EDUCATIONAL SEMINOLE EDUCATIONAL i From K-12 to College: A collaboration for student success l e a c n o o sys te u cat SEMINOLE
What is an Educational Ecosystem? St. Petersburg College has teamed up with Pinellas County educators, and business, community and faith-based leaders to create Educational Ecosystems for K-12 students to prepare them for success in school and life. Through these ecosystems: Educational, business and community partners meet regularly to refine efforts to support student success Students visit SPC campuses to learn early about college life and the importance of education Participants provide guidance and support to students and parents Elementary, middle and high school teachers collaborate to help students and parents transition between grade levels Inspiring students Studies have found that middle school students benefit, both academically and vocationally, from programs that promote career exploration and the need for education and training. Research also shows dramatic decreases in drop-out rates and improved ninth-grade retention in schools with transition strategies. When communities work together to help the children in their neighborhood succeed, the solutions are more targeted; connections are more natural and students are personally inspired. 2
Community engagement The Pinellas County Education Ecosystem is based on the idea that it takes a community to educate a child. Led by St. Petersburg College, the Ecosystem is a collaboration of parents, non-profits, businesses, faith-based community orginizations and K-12 schools and colleges coming together for one reason student success. The program started as a grassroots effort in 2013 among five school principals and their School Advisory Committee (SAC) members who wanted to broaden their impact with students. Since that time local Educational Ecosystems are thriving in Seminole, South St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs with additional Educational Ecosystems planned in other areas of the county. How Educational Ecosystems Work It s about engaging the community in the educational process. Educating the youth in the community should not be the response of just the school district or just the college; it really should be the response of the community and only together are we going to be successful. Jesse Coraggio Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Services at SPC 3
Reaching students from South St. P 1 Our connection to the community is our way of 2 reaching families to provide more than just an 3 education. The 4 partnerships we ve established 5 are a shared 6 responsibility to mentor, collaborate and 7 8 education the community. La Kesha O Neal Community Relations Coordinator, SPC 1 - Tarpon Springs Campus 2 - Clearwater Campus 3 - EpiCenter 4 - Veterinary Technology Center 5 - Seminole Campus 6 - Health Education Center 10 9 7 - St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus 8 - SPC Downtown 4 9 - SPC Midtown / Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Midtown Center 10 - Allstate Center
etersburg to Tarpon Springs With 10 campuses located in communities from Tarpon Springs to South St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg College is distinctively suited to help develop Educational Ecosystems in the neighborhoods where students live and attend school. The Pinellas County Educational Ecosystem works to connect the dots by strategically coordinating and delivering student support, community resources and educational advancement along the pathway from elementary to middle and high school, preparing youth for success in the K-12 system and beyond. Making connections Educational Ecosystem activities target student success on many levels with activities such as: Regular principal s breakfasts Parent and school workshops to discuss transitioning to high school College campus tours for elementary, middle and high school students Mentoring programs SPC Majors Fairs Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Nights events Picture Yourself Here events inspire elementary students to start thinking about college early Commit to Complete events feature motivating speakers and activities to inspire students to finish high school Annual collaborative meetings to evaluate progress and set goals We have seen great success in the Seminole area through the Ecosystem s collaborative efforts to unite schools, parents, businesses, churches and non-profits around a focus on enhancing educational outcomes for our youth. Dr. Michael A. Grego, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent 5
Educational pathways The programing in each Educational Ecosystem goes well beyond simply helping youth see post-secondary education as an option, to providing in-depth activities that target the critical transitional years when youth move from elementary to middle school, middle to high school and high school to post-secondary or career. It is my hope that each community will make the effort to join with one another to know where their students come from, where they are going and what can be done to connect this journey. - Lisa Bultmann, Principal, Bauder Elementary School Commit to Complete Transitional times in a young person s life can be fraught with questions, confusion and uncertainty. Each Educational Ecosystem will use curriculum, such as Commit to Complete, which combines the use of college students, motivational speakers and hands-on activities to address the barriers that often cause youth to struggle academically and socially. College 101 6 College 101 is a new program that focuses on clarifying common financial and academic concerns about attending college. St. Petersburg College s new College 101 blog is a resource developed for parents, teachers, guidance counselors and students with helpful information like: Navigating the FAFSA process Things to consider when choosing a college Does a degree pay off? Visit the blog at blog.spcollege.edu/college101
Career readiness St. Petersburg College is working closely with Pinellas County Schools with targeted programming to assist K-12 youth with career readiness. Programs such as College Reach-Out Program (CROP), a program that provides services and summer programs to motivate and prepare disadvantaged, low-income middle and high school students to succeed in college and Academic Enrichment Centers (AEC), collaborative, community-based centers in dedicated to promoting student success through academic, cultural and social programs, provides students career readiness opportunities. These programs include services such as: Academic and career counseling Career exploration Career planning Educational and cultural field trips The college also offers summer opportunities for K-12 youth. For more information, please visit www.spcollege.edu/summerprograms. 7
EDUCATIONAL From K-12 to College: A collaboration for student success Partnering with Pinellas County Schools Since its inception, St. Petersburg College has worked closely with the Pinellas County School system, serving more than 10,000 children and teens a year through a variety of programs, including summer camps, tutoring, college tours, dual-enrollment and early college programs, College Reach Out Program and more. Learn more about SPC s partnerships with Pinellas County Schools at: www.spcollege.edu/pcspartners CONTACTS For more information contact us at one of the following St. Petersburg College campuses: Downtown/Midtown Centers Dr. Kevin Gordon 727-341-7195 Seminole Campus Mark Strickland 727-394-6100 Tarpon Springs Campus Dr. Marvin Bright - 727-712-5702