Florida Alliance for Choices in Education

About Heartland Christian Academy
Located in Kissimmee, Heartland Christian Academy currently serves 339 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. More than 100 of the students are receiving Step Up For Students Scholarships. The standardized testing method used at Heartland is the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT). The tuition at Heartland (not including application fees, registration and curriculum) is $4,065 for K5 through fifth grade; $4,205 for sixth through eighth grade; $4,285 for ninth through 11th grade; and $4,390 for 12th grade.

Janina and Joshua Lebron
Heartland Christian Academy
Kissimmee

anina & Joshua Labron
Seeing the Lebrons’ frustration, one of Janina’s teachers told them about the Step Up For Students program. Eager to have a solution for their daughter, Karen and Julio applied for and received a scholarship for Janina. They chose to send Janina to Heartland Christian Academy, a school they felt could address her learning needs and help get her back on the right path. They were right.

Janina Lebron is a sixth-grader who has attended Heartland Christian School on a Step Up For Students Scholarship for the past three years. Once a failing student, Janina has been able to overcome significant academic challenges and get back on track at her parent-selected school. Her older brother, Joshua Lebron, who is attending Heartland for the first time this year on the scholarship program, is now excelling at higher levels and preparing for college.

Prior to receiving a scholarship, Janina struggled in public school from the beginning. She continually made failing grades and, as a result, she had to repeat second grade. Even when she was finally promoted to third grade she continued to face challenges in her classes and by the middle of the year she was in danger of failing once again. Worried about their daughter, Karen and Julio Lebron even had Janina tested for a learning disability, but the results showed that she had normal learning capabilities.

As a family with limited means, the Lebrons knew that they could not afford many options for their daughter but they did not want her to have to repeat another grade and fall behind further. So in January 2005, they refinanced their house and borrowed money from their relatives to cover the cost of sending Janina to Sylvan Learning Center for tutoring programs. The tutoring helped her pass third grade and when she finished the program nine months later she was finally scoring at grade level on the standardized achievement test.

However, the Lebrons’ happiness was short lived. When Janina began the fourth grade, her struggles began once again. She hated going to school and would even complain of stomachaches from the stress.

Seeing the Lebrons’ frustration, one of Janina’s teachers told them about the Step Up For Students program. Eager to have a solution for their daughter, Karen and Julio applied for and received a scholarship for Janina. They chose to send Janina to Heartland Christian Academy, a school they felt could address her learning needs and help her get back on the right path. They were right.

Once placed in the right environment, Janina’s struggles in school began to subside. Her teachers worked with her to improve her academic skills, especially in the critical areas of reading and math. She even entered a reading challenge contest in which she read 16 books in one year – a major accomplishment considering her past struggles with reading.

Today Janina is in the sixth grade at Heartland Christian Academy, where she consistently makes A’s and B’s and even participates in extracurricular activities such as the school’s basketball team. Janina, who was once a student who dreaded going to school, now loves going to school and is confident in her abilities.

The Lebrons were so impressed with their daughter’s turnaround that they decided to enroll one of their older sons, Joshua, in Heartland this year, also on the scholarship program. Joshua, who is a senior this year, always performed adequately in school. However, they did not think he was reaching his full potential and they wanted to see him build a future for himself and attend college. After just one semester at Heartland, Joshua now has a 4.0 grade point average and is beginning to plan for his future. He is working towards a Bright Futures Scholarship and is considering studying counseling or psychology when he goes to college next year.

About Chapel in the Pines Academy
Chapel in the Pines Academy provides a quality education for children in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.
The tuition for the elementary and middle school programs is approximately $4,000 per year. The school administers
the Stanford Achievement Test. The school currently serves 70 students, 10 percent of which are Step Up For Students
scholarship recipients.

Tevin Valdez
Chapel in the Pines Academy
Tampa, FL

Tevin Valdez
Receiving the scholarship to attend a school that could meet his needs enabled Tevin to overcome his academic challenges and get back on track. Over the past three years, he has transformed from a failing student who
was certain to be lost in the shuffle to an eager young man equipped with drive and determination.

A few years ago, Tevin Valdez’s academic future was in jeopardy, primarily because of his struggle with reading. However, through the use of a Step Up For Students Scholarship, Tevin has been able to attend Chapel in the Pines Academy, a school that has equipped him with the skills necessary to overcome his academic challenges and develop into a well-rounded individual. His success has even
inspired his mother to pursue her own dreams.

Tevin comes from a single-parent household, where his mother, Tonja Anderson, works hard to make sure the needs of her five children are met. Tevin has four sisters, including Faith Lark, who is actually Tevin’s cousin but has been raised by Tonja as her own since birth. Faith was born a drugaddicted baby and, as a result, she has struggled with severe mental development and medical issues her whole life. His two younger biological sisters, twins Angela and Angel Dell, have also struggled with medical and learning problems since a very young age.

Times became more difficult for the family when Tevin was in first grade at the local public school. He struggled with reading, causing him to fall behind in all subjects. Because of his poor reading skills, he eventually failed and had to repeat first grade. Although he eventually passed first grade, his difficulties continued well into his second grade year. At that time, his mother learned that he had vision problems, which contributed to his inability to read. Getting glasses helped, but because he had struggled so long with reading, Tevin was significantly behind in his grade level and was in danger of failing again.

Although her oldest daughter Destine Anderson was doing very well in public school, Tonja knew Tevin needed an environment that could address his specific learning needs. Determined to find a remedy for her son, Tonja applied for and received a Step Up For Students Scholarship for Tevin to attend Chapel in the Pines Academy, a school she was certain would offer him the educational structure he needed to get back on track.

Upon entering the school, the teachers at Chapel in the Pines devised a plan to get Tevin’s reading level up to par. The constructive environment combined with the support from his mother and teachers helped Tevin to greatly improve his reading skills and as a result, he began to excel in all subjects.

Now, rather than failing his classes, he consistently makes A’s and B’s. Over the past three years, Tevin has transformed from a failing student who was certain to be lost in the shuffle to an eager young man equipped with drive and determination. At barely 12 years old, he has also become very knowledgeable and opinioned, especially in the area of politics. He even keeps up with the current presidential race and has long debates with his mother and teachers on who is the most suitable candidate to be our next president! It comes to no surprise to his family or teachers that he plans to pursue a career in politics or law.

Chapel in the Pines has also helped address Faith’s unique learning needs, who attends the school on a McKay Scholarship, as well as Tevin’s two younger sisters, Angel and Angela, who also are Step Up For Students scholarship recipients. Seeing the tremendous hurdles Tevin and his siblings have overcome has inspired their mother to accomplish her own goals. Tonja recently finished her paralegal degree and is continuing to pursue a career in law. Tonja is exceedingly proud of her children and thankful to the scholarship program for giving them a chance to succeed.

Alberto Garrido
Trinity Christian Academy
Hialeah

Alberto Garrido is a 17-year-old junior at Trinity Christian Academy in Hialeah. Until he was in seventh grade, Alberto struggled at his assigned school that lacked the individualized attention he needed. Since receiving a scholarship from Step Up For Students to attend a school that would better suit his needs, Alberto’s attitude towards school has changed dramatically. Before receiving his Step Up For Students Scholarship four years ago, Alberto had low self-esteem and was failing academically. As a result, he had little ambition to succeed and wanted to drop out of school. Concerned about her son’s future, Alberto’s mother searched for a solution to help him overcome his struggles. She did not think she could afford to send him to private school, until she learned about the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program. After their application was approved, Alberto received his scholarship and enrolled at Trinity Christian Academy at the beginning of his eighth grade year. Now in his fourth year at Trinity Christian Academy, Alberto has grown into a mature young adult. He now enjoys going to school because of the supportive environment. The teachers at Trinity focus on each student individually and the staff and students are “like one big family.” His behavior has drastically improved; he no longer wants to drop out of school and even looks forward to attending college upon graduation to pursue a career as a pastor. He is also an active participant in drama, choir, flag football and basketball. The school administrators have taken notice of his achievements, and he received awards for being “Most Improved” in both ninth and tenth grades. Alberto credits his success to the Trinity teachers, who have devoted time to his personal and academic needs, and to the Step Up For Students donors who made his turn-around possible.

Adrian Harris
Heritage Preparatory School
Orlando

Adrian Harris, a junior at Heritage Preparatory School, is a newcomer on the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program since being awarded a scholarship from Children First-Central Florida (CF-CF) for the 2005-2006 school year. Although Adrian was a public school student in the Orlando area for most of his academic career, he knew a private school would provide an environment better suited to his needs. Determined to attend private school, Adrian played an integral role in securing his Step Up For Students scholarship. After learning about the Step Up For Students scholarship program, Adrian took it upon himself to ensure he received the scholarship. He advised his grandparents, who are his primary caregivers, on submitting the application and followed-up with the processors to ensure that everything was done correctly. He even included his own hand-written letter describing why he wanted the scholarship to attend private school. Since attending Heritage Prep, Adrian’s grades have improved and he is on the honor roll. He enjoys the supportive environment at the school, where all the students and administrators know one another and the teachers are very helpful. Adrian’s talents go beyond the classroom: he is also a member of the school basketball team and plays the drums in the school band. Adrian has his sights set on a bright future: his love of sports has driven him to pursue a career as a sports agent. After graduating from high school, he plans to attend college, hopefully Florida State University, where he wants to study contract law and sports management. If his determined persistence in the past is any measure, Adrian will succeed in everything he desires to do.

Narah Pena
Tampa Baptist Academy
Tampa

Twelve-year-old Narah Pena is a fourth-year Step Up For Students scholarship recipient attending Tampa Baptist Academy. Narah, who has always been a motivated and hard-working student, was given a chance to truly excel, thanks to her Step Up For Students Scholarship. Narah and her family moved to Florida from Cuba eight years ago in search of a better life and more educational opportunities. Her parents wanted to find an educational environment that would help Narah to develop personally and academically. With help from her Step Up For Students Scholarship, Narah’s parents found the perfect environment for her at Tampa Baptist Academy. Now a sixth-grader, Narah has excel led tremendously and aspires to pursue a career in business and administration. Since attending Tampa Baptist, Narah has developed a long list of achievements to be proud of. She is an A student on the honor roll, and her school has recognized her academic achievements and character development with several awards. Her teachers are not the only ones that have taken notice in her accomplishments – Narah received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence in May 2005 from President George W. Bush. Additionally, Narah was invited to introduce Gov. Jeb Bush during the Step Up For Students Rally in October 2005 at Tampa Baptist Academy.

Jarrod Dills
Trinity Christian Academy
Jacksonville

Sixth-grader Jarrod Dills is a new Step Up For Students scholarship recipient attending Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville.

Although this is only his first year on the scholarship program, his grades and behavior have already drastically improved since attending his new school.

Last year, when Jarrod was in fifth grade, he was having a difficult time at his school. He was earning C’s and D’s in his classes. By December he had already been suspended three times for fighting and was in jeopardy of being expelled. Knowing that he was a good child in a difficult environment, Jarrod’s parents researched several schools and found the perfect academic setting for their son at Trinity Christian Academy. However, Jarrod’s parents knew that they could not afford to send him to a private school. So, while going through Trinity’s application and interview process, Jarrod’s parents also applied for the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program. Shortly after, Jarrod was accepted at Trinity Christian at the same time his Step Up For Students scholarship application was approved.

Now in the middle of his sixth-grade year at his new school, Jarrod is making all A’s and B’s and has even made the honor roll. His attitude toward school has also improved tremendously. Last year, he dreaded going to school, but now he jumps out of bed, eagerly gets dressed and cannot wait to go to school, where he has many friends and participates in extracurricular activities, including sports and chorus. He enjoys geometry and has his sights set on a career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. Jarrod’s parents are very proud of their son’s achievements and thankful to the Step Up For Students donors and supporters who have given their son a chance to succeed.

Eager to have a solution for her grandchildren, Maria applied for and received
a scholarship for both Silas and Shayla. She chose to send them to VictoryChristian Academy, a school she felt could help them succeed academically
and thrive socially. Today, both students are doing well and are planning for
their future career goals.

— Carol Zoffinger
Step Up For Students Scholarship Parent

About Victory Christian Academy
Victory Christian Academy opened in 1998 to first-grade students and now enrolls 400 students in grades Prek-12, 62 of whom are on the Step Up For Students Scholarship. Located at 1401 Griffin Road in Lakeland, the school boasts a curriculum that is "traditional in content, but innovative in approach." It emphasizes reading, critical thinking, character development and learning labs while introducing advanced concepts during group and hands-on activities. The school also administers the Stanford Achievement Test. Out of 23 high school seniors last year, 20 went on to college. The annual tuition is $5,280 for grades K-5 and $5,530 for grades 6-12.

Maria Quinones-Garcia
*PARENT SPOTLIGHT*
Lakeland

Ten years ago, Maria Quinones- Garcia was determined to remove her five grandchildren from their broken home and dedicate her life to their upbringing. She left her warehouse job in Reading, Penn., and made the leap of faith to Lakeland, where she hoped the children would thrive in a new environment.

Silas Lopez and Shayla Williams were among her charges, but things weren't going well for them in their new school career. Both were enrolled at a local public middle school in Lakeland, and neither excelled academically. Lacking a father figure, Silas was at times defiant and lax in his studies. Shayla, shy and anxious in such a large school where fights frequently broke out around her, often told her grandmother that she was sick and needed to stay home.

The change upon which their grandmother would insist two years ago has also been a turning point in their lives. Silas and Shayla are now students at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland through a Step Up For Students Scholarship, and they say they couldn't be more pleased.

The turnaround has been dramatic. Silas, now 16, found the school small when he first arrived, but its size has brought out his leadership potential and inspired him to volunteer his time to school causes, his teachers and coaches say. He wound up on the football team and raised his grade-point average to a 3.1. Shayla, now 13, climbed out of her shell and eventually tried out for the volleyball team. She's now earning As and Bs. Just as importantly, school administrators say, she's smiling more. Of her new school, Shayla said, "there's no drama. No one fights here." Silas says he now looks forward to school. "You want to come. You expect to laugh," he said. They even have career goals: Shayla hopes to become a pediatrician; Silas, a doctor or a teacher.

Shayla and Silas aren't the only two grandchildren to benefit from Step Up For Students. Quinones-Garcia already has sent one grandson on to college after attending Evangel Christian School in Lakeland. That grandson's success and his emerging role as a father figure for Silas persuaded Quinones-Garcia to pursue the same option again.

For Quinones-Garcia, raising grandchildren by herself has no been easy. But she offers no complaints. In fact, she continues to reach out to help others in her community. She now works as a hospital chaplain and spends her time ministering to jail inmates in Polk County."

I knew it was going to be rough," Quinones-Garcia said of her decision 10 years ago. But she tells her grandchildren today, "When you go out to do something, sometimes you have to struggle. Not everyone has the luxury of being from a rich family."

“Through the scholarship program
my children have been afforded the
opportunity to reach their fullest potential by receiving an education that was unattainable at this point in our lives. We are ever so grateful because each day we are blessed to attend a school that not only provides for children’s special needs, but is instilling a desire to prevail not only for one self but to serve and reach out to others.”

— Carol Zoffinger
Step Up For Students Scholarship Parent

About Victory Christian Academy
Located in Lakeland, Fla., Victory Christian Academy currently serves 295 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Nearly 50 of the students at the school are receiving Step Up For Students Scholarships. The cost of tuition at Victory Christian is $5,150 for elementary and $5,400 for grades
sixth through 12th. The school annually administers the Stanford Achievement Test 10 (SAT-10).

Carol Zoffinger
*PARENT SPOTLIGHT*
Lakeland

Carol Zoffinger is a single mother of three boys – Daniel, Eric and James – two of whom receive Step Up For Students Scholarships to attend Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland.

In between working full time and pursuing her master’s degree, Carol is a dedicated mother who has a passion for her children and life. However, until six years ago, Carol dealt with a 26-year drug addiction that nearly destroyed her life. Her children gave her the strength to overcome her addiction and create a better life for her family.

Carol began using drugs when she was only 11 years old, and over the years, her addiction progressed. As her dependency on drugs grew, she cycled in and out of the prison system. When she was 29, Carol gave birth to her first child, Daniel. However, because of her instability, she lost custody of her son to her own parents. With her family divided, Carol’s downward spiral continued.

In 1998, Carol gave birth to her second son, Eric. He was born cocaine positive, which would eventually cause him to have developmental and learning difficulties. Shortly after his birth, Eric was taken away from Carol by the Florida Department of Children and Families. In 2002, Carol was incarcerated once again and soon found out that she was pregnant with her youngest son, James. After seeing the hardships she and her other two children had gone through, she knew she had to do something to save herself and her family.

Carol immediately sought help at a pregnancy care center, which lead her to Victory Church and the Salvation Army, where she found people who helped her get her life back on track. After establishing stable living arrangements through the Salvation Army Transitional Living Center, Carol was granted custody of her son, Eric. In 2003, Carol’s youngest son James was born without any effects from her previous
drug abuse.

With her new baby and Eric back in her life, Carol was determined to continue to improve her family’s life. She enrolled in Southeastern University, and over the next couple of years, she worked several jobs while going to school and taking care of her children.

Unfortunately, Eric was still struggling with learning and developmental issues, including being diagnosed with severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). When he was in pre-school, he had a hard time staying focused and would often display disruptive behavior. As a result, three different pre-schools asked Eric to be removed from their facility.

As the time came for Eric to enroll in Kindergarten, Carol feared that he would get lost in the system because of his learning disability and inability to focus. She knew he needed a more individualized environment that could offer him hands-on attention. She found the perfect setting for him at Victory Christian Academy, and with the help from the Step Up For Students program, she was able to afford the tuition.

Victory Christian provided Eric with the educational environment he needed and he developed the skills necessary to perform well in school. As Eric was making positive learning gains in school, his mother was also making some major accomplishments herself. In 2005, after only two and half years at Southeastern University, Carol graduated MagnaCum Laude with a dual bachelor’s degree in church leadership and human services.

Over the past few years, the teachers at Victory Christian have been able to help Eric overcome the challenges he faces in school and he is now a B-average student. Although Eric still struggles with reading, the one-on-one attention and open communication between the teachers and Carol allows them to address his difficulties immediately.

Another victory for the family was in December 2006 when Carol regained custody of her oldest son Daniel. Her family is complete now.

Seeing the difference that the scholarship program and Victory Christian have made for her children, Carol is determined to make a difference in her community. She hopes to help reunite and provide a safe environment for families that face challenges similar to those that she and her family have overcome. With her strength and determination, there is no doubt that Carol will make a difference in the lives of many.

About Jacksonville Christian Academy
Jacksonville Christian Academy serves children in grades Kindergarten through 12th. The school currently has 75 students enrolled and 22 are receiving Step Up For Students Scholarships. The school administers the Stanford Achievement Test. The annual cost
of tuition (not including costs for registration and books) is $3,250 for Kindergarten; $2,800 for grades 1-6; and $3,000 for grades 7-12.

Michael Long
*PARENT SPOTLIGHT*
Jacksonville

Michael Long & Family
When the Step up For Students program gave Michael Long’s oldest child, Christina, a second chance at success, he was given the hope that his family can overcome any obstacle that they face.

Michael Long is a divorced father who is raising his three children on his own – Christina Long (17), Michael Long II (15) and Mitchell Long (11). Mr. Long, who was physically disabled a few years ago, has faced many challenges with his family, including one child with autism and another with Tourette’s Syndrome and a third whose future was in danger as a result of failing grades. However, when the Step Up For Students program gave his oldest child, Christina, a second chance at success, he was given the hope that his family can overcome any obstacle that they face.

After his wife left in 1999, Mr. Long became a single father, raising his three young children alone on his limited income as a truck driver. To make matters worse, he had ruptured several discs in his back as a result of 27 years as a truck driver and had to have major surgery that put him at risk for being crippled the rest of his life. Thankfully he did not lose his walking ability, but he did have to give up his job as a truck driver, which further limited his ability to financially support his family.

These tragic events put a further strain on the family who had already dealt with many other difficulties. Michael (II) had autism, while his younger brother Mitchell dealt with the affects of Tourette’s Syndrome. The public school was able to meet the special needs of Michael and Mitchell, but unfortunately Christina had a difficult experience.

Christina was an average student in elementary school, but the transition from elementary to middle school, combined with the difficulties her family was facing, negatively affected her academic performance. She constantly struggled with English and math. She was failing all of her classes and eventually had to repeat sixth grade.

As Christina’s struggles continued, Mr. Long searched for solutions to get her back on track. He met with her teachers several times and even placed her in tutoring, but nothing seemed to help his daughter and he felt helpless. Over the next two years, Christina continued to make failing grades in her classes, with her highest grade being a C in her seventh grade physical education class. She was placed in intensive reading and math classes because she was unable to keep up with her regular classes.

When Christina was in ninth grade she began attending First United Pentecostal Church of Jacksonville. After she confided in the youth pastor about her struggles with school, he told her about the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program. Mr. Long immediately applied for and received a scholarship for Christina to attend Jacksonville Christian Academy (JCA).

Christina began her 10th grade year at JCA and Mr. Long was eager for his daughter to get the help she needed at the new school. However, because she had barely passed her classes at the public school for several years, she was behind in all subjects and her standardized test scores indicated that her comprehension skills were below grade level. Therefore, although she was in the 10th grade, she began the school at eighth-grade and ninth-grade levels for most of her classes and even as low as a fifth-grade level in English. Despite the challenges, the teachers at JCA were determined to help Christina get back on track and worked with her one-on-one for hours at a time.

Christina’s determination combined with the help she received from her teachers and the encouragement from her father paid off. Now in the 12th grade, Christina has caught up to her grade level, scoring all A’s and B’s in her classes and consistently making the school’s honor roll. Additionally, over the past three years she has received recognition for her accomplishments, including awards such as most improved, most likely to succeed and most paces completed. She even was a member of the school’s yearbook staff, a major accomplishment considering her past struggles with English and writing.

Christina’s teachers have inspired her to help other children and she hopes to go to college to pursue a degree in elementary education so she too can become a teacher. She is already getting a head start on her career by volunteering as a teacher’s aide at JCA.

Michael Long is extremely proud of his daughter and grateful to the teachers at JCA for helping her overcome extreme difficulties. He tips his hat to the Step Up For Students donors and supporters for making it possible for Christina to have a second chance for a bright future.

Rebekah Ferrari
*PARENT SPOTLIGHT*
New Port Richey

Rebekah Ferrari is a divorced mother raising four children on her own, while attending college fulltime and working to support her family. Three of her children are on the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program. The scholarship program has not only helped her children achieve academically – it has been a life-changing experience for her entire family. In 2002, Rebekah and her husband divorced, and Rebekah and her young children moved from Georgia to Florida. Shortly after, Rebekah learned about the Step Up For Students program. Rebekah’s two oldest children, Christa and Payton, were not eligible to receive the scholarships that first year because they had not yet attended a Florida public school. However, Rebekah’s younger daughter, Alyssa, was eligible because she was entering Kindergarten and the public school requirement was waived. Because of the difficulties her oldest children were already facing in public school, Rebekah was pleased that Alyssa could begin her education in an environment that was suited to her individual educational requirements. In 2002, the same year Alyssa received her scholarship to attend private school, the family faced more hardship. Because of a lack of financial support, Rebekah was forced to move to a homeless shelter with her children. The homeless shelter became the family’s only home for five months. The transition and emotional stress affected the whole family. When Christa and Payton began attending the local public school, they faced many difficulties. Christa suffers from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and it became a daily struggle for her to keep up in school and, as a result, her grades dropped to D’s and F’s. On the other hand, Payton faced very different problems in public school than his older sister. Payton has a high IQ level of 142, but he was not being challenged enough at the public school. As a result, Payton’s motivation declined so drastically that he did not care about school and he began to fail his classes. The next year, Christa and Payton received Step Up For Students Scholarships and they were able to attend a private school that could address their individual learning needs. After attending their parent-selected school, both Christa and Payton improved greatly. Both children began to make A’s and B’s in their classes and their confidence soared. Payton even worked hard enough to skip a grade! Alyssa, who had been on the scholarship program since Kindergarten, benefited greatly from her academic environment and became an excellent student in her school.

Seeing her children overcome their own struggles inspired Rebekah to get her own life back on track. She went to college and became a certified surgical assistant and, shortly thereafter, Rebekah was able to move her family into their own house. Today, Rebekah continues on her path to success as a fulltime college student pursuing a nurse anesthetist degree. Alyssa, Payton and Christa currently attend Elfers Christian School in New Port Richey. All three are doing excellent academically and have begun to develop their own plans for the future. Alyssa wants to go into the medical field like her mother, Payton plans to be a computer engineer and Christa wants to be a zoologist or a veterinarian. Rebekah is exceedingly proud of her family and thankful to Step Up For Students for making such a profound impact on her family’s life and future.

Shannon Coates
*PARENT SPOTLIGHT*
St. Petersburg

Shannon Coates is the proud parent of Taylor Barnes, a second grade Step Up For Students scholarship student at Yvonne C. Reed Christian School in St. Petersburg. The Step Up For Students Scholarship Program empowered Shannon to choose the right educational setting for her daughter to succeed. Additionally, her daughter’s success has inspired Shannon to achieve her own dreams.

Shannon learned the value of education through her mother, Ada Ward-Timmons, a longtime educator. Mrs. Ward-Timmons instilled in Shannon how important it was to receive the proper education. When it was time for Shannon’s own daughter, Taylor, to attend school, she wanted a school that would provide structure for Taylor and help her develop her many talents. She knew Taylor needed special attention to keep up with her high-energy and ambition, but she couldn’t afford to send her to the school of her choice. Shannon signed up for Pinellas County’s public school choice program but was not able to find a seat in any of her top five choices. A Step Up For Students Scholarship from Florida PRIDE gave Shannon the option to send Taylor to Yvonne C. Reed Christian School, which provided the perfect educational setting for Taylor’s needs.

Now in her third year at Yvonne C. Reed, Taylor has become a shining star. She is excelling academically and participating in several extracurricular activities, including dance classes, cheerleading and drill team, and youth choir. She was invited to showcase her extraordinary talent in dance at the Step Up For Students Donor Appreciation Rally in October at Tampa Baptist Academy. Though she is only eight years old, Taylor already knows she wants to be a professional dancer and architect when she grows up.

Taylor’s ambition and success has motivated Shannon to take action on her own goals – like going back to college.

While working full time in a doctor’s office, Shannon is also attending the University of South Florida in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. Although working, taking college courses and raising an energetic daughter is a challenge, Shannon hopes that she will serve as a role model for Taylor and inspire her to keep

The Sousa Family
Calusa Preparatory School
Miami

The Sousa family is a shining example of how one size does not fit all when it comes to the education of a child. The Sousa children – Adrian (16), Darian (12), Kristi (11), and Kristopher (6) – attend Calusa Preparatory School in Miami on Step Up For Students Scholarships. Adrian, Darian and Kristi have been on the scholarship program for five years and have excelled in an academic environment that best meets their individual needs. Adrian, the oldest of the Sousa children, attended private school in third grade, but the next year his mother, Ariadne Sousa, with three other children to care for, was unable to afford the private school tuition due to financial constraints. Adrian began to attend his local public school in fourth grade, and shortly after, he began to receive threats from his peers and got into physical fights with other students. The problems he was encountering outside the classroom affected his schoolwork and he began to make C’s and D’s in his classes. At this time, Adrian’s younger sister, Darian, began Kindergarten at the public school. That year, Darian was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in both ears and she had to have several operations to help her hearing. Her hearing difficulties caused her to have problems with phonetics and the pronunciation of letters and words, which led to her falling behind in reading. She barely passed Kindergarten and continued to fall behind in first grade. She struggled with her schoolwork and would cry out of frustration and embarrassment as her grades kept getting worse. Because of her hearing problems and reluctance to read aloud in class, Darian continued to struggle academically and failed first grade. Ariadne was at her wits end, suffering along with her daughter through this ordeal, not knowing how to help her. They wanted to retain Darian a second time, when Ariadne heard about the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program. Ariadne applied for scholarships for Adrian, Darian and Kristi. After they were approved, Ariadne enrolled all three children in Calusa Preparatory School. Upon entering Calusa Prep, Darian enrolled in the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum program, which allowed her to work at her own pace. Additionally, the small student/teacher ratio allowed her to work one-on-one with her professor. As a result, she was able to catch up on her grade level, and as her grades increased, so did her self-confidence. Now in the sixth grade at Calusa Prep, Darian is excelling. Instead of making D’s and F’s like she had in public school, she is now making A’s and B’s in her classes. She has realized her potential and is very proud of herself. Calusa Prep has also helped Adrian improve tremendously. Adrian began attending Calusa Prep when he was in sixth grade. At public school, Adrian faced threats from his peers and was making C’s and D’s in his classes. Now in the 11th grade at Calusa Prep, Adrian no longer has problems in school and is making straight A’s in his classes. In the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, the youngest member of the Sousa family, Kristopher, a Kindergartner, joined his brother and sisters at Calusa Prep with the help from a Step Up For Students Scholarship. Acknowledging the scholarship program saved her children from an uncertain future, Ariadne Sousa is thankful to Step Up For Students and its donors for giving her children a chance to succeed.

To ensure that each scholarship student has the opportunity to attend a school that meets his or her individual learning needs, Step Up For Students has partnered with hundreds of K-12 private schools that are approved by the Department of Education to participate in the scholarship
program. Many of these schools are in the low-income areas of major cities and were designed to address educational issues children were facing in their traditional public school settings. These schools serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and provide the educational foundation for students to build promising futures.

Currently, more than 950 private schools throughout the state serve the scholarship students. The schools participating in the scholarship program are an innovative breed of private school with a lower tuition rate and a more urban location than other private schools. For example, the average annual tuition rate of participating private schools in Miami-Dade County is $5,293.

In addition to working with the SFOs on processing paperwork and tuition checks for the scholarship students, schools participating in the Step Up For Students program must also adhere to a high standard of accountability. These schools must comply with the FTC program laws and guidelines, which include conducting background checks and fingerprinting on all school employees, and administering or making provisions for scholarship students to take a nationally recognized norm-referenced test and report the students’ scores to the parents and an independent private research organization selected by the Department of Education.

The following school spotlights are just a few of the schools that are working with Step Up For Students to improve our communities and increase the educational outcomes of Florida’s children.

Every year, Step Up For Students helps to improve the lives of thousands of children by giving them an opportunity to attend a school that best meets their needs. This next section includes the stories of just a handful of the many students who have graduated from high school on the scholarship program and have gone on to pursue higher education and careers.