Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 9-29-17

Feature
District Pays Tribute To County Mentors And Programs
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Tuesday, several African American men were recognized during the regular Hillsborough County School Board meeting. The men were honored for the creation of several programs throughout the county who mentor to young men.
Some of the programs were created as part of the Family & Community Engage- ment in conjunction with in- creasing the graduation rate in the district.
Last year, Ms. April Griffin, then Chairperson of the School Board, commis- sioned the Student Services Division, and Ross Ander- son, Community & Educa- tional Advocate Liaison for the Hillsborough County School District, to collaborate with secondary principals to develop a NET-working men- toring leadership team. The programs were designed to focus on those students con- sidered at-risk as well as those
Shown in the photograph are: G2G Founder Mentor Mickey Boddie, G3 Founder Ronnie McCullough, Men of Vision, Inc., Antonio Brad- ford, Gentleman Quest, Inc., Stanley Glover, Elite Men of Tomorrow, Yuri Higgins, Men of Vision, Inc., Alex King, III, School Board member April Griffin, Men of Vision, Inc. Founder Ross Anderson, Gentleman’s Quest Tavis Myrick, Gentlemen’s Quest, Inc., Wayne Ward, Men of Vision, Inc., Henry Washington, and Akiem Young. Chris Asberry, Collin Ivery, III, Duane Thomas, and Charles Green are not shown in the photograph.
who could become at-risk. Concentration was di- rected toward the students ranging in ages 11 through 19 years. The programs were available to any student who was in the age-range as well as considered potentially at-risk. Working in conjunction with each other, the men were able to create a team of men-
tors and programs that pro- vided educational and emo- tional support. The programs created a structured frame- work of consistent expecta- tions, activities and learning experiences.
Anderson said, “They motivate these capable young men to complete a rigorous academic curriculum by pro-
viding a support structure for academic achievement. The programs also teach life skills and highlights community service activities.”
The NET-working Men- tors Leadership team consists of April Griffin, Holly Saia, Director of Student Services, Tracy Browne, As- sistant Superintendent of Ac-
ademic Support & Federal Programs, Tricia Mc- Manus, Assistant Superin- tendent, Educational Leadership & Professional De- velopment, and 18 members.
Fourteen of those mem- bers have mentoring groups and are currently mentoring 500 young men in the school district.
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