EDUCATIONAL Ed

ucat

ional ecosystem

• • SEMINOLE • •

S E M I N O L E

EDUCATIONAL

S E M I N O L E

Educ

at

ional ecosystem

• • SEMINOLE • •

From K-12 to College: A collaboration for

student success

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 refi ne eff orts 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 studentsStudies have found that middle school students benefi t, 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

students are personally inspired.

Community engagementThe 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-profi ts, businesses, faith-based community orginizations and K-12 schools and colleges coming together for one reason – student success.

The program started as a grassroots eff ort in 2013 among fi ve 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.

“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 Eff ectiveness and Academic Services at SPC

3

How Educational Ecosystems Work

4

Reaching students from South St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

10

9

8

“Our connection

to the community

is our way of

reaching families

to provide more

than just an

education. The

partnerships

we’ve established

are a shared

responsibility

to mentor,

collaborate and

education the

community.”La’Kesha O’NealCommunity Relations Coordinator, SPC

1 - Tarpon Springs Campus

2 - Clearwater Campus

3 - EpiCenter

4 - Veterinary Technology Center

5 - Seminole Campus

6 - Health Education Center

7 - St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus

8 - SPC Downtown

9 - SPC Midtown / Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Midtown Center

10 - Allstate Center

5

Reaching students from South St. Petersburg to Tarpon SpringsWith 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 connectionsEducational Ecosystem activities target student success on many levels with activities such as:

• Regular principal’s breakfasts

• Parent and school workshops to discuss transitioning tohigh school

• College campus tours for elementary, middle and highschool students

• Mentoring programs

• SPC Majors Fairs

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Nightsevents

• Picture Yourself Here events inspire elementary studentsto start thinking about college early

• Commit to Complete events feature motivating speakersand activities to inspire students to fi nish high school

• Annual collaborative meetings to evaluate progress andset goals

“We have seen great success in the Seminole

area through the Ecosystem’s collaborative

eff orts to unite schools, parents, businesses,

churches and non-profi ts around a focus on

enhancing educational outcomes for our youth.”Dr. Michael A. Grego,

Pinellas County Schools Superintendent

Educational pathwaysThe 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.

6

“It is my hope

that each

community – will

make the eff ort

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, BauderElementary School

Commit to CompleteTransitional 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 101College 101 is a new program that focuses on clarifying common fi nancial 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

7

Career readinessSt. 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 fi eld trips

The college also off ers summer opportunities for K-12 youth. For more information, please visit www.spcollege.edu/summerprograms.

EDUCATIONAL Ed

ucat

ional ecosystem

• • SEMINOLE • •

S E M I N O L E

EDUCATIONAL

S E M I N O L E

Educ

at

ional ecosystem

• • SEMINOLE • •

Partnering with Pinellas County SchoolsSince 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

CONTACTSFor more information contact us at one of the following St. Petersburg College campuses:

Downtown/Midtown CentersDr. Kevin Gordon – 727-341-7195

Seminole CampusMark Strickland – 727-394-6100

Tarpon Springs Campus Dr. Marvin Bright - 727-712-5702

From K-12 to College: A collaboration for student success