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       The Story
    


   
Transforming Our Communities...
One Child at a Time.
   
Opportunities to Invest in a Child
For the full brochure, Click Here ( .7 M PDF)
 
More Than a School

The Joan Fortune Campus opened its doors in 1997. Set amongst historic grand oak trees, the campus is located on 22nd Avenue South in St. Petersburg's "midtown."

The school initially opened to boys in grades 5 and 6 and added a new class each year until the campus held boys in grades 5 through 8. In the summer of 2000, the St. Petersburg campus opened to girls in grade 5. The campus now serves a full complement of boys and girls in grades 5 through 8.

Academy Prep's impact is most evident through the success of its graduates. Founded in a neighborhood where less than 37% of students were graduating from high school, 95% of Academy Prep's graduates are currently in high school, college, or have already begun successful careers.

Mission
To inspire and empower economically disadvantaged urban students to be future community leaders through a rigorous middle school program coupled with ongoing graduate support.

 
 
Fifth-Grade History Students At Academy Prep Make U.S. Map

The history and geography of the United States is one of the main focuses of 5th grade history at Academy Prep. Students also explore the economic, political and cultural factors that characterized early exploration of the United States and the Americas. In addition, students learn in-depth information about each of the five regions of the U.S., and write a research paper on various states.

One of the first steps is allowing students to explore learn the location of each state in the nation.. The 5th grade girls embarked on a map puzzle project in which they had to create their own map of the United States. Here are some of the students’ results.
 
Congratulations Academy Prep Class of 2009!

Cecil Stodghill & GradsOn May 21st, 2009, a group of 15 8th graders walked across the stage at the Palladium Theatre in downtown St. Petersburg. Their families and friends filled the auditorium to show their love and support as these young people crossed a major threshold in their young lives. They had done it. Despite the long hours, the countless homework assignments, and the blood, sweat and tears they had to endure, they completed 4 years at Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg, and it was time to recognize their accomplishments.

The ceremony began with some opening words by Head of School, Dr. Keturah Mills. The Chair of the Board, Linda Marcelli, recognized all the volunteers and sponsors that have been alongside these students, encouraging and supporting them. Graduates Kezra Johnson and Lily-Anne Saengthong recited poems in honor of this memorable time in their lives. Guest speaker Andrew Williams, Academy Prep Class of 2000 and Dickenson College Class of 2008, gave some inspirational advice to the Class of 2009. He encouraged them to continue to fight the good fight, and spoke of the significant impact Academy Prep had on his success.

The Academy Prep Choir, with the help of the rest of the graduates, gave a special performance of the song "Graduation" as a slide show containing four years of memories together played in the background.

After several special awards were presented, the time came to receive diplomas. Each graduate walked across the stage and received the paper that had been four years in the making. Parents cheered as tears of joy ran down many faces. The day they had been waiting for had arrived.

So Academy Prep loosened its apron strings, and sent a new crop of graduates in to the world. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors. They truly are, the Greatest!

 
Congratulations, Jerica!

Jerica Coley, a 2006 graduate of Academy Prep, signed a formal letter of intent to play basketball for Florida International University. As a senior at St. Petersburg Cathiolic High School, Jerica is the reigning All-Suncoast player of the year, while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. Jerica will study pre-med at the Miami-based school.

Click here for more.

 

55 Seconds Of Academy PrepAcademy Prep Students Honored
In Three Local Art Shows

This spring and summer, the artwork of Academy Prep students has been featured in three local art shows - the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, the Ybor School of Visual and Performing Arts Gallery at the Hillsborough Community College Ybor campus and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in downtown Tampa.

Click Here to read more of 55 Seconds of Academy Prep

 

For additional information, Click HereAre you an Education major who needs observation hours?

Observation Hours Available

To arrange your orientation and free background
check, contact:
Jessica Strong
Phone 727-322-0800, x 2104
or Email jstrong@academyprep.org

For additional information, Click Here

 
APSP AmeriCorps Teacher Featured In Ebony Magazine

BBONY CoverJennifer Ubiera, Academy Prep St. Petersburg teacher, was featured in the November 2008 issue of Ebony Magazine, one of the oldest and most successful African-American magazines, for her opinion of the Democratic presidential nominee.

Ms. Ubiera was interviewed for the Ebony story, “President Obama: What could it mean for Black America?” following the Senator’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president:

“…sees herself in Barack Obama. ‘His story is my life, [growing up with] the single mom, student loans, wanting to give my life to service,’ she says. ‘He understands the story [of struggle] because he is the story. Listening to him, I felt inspiration to believe that I can make a difference and give my students real hope that they can do what everyone said they couldn’t.’”

Ms. Ubiera was contacted by local reporters as a follow-up to The Tampa Tribune special report, “In the Mix,” chronicling the lives of biracial Tampa Bay area residents in which she was featured. Ms. Ubiera chose the AmeriCorps program at Academy Prep because she believes in the mission of the school and their plan for their students to attain success. Obama’s ticket plans to expand the AmeriCorps program to serve more volunteers like Ms. Ubiera. She holds a bachelor’s degree (Philosophy) from the University of South Florida. Ms. Ubiera joined the Academy Prep family this year.
 
Andrew Williams – First College Grad from Academy Prep
May 28, 2008 - Sandi Pearl, free-lance writer, photographer

Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, established in 1783, held its graduation for the class of 2008 on Sunday, May 16. Andrew Williams of St. Petersburg was one of its more than 525 graduates.

Graduating with a B.A. in American Studies was just another major accomplishment for this hard-working young man. One of the first students to attend Academy Prep School in St. Petersburg when it opened in 1997, Williams was the first of his class to graduate from college. He spent his high school years at St. Andrews Prep School in Delaware on full scholarship, before going on to Dickinson, also on full scholarship.

His long-time mentors and sponsors, Charles Ehrlich and Sandi Pearl of St. Petersburg, were on hand for the ceremony. Ehrlich, a St. Petersburg attorney and Dickinson 1967 grad, presented the diploma to Williams along with college president Bill Durden amid a steady downpour of spring rain. The audience also included the graduate's mother, Tonya Mathis; his sister, Angela Parks; family friend Tim Collins; Gillian Barnes, development director at Academy Prep; and Jay Hardwick (Dickinson class of 2000), former teacher at Academy Prep.

While at Dickinson, Williams wrote for the school newspaper, The Dickinsonian, and the school's online publication, The Dickinson Extra. During the spring of his junior year, he was elected a Junior Class Senator in the Student Senate. As a senior, he worked on the Senior Class Gift Drive, encouraging students to donate to the college’s Annual Fund.

His next accomplishment? Williams has just landed a job in Washington D.C. with The Advancement Project.

Academy Prep is a private, middle school for children of low-income families in south St. Petersburg. All students, grades 5-8, attend the school on full scholarships, through the generous donations of individuals and corporations.
  
St. Petersburg School Makes Time For Variety Of Classes
St. Petersburg Times
By Ron Matus, Times Staff Writer
Published Sunday, April 13, 2008


Students at Academy Prep in St. Petersburg start their day Tuesday with the Pledge of Allegiance.

School ends for many at 6 p.m., two hours after public middle schools in Pinellas County close.


At 3:39 p.m., a half-dozen middle school students at Academy Prep, a private school in south St. Petersburg, tie on aprons. Eggs crack. Pots rattle. Bouillon cubes plunk into hot water.

"If we're doubling the recipe, how many do we need?" asks the teacher, Shan Anderson.

"Six," a student says, adding three more cubes to the broth.

For the Academy Prep kids, today's cooking lesson is chicken soup and corn bread.

Read Ron Matus' article Click Here ( 63K PDF)

 
 
 
   
What's New

Immediate
Employment
Opportunities
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Academy Prep Students Honored in Three Local Art Shows
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Wish Upon A Star

Can You Grant A Wish?
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2009-2010
School Calendar


2009-2010 School Calendar
Click Here ( 47K PDF)
 
Identifying and Reporting
Professional Misconduct
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