We at Imagine Schools, North Manatee pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our students and families as well as the way we strive to make learning fun and teaching meaningful. Every day is an opportunity for a “teachable moment”, and every day brings us another chance to reach a child and open the door for success.

Ryan McRee is one such success story. His experience is unique unto itself, but similar to that of many of our students. He comes to us from Orange Ridge, where family struggles and the loss of his father had brought him to a very low point. He now resides with his cousins who enrolled him at Imagine North Manatee as a last chance to help him find himself.

Here, motivated on a daily basis by his family, friends and educators, he is encouraged by our commitment to his growth. When asked how he turned his life around, he said, “My teachers are really nice and care more for me than anyone did in the past. Everyone is willing to offer help and listen to my needs.” At Imagine we are able to offer classes that allow students to learn by using their heads and their hands and not just to read from a text book. This has helped to stimulate better learning amongst our students including Ryan and many like him who needed to be pushed, but supported along the way. It allows a sense of freedom, and ownership of what is being taught. Ryan described his thoughts best by saying “I can’t picture things in my mind, but I can build it and show you how to do it. We all have different ways of learning.” Ryan has moved from an at-risk student to a proficient level in his last benchmark assessments. We showed him we believe in him, and we gave him the tools he needed with the opportunities to see his own success.

Submitted by: Jennifer Lucas, Principal, Imagine at North Manatee Jennifer.lucas@imagineschools.com

North Manatee & North Port to Provide 21^st Century Afterschool Program

St. Petersburg, Florida– Educate Today, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization, has created a partnership with Imagine School North Manatee Campus and Imagine School North Port Campus to provide 21^st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool programming.

This three million dollar grant, over the course of five years, will provide a FREE educational afterschool program to 220 students, kindergarten to eight grade; five days a week, for three hours per day AND eight hours per day during five weeks of summer.

Our program is focused on helping students meet statewide academic achievement standards in reading, science, and mathematics by pushing for learning gains and to challenge even high achievers. Technology and common core materials are at the forefront of programming.  The 21^st CCLC program provides two hours per day of engaging and hands-on academic activities and one hour of personal enrichment activities, such as sports, character and leadership development, performing arts, & robotics to name a few.

Please consider making an online donation by clicking here to give . 

Contact: Glenton Gilzean Jr., M.S.
Founder / Executive Director
Educate Today, Inc.
A 501c3 non-profit organization
1201 22^nd Street South,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33712
727.491.8416 Office
727.214.9042 Fax

BOYNTON BEACH — “Wanna see my book report?” asks first-grader Johnathan Ponce, pointing up at a colorful wall covered in student work.

Michael Kooi of the Florida Department of Education turned around obligingly to look at Johnathan’s hand-drawn cover.

“Very nice,” he murmured, still half bent over from talking to the seated students.

On Tuesday, Kooi and State Board of Education member Barbara Feingold toured two Palm Beach County charter schools as part of National Charter Schools Week.

The weeklong event is meant to celebrate what charter schools offer in terms of school choice, and to spread awareness of charter schools as a public school option. According to Kooi, National Charter Schools Week was initially begun in 2000 under then-President Bill Clinton.

After a stop at G-Star School of the Arts in Palm Springs, the group – accompanied by school district officials and school board member Marcia Andrews – headed to the Imagine Schools – Chancellor Campus to tour the Boynton Beach K-8 school.

G-Star officials gave a presentation in the school’s sound stage of the innovative film, acting and digital media offerings it had before offering a tour of the school to talk about its new International Baccalaureate program and its need to upgrade its facilities.

Imagine Schools also took officials into several of its bright, colorful classrooms in its two-year-old facility to see students and teachers at work. It pointed out small class sizes, innovative lesson plans and a waiting list of more than 500 students. And it showed off its media specialist, who comes dressed up every day in theme. Tuesday, she was dressed as Mother Goose.

“Today was a positive eye-opener,” Feingold said after the tours. “Schools in Palm Beach County are flourishing. ”

Across Florida, charter schools have seen a surge in enrollment in recent years.

Part of the growth at charter schools can be attributed to proponents in state and national government. They range as widely as the Obama administration, which has championed high-quality charter schools with its $4.35 billion Race to the Top initiative, and Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott.

Indeed, President Barack Obama called charter schools “incubators of innovation” in his presidential proclamation declaring this week National Charter Schools Week.

Both G-Star and Imagine administrators praised the Palm Beach County School District for its help, calling the district “charter-friendly.” Imagine said the district immediately offered grief counselors when one of the charter school’s teachers suddenly died this past weekend.

Feingold acknowledged that there is sometimes tension between school districts and charter schools, who have to compete for students and therefore for state funding.

“Good charter schools will make regular public schools run higher,” Feingold said. “The State Board wants every school to succeed that wants to succeed, whether public, charter, private or whatever.”

Dancing with a 7-foot blue shark, 16-month-old Victoria Sennett was among those enjoying themselves at the Imagine School of North Port’s second annual PTO carnival.

The moment did not last long at the event April 28 on the sports field of the middle school. Something spooked Victoria and she ran back to the safety of the vendor booths, where she watched a group of teenagers take over her dance spot with the school’s mascot.

Dancing was just a sample of the fun activities at the carnival. There were a number of crafts, games and bouncing activities as well as demonstrations from various dance and exercise studios.

Third-grader Dominick Trinidad’s idea of “huge fun” was the Velcro Fly, in which he could bounce, jump and stick to the wall repeatedly.

From the smiles on their faces, fifth-graders Nick Renaud and Junior Meza agreed that competing in the jousting arena using giant poles was their idea of fun.

Helping the younger students with a couple of the games, sixth-graders Braden Castillo and Noelle Allen volunteered to work at the carnival.

“We don’t get community service hours for this, at least not this year,” Braden said. “But we’re having a lot of fun helping out.”

The carnival, sponsored by the PTO, is intended to help offset the cost of school supplies at the charter school. Just as important, it was a celebration of the end of two weeks of FCAT testing for the students.

“We used to have to purchase an agenda at the start of each year,” said Amy Renaud, parent of fifth-grader Nick. “It’s a book for homework assignments. Now with the carnival, the PTO funds the cost and that’s a good thing.”

The majority of the booth vendors were local organizations, businesses and clubs that support the school throughout the year.

While the carnival was a fundraiser benefiting the elementary, middle and high school families, there were a few activities that were geared toward individual class needs.

Taking a pie in the face “for a good cause” Assistant Principal Lisa Sturz was among the staff and teachers who volunteered to let people, mostly students, pay $2 to put a pie plate of whipped cream in their face.

The popular pie booth was a fundraiser for the upcoming eighth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C.

“Imagine is like a private school, many advantages, everyone taking care of everyone, only without the cost,” Bob Renaud said.

He said the PTO is always trying to find ways to help with the expenses the parents and teachers can incur when it comes to the education of the children.

With the belief that schools must provide physically safe and emotionally secure environments for all students and school personnel, Imagine Clay Avenue Community School is working to be part of the solution to end bullying in schools.

Mrs. Cynthia Williamson, middle school dean of students at Clay Avenue, said, “We recognize that bullying is a concern across the nation. However, we understand that in order to heal the hurts of bullying it must begin with each person to make a difference.” Mrs. Williamson said Imagine Clay Avenue Community School has always strived to provide a positive climate that emphasizes and recognizes positive behaviors and doing the right thing, but the students and staff wanted to call attention to the issue of bullying and make their school a model of understanding and acceptance toward all. Mrs. Williamson and Mr. Dwight Scales, Imagine Clay Avenue self defense teacher, jointly created the anti-bullying campaign at Imagine Clay Avenue.

Imagine Clay Avenue will highlight their commitment to being part of the solution with an anti-bullying rally on April 25 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the middle school campus, 1120 Horace Avenue. The theme of the rally is “Imagine Bully-Free: It Begins With Me.” Mrs. Williamson said the rally will offer fun and excitement while students learn how to handle conflict in a successful manner. A variety of speakers will address the issue. Students will perform skits from their own experiences and original theme music written for the event. Students practiced their skits in Mr. Scales’ self defense class.

“As the dean of discipline, I get teachable moments every day to help our students understand how they can prevent bullying and be part of the solution. This is a task we educators in every school must be relentless about. Our society cannot grow weary of the vigilance it takes,” Mrs. Williamson said.

“We understand it takes a village to impact the lives of our children. We don’t just want to talk about bullying, we want this to be about stopping bullying and living peacefully,” she said.

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Students at Imagine Charter School in North Port are taking the FCAT this week, but next year another high stakes test would decide if they can stay at their school. The school is proposing new and current 6-12^th graders take an annual drug test.

“I think it would keep our school safer,” says 9th grader Emilee Barnes.

“It’s not a violation of our civil rights. You have to set an example for younger kids,” says Morgan Sarver, another 9^th grader.

School leaders proposed the idea of drug testing students to the Sarasota school board, but Principal Justin Matthews says it’s not because this A-rated school has a drug problem. “We have zero incidents of any drugs on campus in our 4-year history. I consider this to be a proactive measure in order to protect our students. It’s not reactive measure,” says Matthews.

If a new or current student were to test positive, Matthews says they’d be helped. “Counseling for the child, counseling for the parent, not immediate expulsion out of school,” he says.

“I don’t believe it’s legal,” says Sarasota school district attorney Art Hardy. He says drug testing all students violates their 4^thamendment rights, which protects them from unreasonable searches.

Right now, students can be randomly drug tested if they participate in extracurricular activities or sports. Matthews says attending a charter school is as much a student’s choice as signing up to play a school sport, but Hardy says that’s a battle the district does not want to fight. “We don’t want to necessarily be the next Supreme Court case. Let someone else do that,” he says.

Joy Wilson’s daughter attends Imagine Charter School. She says she randomly drug tests her daughter at home and supports testing her the school. She says, “It makes me feel my child going to school in a safe environment.”

One charter school in Sarasota drug tests all of its students. Hardy says the Sarasota Military Academy offers a school-wide ROTC program for all its students. He says this is considered an extracurricular activity, which falls under the Supreme Court ruling.

Hardy says the school board is not in favor of allowing the school to drug test all 6-12^thgrade students. Matthews say he may ask those students to be voluntarily drug tested next school year.

There are 75 Imagine schools nationwide in 12 states plus DC. There are six schools in the Bay area, including three in Sarasota County, two in Manatee County, and one in Pasco County.

ST. LOUIS, MO (April 17, 2012) — Jason Bryant, Executive Vice President of Imagine Schools, today issued the following statement in response to the state board decision:

 “Imagine is extremely disappointed by today’s ruling.  This decision has been made without providing us any opportunity to show the progress made on these campuses since last fall. Further, we had expected at least to meet with state officials to present the schools’ progress and work together to achieve a path forward that is in the best interest of students and their families.  The voices of over 2,500 St. Louis families who have chosen Imagine charter schools have been ignored.

Imagine Schools has worked in close partnership with the governing boards to implement the necessary steps detailed in the school improvement plans.  We are very proud of our students’ accomplishments, and we want to continue to foster their progress. Two schools, Imagine Environmental Science and Math and Imagine College Prep High School, are performing well and are not under academic probation.  For the past two years, 100% of the Imagine College Prep’s graduating seniors were accepted to institutions of higher education, and the upcoming class is nearing that same achievement. Together, members of the Class of 2012 have been awarded approximately $550,000 in financial aid.  Two campuses, Imagine Careers Elementary and Middle, have made significant progress meeting their school improvement plans and are prepared for review.

Given the significance of this decision, the 3,500 Imagine students and their families deserve a fair and transparent process, which was not afforded them today by this abrupt decision.  In the days ahead, we will consult with the governing boards and consider all options that best serve the interests of the students and their families.”

# # #

Imagine Schools is a national operator of 75 public charter schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia.  In partnership with local governing boards, Imagine Schools educates 3,500 students in grades K-12 on six public charter campuses in St. Louis, MO. Imagine Schools partners with parents and guardians in the education of their children by providing high quality schools that prepare students for lives of leadership, accomplishment, and exemplary character.

*For Immediate Release*
Contact: Mary Ellen Cummings
314-241-3050
Maryellen.cummings@imagineschools.com

The Clark County School Board unanimously voted Thursday night to allow a two-star-ranked charter school in North Las Vegas to operate for another six years.

The 100 Academy of Excellence is one of seven charter schools granted authority by the Clark County School District to operate outside of the district. Every six years, charter schools must renew its charter — or contract — with the School District to continue operations.

Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that receive state per-pupil funding in exchange for greater accountability. These schools are given greater freedoms in their curriculum and budget, but receive no funding for school buildings and its charter may be revoked at any time if the school fails to meet its educational goals.

100 Academy was granted its charter in July 2005 to operate as a K-8th grade school aimed toward at-risk minority students, many from low-income households. The charter school opened a year later under a partnership with Imagine Schools — a charter school management company — and the 100 Black Men of Las Vegas — a local nonprofit organization serving the black community.

In the six years since it opened, 100 Academy saw three principals replaced and several major compliance issues including being unable to present a balanced budget. Although it showed some academic growth, 100 Academy failed to make its annual yearly progress goals under the federal No Child Left Behind law for the past three years. Student enrollment plummeted from a high of about 600 students in 2008 to 345 students last year.

The situation looked dire with the School District threatening to revoke 100 Academy’s charter. However, in recent years, the school has begun to turn around, said Daniel Tafoya, director of the district’s office of charter schools.

Under the new leadership of Principal Peggy Selma, 100 Academy has worked with the School District to comply with state laws regarding teacher qualifications, health and safety codes and school amenities. As a result, the number of compliance issues has dropped from 31 in 2009 to 6 in 2010, Tafoya said, adding that the school scored second highest among the district’s seven charter schools last year.

Selma, who came to the struggling school in 2009 after a long career with the Los Angeles Unified School District, has made strides in turning the school around, Tafoya added.

Under Selma’s tenure, all but two of the staff at 100 Academy are now considered by the district to be “highly qualified,” and the school plans to work with a top-performing school to emulate best practices. Further, the school has been working with parents and volunteers from the 100 Black Men of Las Vegas who regularly mentor 100 Academy students.

“We’re not an employment agency, but an education agency,” Selma said. “We won’t be satisfied until we have five stars.”

100 Academy also resolved its budget issues with Imagine Schools, which operates 75 charter schools in 12 states and Washington, D.C. In 2008, Imagine forgave $285,000 in debt owed by 100 Academy and allowed the school to pay rent on a per-pupil basis to save overhead costs at the Imagine-owned school facility at 2341 Comstock Drive in North Las Vegas.

Test scores have continued to improve as well. Last year, 100 Academy made adequate progress in all subjects at every grade level except for English Language Arts, according to Ron Grogan, chairman of the charter school’s governing board.

As a result, student enrollment has gone up from 345 students last school year to 558 students this year, Grogan said. That’s a sign the school is moving in the right direction, he said.

“As a charter school, our parents vote for our school with their feet,” he said. “Our parents aren’t leaving. In fact, they’re coming back.”

Although School Board members expressed some hesitation over renewing 100 Academy’s charter, they all threw their support behind the school despite its “checkered past.” The School District has never revoked a charter, although two charter schools have closed of their own volition.

“We’ve allowed so much complacency in our system,” School Board member Deanna Wright said. “I feel a sense of urgency we can no longer do that. But I feel like you guys have gotten a hold of that and are moving in the right direction.”

School Board member Chris Garvey said she too was encouraged by the school’s improvements, but requested to have a one-year checkup of 100 Academy after the 2012-13 school year.

School Board member John Cole agreed, issuing a sharp warning to 100 Academy leaders. Although underperforming schools in the past were able to hide behind the shadows of the fifth-largest school district in the nation, it won’t be tolerated under a new regime that is trying to shine a light on school performance, he said.

School Board President Linda Young said she was “very, very pleased” with the new direction of 100 Academy. “I’ve always believed in the capacity of 100 Academy, she said. “It has been a checkered past … but similar to CCSD, it’s trying to move the dial.”

Clark County Schools Superintendent Dwight Jones — who implemented a school ranking system in February — said he supports 100 Academy, despite its two-star ranking, after visiting the school and meeting its principal. He added jokingly that the “100 Black Men have made it clear to keep my hands off.”

Tafoya, the district’s director of charter schools, said all public schools have “peaks and valleys” and that charter schools — especially those working with traditionally underserved children — have a difficult time getting started. He said he is confident 100 Academy of Excellence is on the right track toward earning its namesake “excellence.”

The School Board approved 100 Academy’s charter renewal by a 6-0 vote, with School Board member Erin Cranor absent. The board room — packed with nearly 100 school officials, parents and students wearing gold and black uniforms — erupted into applause.

“They’re going in the right direction. To kick their legs out from under them would be bad,” Tafoya said. “I’m very proud of these guys.”

ARLINGTON, VA (April 12, 2012) —Imagine Schools was recently named a finalist in the National Schools of Character (NSOC) Program, sponsored by Character Education Partnership (CEP) annually to recognize schools that encourage high student achievement, mutual respect, and integrity among students, faculty and staff.   Leaders for Imagine Schools celebrate this recognition as a commendation for the important work that is being done on each Imagine campus to nurture students and ensure comprehensive efforts in positive character development.

Imagine Schools is one of the 28 NSOC finalists and is the only national charter school organization recognized from an applicant pool of 126 schools and districts across the United States. (http://www.character.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012-National-Finalists-Press-Release-final-2.pdf)

As a national family of 75 public charter schools, Imagine Schools employs over 3,800 educators, school leaders, and support staff.  Educating over 40,000 students, Imagine Schools consistently seeks to ensure that character is modeled and integrated into every aspect of the school day. Helping students become better sons and daughters, citizens, leaders, and friends is essential for our communities and nation to prosper.

Eileen Bakke, Imagine Schools’ co-founder and Vice President for Education stated, “Positive character development is one the five Measures of Excellence by which we hold ourselves accountable.  Through goal setting, effective implementation of character programing, and thoughtful planning, our educators are working daily to reach, inspire and challenge each student to become a person of high ethical character.”

Bakke concluded, “We are excited to demonstrate how our students are embracing the character and leadership skills that will make them more successful in life. We are committed to raising students to be good as well as smart.”

In 2011, Imagine South Lake Charter was one of 44 schools nationally to be recognized as a CEP School of Character.  Additionally, CEP recognized 12 Imagine campuses and the national office for Promising Character Practices.

# # #

Imagine Schools is a national family 75 public charter educating over 40,000 students in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Imagine Schools partners with parents and guardians to educate their children by providing high quality schools that prepare students for lives of leadership, accomplishment, and exemplary character.

News Release
Contact: Krystal Sherrill
616-340-0365
Krystal.Sherrill@imagineschools.com

BAY AREA – Students who attend charter schools in Florida are excelling, according to the Florida Department of Education.

A new report shows that students who attend charter schools outpace their traditional public school counterparts on state assessments.

The report, Student Achievement in Florida’s Charter Schools: A Comparison with Achievement in Traditional Public Schools, is a statewide analysis of student achievement in charter schools versus the achievement of comparable students in traditional public schools. It’s required by state law.

“This report clearly demonstrates that charter schools are a viable option for parents,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Charter schools offer a wide range of educational environments to meet the needs of students and their families.”

Using data from the 2010-11 school year, the report makes 168-comparisons covering three measurements: FCAT proficiency percentages, achievement gaps, and learning gains.

Each of these measurement areas are further broken down to offer a more detailed view of student achievement.

The FCAT proficiency section of the report contains 54-separate comparisons of student achievement using both overall rates of proficiency by grade groupings and comparisons of subgroup performance.

In 50 of the 54 comparisons, charter school students outperformed traditional public school students.

The achievement gap section contains both longitudinal and current data to analyze the gap between white students and African American students, and white students and Hispanic students in reading, math and science.

The achievement gap was smaller for charter school students in 16 of the 18 comparisons.

The learning gains section of the report makes 96 comparisons of learning gains made by charter school students and traditional public school students. Charter school students had higher average learning gains in 79 of the 96 comparisons.

Charter school enrollment up

Meantime, parents and students are noticing charter schools more than ever.

Enrollment is up at charter schools around the Tampa Bay area.

Stacey Kantazar’s, daughter is in fifth grade at Imagine Charter School in Lakewood Ranch.

She said she transferred her to this school three years ago from a traditional public school.

“Our daughter has ADD,” said Kantazar. “We wanted to go to a class size that was smaller and a little bit more tightly knit as a school.”

By switching to a charter school, she accomplished those goals.

Kantazar said her daughter who was once struggling in school, is now excelling.

“The class sizes were getting really big, as they are across entire county, and private school is so expensive, so a charter school is kind of the best of both worlds,” said Kantazar.

Stephen Sajewski, Imagine school’s leader, said since opening their doors in 2008 their student population has increased.

“Since we’ve started in 2008 with 57-students, each year we’ve grown,” said Sajewski. “Right now we’re at 620 students.”

This isn’t the only school seeing growth, charter school enrollment is up district-wide.

Since the 2009-2010 school year in Manatee County, the numbers went from 2,703 to 3,686 in 2011-2012.

During that same time frame in Polk County, enrollment went from 10,404 to 11,004.

And in Pinellas County, enrollment jumped from 2,492 to 4,128 during that time.

“I think word of mouth has gotten around in area that we’ve made a difference in public schools or maybe kids needed to be challenged,” said Sajewski.

Charter schools are independent public schools with the autonomy and flexibility to provide expanded learning opportunities to meet students’ individual educational needs.

Charter schools are overseen by a governing board while being held accountable to state standards for academic performance and financial solvency.

Charter schools receive state funding like public schools on a per student basis.

However, they receive less money. Right now there is a push to get more funding for these schools.