Daytona Beach’s Lemerand Center of Excellence marks its first anniversary, celebrating tangible educational advancements for Title 1 elementary schools.
Cassandra Griggs sees profound changes in her daughter, Mila, over the past year since joining the Lemerand Center of Excellence. Mila’s journey from struggling with reading concepts to taking ownership of her learning and collaborating effectively with peers exemplifies the center’s impact. Griggs notes, “She advocates for herself as well, and I see opportunities where she wants to collaborate with peers and build strong friendships.”
The Lemerand Center of Excellence, an after-school program at Daytona State College, serves students from Palm Terrace and Turie T. Small elementary schools. These institutions attract Title 1 designation and underscore the center’s mission to foster academic excellence among underserved communities.
At a recent event at the Mori Hosseini Center, the program celebrated its anniversary, attended by notable figures including Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin. Balgobin emphasized the value of education as a powerful tool every child deserves. Volusia’s Chief Academic Officer, Julio Nazario-Valle, highlighted the program’s success stories, citing a 79% improvement in English-Language Arts and 100% improvement in math. The students’ participation in vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies, and math fluency speaks to these achievements.
Philanthropist L. Gale Lemerand’s $500,000 funding contributed to the center’s creation. Designed to elevate academic performance through innovative methods, the center collaborates with Food Brings Hope and Daytona State volunteers to offer a comprehensive support system. From transportation to supplemental instruction, and even meals, students benefit from an environment conducive to growth.
Individual student stories echo the program’s significance. Kadell Hines, a fifth-grader, experiences academic, mental, and social improvements through access to tutoring and resources like a library. Maachaiah Brown articulates the confidence gained and the safe space provided by the center, enhancing her reading skills and self-esteem. Similarly, Ashton Maddox appreciates the college campus atmosphere and the opportunity to share this learning journey with his younger brother.
For students like Mila, the small group instruction and progressive exposure to academic standards provide a head-start in their educational journey. These efforts illustrate the wider community’s commitment to holistic student development, an aspect summed up by Nazario-Valle: “It takes a village.”
The Lemerand Center of Excellence stands as a testament to collaborative efforts in education, fostering a nurturing environment for significant academic and personal growth.
Source: News-journalonline
