Now in Its Third Year, ASAS Tampa Bay Has Helped Improve Educational Outcomes for Hundreds of Local, Underserved Students
TAMPA, FL (October 29, 2018) – After two years of providing tutoring, project-based learning experiences, STEM activities and enrichment to over 230 youth at Tampa’s Memorial Middle School, After School All Stars is proud to announce the school has improved from a D to a C school.
After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is a national nonprofit organization that partners with schools across the United States and is designed to bolster social and emotional learning and character development for economically disadvantaged children.
In partnership with the City of Tampa, the ASAS Tampa Bay chapter has the privilege of serving two local middle schools, Memorial Middle School and Village of Excellence Academy charter middle school, where resources are sparse and students are subject to the effects of the achievement gap.
Memorial Middle School in Seminole Heights, ASAS Tampa Bay’s inaugural site, serves a student population that is 93 percent economically disadvantaged and 91.5 percent minority. Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, the middle school was one of seven in the district designated as a “turnaround school.” This meant it had received a failing grade for multiple years in a row and faced intervention if it did not improve to a C grade during the 2017-2018 school year.
“ASAS Tampa Bay is honored to have served Memorial Middle School for the last two years, and we are so proud to have partnered with the school’s dedicated teachers, faculty and administration to help it achieve a C grade,” said Joe Mangione, Executive Director of ASAS Tampa Bay. “It was truly a team effort to help create brighter futures for Memorial Middle’s highly deserving students.”
With the 2018-2019 school year now in full swing, the work is not done yet. ASAS Tampa Bay has made it a priority to partner with Memorial Middle’s new principal and support all initiatives and strategies identified by the school’s leadership team to achieve greater student success.
ASAS Tampa Bay is also excited to be working for a second year with the Village of Excellence (VOE) Academy charter middle school, which is located just blocks from Busch Gardens in a former retail and office space. Because this is a small K-8 school, ASAS includes fifth-graders in its programming. To date, ASAS has served have served over 100 students out of a potential 150 at VOE, which is 95 percent economically disadvantaged and 98 percent minority.
ASAS provides academic instruction by certified teachers, with curriculum ranging from Spanish, art and theater and to hydroponic gardening, robotics and coding. Students also participate in fitness activities and sports, from traditional sports to lacrosse and swim lessons, thanks to a partnership with the City. Families of students at ASAS schools receive education in supporting good study habits and preventing summer learning loss, while also enjoying quality family time and engaging in celebrations of students’ achievements.
ASAS Tampa Bay continues to recruit and engage board members from the top companies and organizations in our community. Representation includes The Rays, The Lightning, Pepin, TECO, 5/3 Bank, New York Life and Fox Sports Florida.
On Nov. 10, ASAS is partnering with the City of Tampa to present the Tampa Bay Corporate Challenge, a fundraising event in which local companies compete in sporting events such as pickleball, corn hole and ultimate frisbee to be crowned the Corporate Challenge Champion. The inaugural event will be held at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and sponsorship opportunities are available.
As ASAS Tampa Bay grows and builds its capacity to serve, it fully expects to achieve the same success of other chapters across the country. Some of the results from the ASAS 2015-2016 national survey show:
• 95% of youth state that they feel more confident in themselves because of ASAS
• 92% of participants agree that because of ASAS, when they fail at something, they are more willing to try again
• 91% better understand how to make good choices about health and nutrition
• 94% try harder in their classes
• 84% better understand what to expect in high school
• 89% better understand strategies for good study skills
• 71% aspire to earn a Bachelor’s degree or higher
• 92% better understand jobs or careers they might like to have when they are older
• 94% are more confident in their ability to make smart decisions about saving and spending money
• 84% better understand how to interview for a job
• 96% are confident they can get a job
• 89% are more confident in their ability to make a difference in their community
“We are so thankful for the outpouring of support we have received so far from the Tampa Bay community. As we grow to serve more schools and expand our programming, we look forward to helping bridge the achievement gap for many more deserving students,” added Mangione.
About After-School All-Stars Tampa Bay:
After-School All-Stars ((ASA) provides comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them success in school and life. For more information about ASAS Tampa Bay, please visit asastampabay.org.
Contact:
Joe Mangione, Executive Director
Joe.mangione@afterschoolallstars.org
813-610-6916