billions of dollars of funding have been funneled into the creation and evaluation of tests that could have been used to provide much-needed resources to help children succeed.
- Children are spending an inordinate amount of time taking tests and preparing for tests that they could be spending on authentic learning.
- Schools are being threatened with closure based on test scores. My own high school was at risk of closure this past year. As the largest employer in the city, closing this school would have not only impacted the school, but dismantled the community. I’ve visited Terwilliger Elementary recently, which is currently at risk of closure or turnover because of test scores, and talked with their staff and parents. Schools like Terwilliger need more resources and support from our state, not closure threats and scrutiny of their teachers.
- The stress created by high stakes testing is effecting our children’s mental health. A recent study even showed that the stress associated with tests has a disproportionate effect on children of poverty.
At the end of the day, we have to decide what’s most important. Do we keep up the philosophy of “If it can’t be measured, it doesn’t exist?” Or, do we look at what really matters for our children, our teachers, and our schools.
Thank you.
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It’s often said that a public school is the pillar of a community. That has never been more true than in Hawthorne, FL. With a city-wide population of just over 1,400, Hawthorne is the very definition of “small town.”
The city’s two public schools (Shell Elementary and Hawthorne Middle/High) are deeply rooted in its very core. In many cases, the schools are responsible for educating third and fourth generations of families, many of whom still live in the area. Students not only go to school together, but live in the same community, go to the same churches and shop at the same grocery stores. In addition to serving as a place to learn, the schools are often a second home to many, providing socializing, sports and mentoring.
This sense of community may come to a screeching halt if the middle/high school closes its doors in the coming year. A recent bill passed by the Florida legislature (known as HB7069) provides the state with the ability to close a school if its school grade is lower than a “C” for multiple years. Many have questioned the validity of the school grading system, especially when using it for high stakes decisions such as closing schools. Read more about the school grading system.
To show support in keeping the school open, some alumni recently shared their (brief) stories* in the Facebook group: HHS Reunited (and in subsequent Facebook posts). Here’s a glimpse into some of their lives, accomplishments, and just how far this school’s roots have spread.
Tashun Anderson Sr., c/o ’92
20 years in the Navy… retired
Sara Bristow Andino, c/o ’95
AA from Santa Fe, BA from UF in Elementary Education, and Masters from UWF in Educational Leadership.
Charlene Batton Beebe, c/o 1991
Graduated from UF in 4 years, Agriscience teacher, currently working on my Masters. Also help my husband run a family business.
Haley Benefield, c/o ’13
AA in Nursing and Certified Surgical Technologist.
Judy Miller Blanton, c/o ’87
I am the director of a Early Childcare Center. I have my Director’s credential and a National CDA. I am also a early childhood teacher at this center. I am currently finishing up my AS degree in early childhood education. I have worked in this field for 20 plus years. This is largely in part from my years at Hawthorne High/Middle School where I was a part of the Future Educators of America and also had awesome role models at my school.
April Brown, c/o ’94
I have a BM in Music Education from Valdosta State University and a MA in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. I taught music for many years in Alachua County and it was some of my best teaching years! I was honored to earn Teacher of Year twice and was a District Teacher of the Year Finalist. I have spent most of my career in education. Recently, I was on staff as Director of Children’s Worship at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. After a move to Savannah, Ga. I accepted a position as Director of Children’s Ministries for Southside Baptist Church in Savannah Ga. As a former student and Teacher of Hawthorne schools, I hope that those in positions to save our school will see how much students and families in Hawthorne need HHS. Hawthorne students can’t just go to school anywhere. The students need teachers and administrators who understand their backgrounds and can meet them where they are. Success is within their reach if someone would care enough to go the extra mile.
Richard Deford, c/o ’89
Went to CFCC in Ocala for music. Have done revivals and concerts in 19 states plus Germany, Austria and Jamaica. Was ordained and licensed in 2001 as a pastor and have served in that capacity since then. I work full-time as a Healthcare Chaplain and Hospice Chaplain at a local hospital and am endorsed as such by the trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Grace Mae Dickerson, c/o ’01
Went straight into the Dental Assisting program at Santa Fe and finished in 2002. 15 years as a Certified Dental Assistant and currently working on prerequisites for the Dental Hygiene program.
Chad Driggers, c/o ’13
Senior Controls Systems Engineer
AS. Electronic Design
BS theology
BS electrical engineering
MS information systems development
Cisco Certified
Security+ infosec
Tony Fackender, c/o ’82
Went in Army for 4 years after graduation then FL Army National Guard. Worked for Lowe’s 15 years as a member of management. Afterwards became a truck driver and have owned my own for 6 years. Doing well as HHS helped teach me the skills needed in life to succeed!!
Peggy Ferguson, c/o ’72
I received an AA from Santa Fe College, BS from UF in Elementary Education, MS in Reading & Ed.S in English from Nova Southeastern University, & Ph.D in Clinical Psychology (Biblical) from Cornerstone University. I worked for Alachua County Schools for 37 years as a teacher, reading coach, and teacher specialist. I also worked for the State of Fl Department of Education as a Trainer in Reading First during the summer and I’m currently retired.
Nancy Ferrell, c/o ’87
Have 2 degrees in computers, a real estate license, I have worked for over 20 years in the restaurant industry, plus management, owned my own business for several years, now am a stay at home person for my little farm due to illness.
Jason Taylor Floyd, c/o ’17
Majoring in History and Education at Santa Fe. Hope to be teaching high school history after college.
Megan Newman Hendricks, c/o ’92
I graduated from the University of Florida in 1997, and then obtained an MBA from the University of South Florida in 2000. Having worked in higher education for most of my career, I’m now the Executive Director of a global professional association of business schools and employers.
Joy Lane Hicks, c/o ’92
MBA with Finance Specialty. Worked as VP of Financial Data Management for 13 years before starting my own home restoration and design business in Jacksonville. I don’t understand the reasoning behind closing this school. Like many, it’s not perfect but for this community it’s everything.
Don Johnson, would have been C/O 93 (moved in 91)
Own a Digital Marketing Agency as well as a couple other business interests.
Kim Carter Johnson, c/o ’88
BS in Pharmacy from Florida A&M. Retail Pharmacist in Gainesville area for 20 years.
Patricia Lawrence, c/o ’92
I graduated in 1992, got my bachelor’s in Accounting in 1996, currently work for Alachua County Clerk of Court as an accountant.
Kim Meyer, c/o ’88
Masters in Nursing Management and Leadership, Nurse Manager of Maternal Newborn Care, University of Utah Health
Cindy Parsons Milligan, c/o ’90
AS Degree in Business Administration and Management. I currently have my own home rental business. In the past, I have worked for the Chairman and CEO of a Fortune 500 Holding company doing various jobs as office management, travel coordinator, personal assistant and helped with board meetings arrangements/dinners. I owe Coach Raccioppi a huge thank you for arranging for us to do a business project of running a business in Economics class! How awesome was that my fellow classmates! I could go on for many teachers when I was there . The teachers are the heart of a school in which the children benefit from their dedication! Good luck even tho I can’t make meeting!
Amanda Moore, c/o ’00
M.Ed in Educational Psychology and Human Performance from FSU. Principal Consultant at Microsoft.
Jessica Morris, c/o ’98
CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) Currently pursuing my masters. I am ACLS certified, CPHQ certified, NIH certified, TPA certified, level 1 trauma nurse with certifications specializing in traumatic brain injury and spine trauma as well as stroke. I’m currently the Sepsis Coordinator at NFRMC and drive that program for NPSG house wide.
Travis Pierce Sr., c/o ’10
Own and operate a tree service since 2010!
Jacquelyn Randall, c/o ’02
B.S. in Cardiopulmonary Science from Florida A&M working as an RRT. Currently seeking my M.B.A.-Healthcare Management from St. Leo University
Natasha Roberts Nelson c/o 92
AA/AS/EPT/CVT/CMA
Home health aid “92-“99
Currently-Electrophysiology/Cardiology
Desiree Saputo, c/o ’05
LDO,ABOC, NCLE (Henderson)
Licensed by the FL Department of Health and Medical Quality Assurance to practice Opticianry.
Certified Optician ( Nationwide )
Certified Contact Lens Fitter ( Nationwide )
Currently Employed by Maculogix as an Executive account manager. I work with Optometrists and Ophthalmologist groups to fight the #1 disease causing blindness in patients over the age of 55 (Macula Degeneration).
Adam Silvia, c/o ’93
SGT USMC / Lt in the Navy (Pilot). 2 x BS degrees in Marketing and Finance from Hawaii Pacific University, MBA from State University of New York at Albany. Regional Operations Manager for the Northeast for Airgas.
Rick Smith, c/o ’92
Senior Wireless Engineer for C3Wireless
Tracy Taylor, c/o ’92
Deputy Sheriff, Sgt. In the Investigations division at the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office for 9 years, City of Trenton Police Department Chief of Police for 3 1/2 years, now working at UF Health Shands Vista as Security. FDLE Certified Instructor, Taser Instructor, DEA Academy Graduate, etc. Hawthorne High School in my opinion is the backbone of that city. The school has produced phenomenal people that have changed the world.
Amanda (Hayes) Thomas c/o ’98
A.S. Business Administration – Management from City College Gainesville Fl, B.A. Accounting from Ashford University, currently work for UF as a Grants Accountant in the Contracts and Grants department. My siblings attended HHS, and now my niece and nephew are in our wonderful Hawthorne schools! 
? Hornet Pride!
Misty Tompkins, c/o ’01
I graduated 2001 went straight into the Marines. I now have an Associate-Business Administration- Colorado Technical University- B.S in Health Science West Texas A&M about to complete a 2nd Bachelors degree in Forensics. In January of 2018 My job title will be Forensic Consultant. Thank you everyone who is working hard to save our school.
Johnny Tucker, c/o ’66
3 Graduate Degrees: Master of Aeronautical Science (Embry-Riddle), Master in Airport Management (Embry-Riddle); Master in Business Administration (Univ of Calif – Sacramento); United States Air Force – 20 years; Retired Major, Senior Pilot; Chief of Standardization/Evaluation Division (SAC); Chief, Consolidated Training Flight; Squadron Officer School (in residence); Air Command and Staff College (Beale AFB, CA); Air War College (Maryland); Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT – Craig AFB, AL); United Airlines Pilot – 26 years (Captain/First Officer, Flight Engineer) Boeing: 727,737,707,757,767,747…Thanks to Larry Reeves of Hawthorne for teaching me how to fly small prop planes. I could go on and on…but it all began right there in little ol’ Hawthorne High School, Hawthorne, Florida.
Shelby Fidler (Walker), c/o ‘14
Dual Enrolled during Jr and Sr years at SFC. Graduated with an AA and EMT in 2014. Then graduated from Santa Fe College with my RN in 2016 with Honors. Currently working as a Mother Baby RN at North Florida Regional Medical. Going back for my BSN this summer.
Allison McKinney Williams, c/o ’02
I attended Chester Shell Elementary from Kindergarten – Fifth & Graduated from HHS as Salutatorian of My Senior Class. I went on to graduate with Honors (Magna Cum Laude) from Lake City Community College in 2009 with an AS Degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I am currently not doing Health Care anymore but I am the Administrative Assistant for Lighthouse Christian School in Middleburg, Florida. HHS was a great place to be and the staff made it that way. I have fond memories there. The students don’t make or break a school the staff’s team work, love & dedication shape a school into what it is. I loved my Middle School/ High School Experience at HHS. We were a family back in my day. Teachers were mothers and fathers to students, Pop was our Grandfather and I wouldn’t have it any way. Loretta (the lunch lady) 
? attends my church and still has the Sweetest Smile I ever did see. I am glad I had the opportunity to grow up at HHS!
Wendy (Terry) Wood, c/o ’89
AA SF Health Science. Working towards BS in Healthcare Administration and Business Management. 14 years @ UF , now employed at UF Health Shands. Bring Hornet Pride Back!! Our community is about family!
While the school is certainly not without its challenges, closing its doors will not only displace 300+ students, many of whom may have to be bused to outlying cities, it will cause of rift in the very community it has been a part of for decades. Parents, alumni, students and community members are coming together to ask the district and the state to provide the supports and resources necessary to keep the school open. In takes a community, and we are #AllIn!
*Posted with permission
]]>One of the boundary changes affected my subdivision. I attended boundary committee meetings, school board meetings and community forums and witnessed families in tears, begging the district not to move their children out of the schools they loved. Neighborhoods were split up and torn apart. Emotions were high. Sadly, this is not the first rezoning I’ve witnessed.
This issue is not unique to Pasco County. It’s affecting school districts across the state.
Why are our schools so overcrowded?
Funding for new school construction comes from three sources:
- Millage (property taxes). The amount of millage that can be allocated toward school construction is determined by the state. The current amount ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable home value) was lowered from $2.00 in 2008 and 2009 during the recession and has not been raised since the market recovered.
- PECO (Public Education Capital Overlay, derived from utility services) distributed by the state. In recent years, PECO funds have been diverted away from traditional public schools to charter schools. The percentage of PECO funding allocated to traditional public schools was lowered even more by the legislature in a 2017 bill.
- Impact fees (taxes levied on new homes built), which are determined by County Commissioners.These are one-time payments that can only be used to finance capital infrastructure. Current impact fees for a single family, detached home in Pasco County are $4,876. These fees have not been increased since 2005.
Ray Gadd, Assistant Superintendent of Pasco County Schools, explains school funding and Pasco’s situation to a local School Advisory Committee:
Read the district’s explanation of sources of Capital School Funding.
School capital funding has not caught up with population growth, resulting in many schools not having the space for all of the students located within their boundary area.
Pasco County (as well as many other districts in Florida) are in dire straight regarding capital funding for school construction. With an estimated growth of over 5,000 students in the next three years, many new schools will be needed, but the district lacks the funding to build them. In the 2017/2018 school year alone, the county is looking at an overall budget deficit of $8.7 million.
What can we do to fix this?
Let your elected officials know that our children deserve schools that have the resources needed to provide them with a high quality education.
If you are in Pasco County, contact the County Commission, and ask them to support the school district’s request to raise impact fees. If you are in another county, research your district’s situation. All Florida residents can also contact their state legislators and ask that they allocate more PECO funding to traditional public school construction, and allow schools to increase the millage rate back to pre-recession amounts.
]]>School Board members:
I’m here tonight to ask for your help fighting education reform. Thank you, in advance, for listening.
My husband recently left his job after teaching elementary school in Florida for 22 years. Like many teachers before him, this was a decision that was not made in haste. He stayed in the system for years after education reform began, but there came a time when he simply could no longer continue. When I asked him the main reason he left his chosen profession after so many years, he responded with “I can no longer make a difference, because my hands are tied.” He didn’t leave because of the low pay (he knew about that when he entered the profession). He didn’t even leave because of the benefits that have slowly disappeared over the years. He left because of the politicians and others with no business making decisions thinking they know better than teachers who have studied pedagogy, created curriculum and lived the profession for years.
Some of those in the education reform world might respond with “he’s just one of those old school, veteran teachers who needs to leave anyway.” Well, by the state’s own measurement, he is “highly effective.”
I’m telling you this so that you will know that this is personal to me. You see, the negative effects of the state’s accountability system on teachers’ jobs not only affected my husband, but they affected my family as well.
As a result of my husband’s new position, we will be leaving Pasco County at the end of the school year. I’m deeply saddened to be leaving this district, where we have created a life and most importantly have found a public school that is a second home for our children. I will continue my fight to save public education, just from another place.
And speaking of fighting, I’m sure you are aware of the recent research produced by the Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition indicating that teacher merit pay doesn’t work. Orange County is asking the Florida legislature to remove merit pay from the Florida statutes, and I’m here tonight to ask you to do the same. I know the decision is made at the state level, but you do have the ear of our legislators, and I’m asking you to speak to them. Let’s remove all of those tests that were only created to evaluate teachers, and restore the autonomy that was taken away from our classrooms. We have to do this to keep even more teachers from leaving, and address the teacher shortage that we know is such a problem here in Pasco County.
Florida Senate Bill 964 was filed recently, which removes several high stakes tests, changes the timing of the testing window and eliminates tying a teacher’s evaluation to test scores. Please reach out to our legislators in the Senate and the House, as individuals and as a School Board, and ask them to support this initiative.
I have enjoyed getting to know you all through the years, and I thank you for all of your communication. I wish you all the best of luck.
]]>Tonight, I would like to give you a parent’s perspective on my vision for education in Pasco County.
I would like ALL schools to have the resources and support they need to succeed, not just those determined to be high performing based on an invalid test and an arbitrary school grading formula created by politicians.
I would like authentic assessments to be used for their intended purpose – to inform teachers and personalize learning – NOT to evaluate and punish teachers or schools, or simply to compare students against each other within the district.
I would like decisions to be made by people, not by data.
I would like personal information collected about my child to remain private, and not made available for corporations that stand to profit from education.
I would like teachers to be respected as the qualitied professionals they are, and for them to have the autonomy and flexibility to do the job the district hired them to do.
I want all classrooms to allow children to learn in the most appropriate ways, as determined by educators, not by businesses or politicians.
I want children to receive a well-balanced education that includes studies in arts, humanities, social studies and other important subjects – not just popular buzz words like “STEM.”
I want teachers to look forward to going to work every day.
I want students to enjoy going to school each day, instead of worrying about what test they have to take.
I want ALL publicly funded schools to be held to the same expectations for accountability – not just traditional neighborhood schools.
I want technology to be used as a supplemental learning tool when it is developmentally appropriate, not as the primary means of learning, to the point where it is replacing teachers in some situations.
School Board members are elected to protect public education, and yet it seems to be falling apart around us. I want you to make the tough decisions and fight the tough battles. I know it’s hard. But, if parents, teachers and even students can fight, so can you.
I’ll leave you with a quote from a Pasco County High School student’s TEDx speech last year, when asked about the changing face of education:
“The standardized education system is effecting teachers and their ability to teach their students…..Instead of learning what they need to learn, they’re learning what the state is forcing them to learn.”
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When I applied to be on this committee, one of the things I mentioned in my application was that have a lot of pride in our public school system. My parents were public school teachers, and I have worked at public colleges most of my life.
I’ve noticed that a lot of parents are not happy with the education system in our state. The reason I joined this committee is because I want to help change that – so that parents will take pride in saying their kids are in public schools and will feel good about sending their child to school each day.
I read a survey recently from Pew Research Center that stated that working parents feel more stressed and have less time to spend with their children now than ever before. We need to consider the demands that public school is placing on parents, how that is contributing to this stress, and how it affects family engagement with schools.
When parents have to relearn subjects they learned in school in order to be involved with their children’s learning, it places a huge burden and time constraint on already stressed families. These same parents see their children crying and anxious about the tests they’re being given in school, and that also affects their relationship with schools and their desire to be engaged.
As we discussed during our mindset exercise about parent involvement at a previous meeting, parents should feel comfortable sharing their concerns with their school. However, we need to realize that a lot of the things parents are unhappy with are not decisions that are made at the school level – such as the Standards and the high stakes placed on testing. This, of course, affects engagement.
One of the things on the list of considerations for our mindset exercise was the notion that parents should be involved in making decisions about their schools. Yet, out of 55 items in our deregulation worksheet, only 8 (15%) had a “yes” in the parent column, and none of those 8 things have to do with instruction.
If we really want to increase family engagement, we need to start listening – really listening – to the concerns parents are sharing about the experiences and struggles their children are having in schools and be willing to make real, tangible changes to address those concerns.
We also have to pay attention to what we are asking teachers to do. Teachers have much more administrative work than in the past, and all of that eats into the time they would normally spend communicating with parents. There are only so many hours in the day, and we know that teachers are already spending a lot of their personal time grading tests and planning class work. If we could somehow ease the administrative burden on teachers and administrators, they could spend more time on these more meaningful activities like family engagement.
]]>The University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Bill Jackson was named Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) at its annual conference in Tampa January 22-25.
The USASBE’s top award recognizes substantial contributions to advancing the way educators think, teach and learn about entrepreneurship.
Conducted in conjunction with the University of Tampa, the 2015 annual conference, “Sun, Fun and Innovation — Advancing Entrepreneurship Education and Research,” took place at the Downtown Tampa Hilton.
USASBE’s annual gathering is considered the premier national conference for entrepreneurship scholars and educators, and offers a symposium for best practices in entrepreneurship education and program development.
“I’m very humbled by this award,” says Jackson, director of the Entrepreneurship Program at USFSP. “It’s an individual award and honor, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the Entrepreneurship Program.”
Here is a Q&A with 83 Degrees in which Jackson defines entrepreneurship, what advice he gives to those just starting out and what more he thinks could be done to nurture the local entrepreneurial community.
83D: To what do you attribute the success of USF St. Petersburg’s Entrepreneurship Program?
BJ: It’s been the contributions of the entire team. I was extremely lucky when I was asked to start the program here to be able to find some tremendous people, the first person being Daniel James Scott, the next Nathan Schwagler and then John Morrow as our Entrepreneurs In Residence. I also think a part of that success is the eagerness of the students wanting a program like this and how quickly they jumped on board, getting involved not only with the program but with the community as well.
83D: What websites or books do you recommend for budding, as well as seasoned entrepreneurs?
BJ: One of the focuses of our educational side has been business modeling, using Alex Osterwalder’s book on Business Model Generation. A contemporary book is Michael Porter’s book on Competitive Strategy, an important component of entrepreneurship. There’s also Startup Owner’s Manual and Entrepreneur’s Guide to Customer Development by Steve Blank.
83D: Where do you look for thought leadership on entrepreneurship?
BJ: We are lucky in the Tampa Bay area to have some of the most known thought leaders in the nation right here. It’s kind of unusual for one community to have that. Some of these people are Rebecca White at the University of Tampa and Michael Fountain at the University of South Florida. We also have some very good young people who will be future thought leaders, such as Eric Lagori at the University of Tampa, Diana Hechavarria at USF, Daniel James Scott at USF St. Petersburg and Reuben Pressman, the first graduate of the USF St. Petersburg Entrepreneurship program.
83D: Who do you look to as mentors in your field?
BJ: Some of my own mentors are past recipients of the Educator of the Year Award, like Jeffrey Cornwall at Belmont University, Michael Morris at Oklahoma State or William Bygrave from Babson College. These are some of the people that have paved the way for the entrepreneurship programs that are cropping up across the country.
83D: What qualities make a good entrepreneur?
BJ: One size doesn’t fit all, but certainly being willing to have an open mind and use it in a creative way is absolutely critical for entrepreneurial success. I don’t always see entrepreneurship as any riskier than a lot of things other people do. Some people are prepared, and it isn’t as much as a risk. We all know that you have to work hard. Sometimes it may very well be the individual that can see around the corner where others can’t – whether we want to call that luck or intuition. The number one thing in my mind is the ability to use their own creativity to see potential solutions to problems that exist.
83D: What more does Tampa Bay need in order to better support its entrepreneurial ecosystem?
BJ: Over the last four or five years, we’ve made tremendous strides in that area. I do think we still have a problem in terms of funding sources and mentality of funding entrepreneurial start-ups. We’ve made such strides in bringing mentors together, developing support systems that we haven’t had in the past, and really having a true environment of entrepreneurship here. We’re missing on the funding side.
The college admissions process can be confusing, cumbersome and at times overwhelming for some high school juniors and seniors.
College application processes vary widely, with many requiring essays, letters of recommendation and lengthy forms, not to mention multiple deadlines and course requirements. Many students don’t even bother to apply for financial aid for fear they won’t qualify (in the 2012-13 academic year, just 43 percent of public high school seniors in Florida completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Schools have College and Career Counselors, which are sometimes different than Guidance Counselors, to help students navigate this process. However, at some schools there is a critical shortage of these positions, leaving many students to fend for themselves.
“When students don’t have the resources to get into college and are left to their own devices, it doesn’t take much for them to get off track,” says Troy Miller, senior researcher and policy analyst for the Florida College Access Network (FCAN).
Introducing: The Cube
Parents at Robinson High School in South Tampa, which has one College and Career Counselor for 1,500 students, have stepped up to help fill this need.
“The Cube” (College Career Center, or C cubed), is a place where students can go for information such as career planning, college and financial aid applications and how to sign up for the SAT or ACT.
A group of 10 parents volunteer to work in the Cube in shifts of two or three hours, once per week. The trained volunteers have open-ended conversations, sometimes one-on-one but also in small groups. The focus is on impacting students based on their individual needs and goals. The volunteers served more than 150 students in 2012-13, the Cube’s first year of operation.
“It’s very rewarding,” says Meg Fernandez, Robinson High parent who helped start the initiative. “The kids are really receptive. They’re looking to do something great with their lives.”
Fernandez helped create the program at Robinson after starting a similar one at Plant High School in South Tampa a few years ago. Her inspiration came from her interest in vocational interests and background as a headhunter for 13 years. Having a daughter at Robinson also gave her access to the administration and other parents.
“I have a passion for this,” Fernandez says. “I really would love to see that people are able to self-actualize in their lives.”
Funding was provided by a parent-run foundation that raises funds for special projects within the school. Omnia Group donated furniture and supplies for the space. Employees from local construction companies Soleil and Sample Properties helped with the build out.
The Cube at Robinson is one program at just 10 schools statewide that recently won a Parent Involvement Award from the Florida Department of Education.
“We really just want to help those kids get there. It’s good for all of us when young people are successful,” says Fernandez.
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CAMLS, the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation in downtown Tampa, will soon build a new facility in Panama to expand its ability to teach medical providers in Central and South America.
The research and innovation center uses innovative simulation technology and robotics to enable students, doctors and residents to practice the latest surgical techniques in a safe environment. The concept is an advancement of modern learning and has the potential to transform the healthcare industry.
A feasibility study for the Panama expansion that began in April was recently accepted by SENACYT, the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Panama. The facility — similar to the Tampa facility, but on a smaller scale — will also serve southern Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the Caribbean Islands.
Such partnerships help “us establish global recognition for USF as a leader in transforming healthcare education for all specialties,” says Deborah Sutherland, CEO for CAMLS and USF Health International Foundation, the group that is managing the Panama expansion. “It also brings more visibility and recognition to the Tampa Bay area as a true force in biotech development.”
The two facilities will participate in student exchanges, allowing USF students to study health care and priorities in urban as well as rural communities in less developed nations, where they can learn to treat diseases that have been fully eradicated in the U.S. CAMLS was part of recent local efforts to encourage Copa Airlines to provide direct flights from Tampa International Airport to Latin America, which will help facilitate the exchanges.
CAMLS will have a licensing agreement with the new organization, which will allow them to use the USF name and all of the components of the operation, including the curriculum. USF will also assist them with mentoring and relationships to help them identify resources.
Sutherland says CAMLS is also considering international expansion projects in Brazil, Mexico and Lebanon. These countries are interested in the medical tourism industry, and are seeking Joint Commission International accreditation for their hospitals. CAMLS assists with credentialing healthcare professors to assist with achieving this accreditation, which sets the standards for healthcare quality.
CAMLS served just under 15,000 learners in its 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Tampa in its first year of operation, with 472 training activities. They are predicting 20,000 will be served this year now that they are fully functional. The Panama location is expected to serve over 18,000, both from Panama and surrounding regions.
]]>North Port resident Jodi Johnson overcame adversity and internal fears to take the first step toward earning a college degree, and now the 39-year old New College of Florida student says she’s glad she returned to school and hopes to encourage others to do the same.
Like many people, Johnson began her college studies directly after high school. But after getting pregnant her junior year, she dropped out, thinking college just wasn’t her priority.
Nearly three years later, her then-husband died of a drug overdose, leaving her suddenly widowed with a two-year old son. The experience left her feeling overwhelmed and somewhat smothered.
“I felt like I needed to sort of prove myself,” says Johnson. “I couldn’t be dependent on anyone else again.”
Four years later and remarried, she moved to Florida with her husband and son in 2000. They were attracted to the Tampa Bay area during a vacation in Sarasota, where they fell in love with the weather, culture and amenities.
A variety of part-time administrative jobs that followed just didn’t seem to give her the mental stimulation and satisfaction she needed. At the age of 35, it was ultimately her mom’s pushing that prompted her decision to return to school.
“I was on the phone with her and driving by State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), and I decided to stop in and look.” Half an hour later, she was registered for classes.
At first, the experience was very scary for Johnson. She was apprehensive about being older than many of the other students. She also worried about brushing up on some of the required courses.
“I felt terrified to tears of math class,” she recalls. She had to take five math courses to obtain her associates degree, which turned out to be a big self esteem builder.
“I can’t say enough about State College,” says Johnson. “They have a great program that really encourages adult learners.”
Earning Her BA Degree
Once she became acclimated to being in school, she got involved with leadership organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She also co-founded the Awareness Initiative Program at SCF, designed to raise awareness of drug and alcohol dependence. “That really showed me that I have leadership skills — that I wanted to push myself.”
In 2010, Johnson transferred to New College of Florida in Sarasota, another intimidating and uncertain step because of the school’s reputation for selecting only the best and brightest.
“School really taught me not to be scared of failure,” says Johnson. “I thought, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ ”
Now a year and a half into her studies at New College, Johnson plans to graduate in December 2013 with a BA in anthropology. “I’ve always had this interest in other cultures, and telling their story.”
Her school has been funded mainly through scholarships, as well as Pell Grants.
Johnson was recently appointed to the Sarasota Historic Board of Commissioners and is establishing the Ancient Waters Foundation to preserve and educate people about Florida’s historical and archaeological water-based resources. She is trying to raise awareness of the vast amount of culture in Tampa Bay. “I don’t think people realize all the Gulf coast offers.”
When asked what advice she would give to others thinking about returning to school, Johnson says she tells everyone she meets: “Don’t be scared of failure. Push yourself. You just have to jump in and go for it.”
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