SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2019) – The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is proud to announce a partnership with United Way Sarasota and community management group Better Tomorrows to create an after-school program for 30 children at the Janie’s Garden community in Sarasota.
The program, to be named after longtime local educators Earl and Mary Watts, will provide homework and reading support, social and emotional skills training and character building for children ages 5 to 12 who live at the apartment community, 2300 Central Ave., Sarasota.
A grand opening is planned for Monday, Sept. 30, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“The goal of the program is to wraparound support for the students residing in the community and to focus on meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of the whole child,” said USFSM School of Education Director Marie Byrd, EdD, who developed the program and will facilitate its daily operation.
Under terms of an agreement among USF, United Way Sarasota and Michaels Community Services Corporation, the parent company of Better Tomorrows, which manages Janie’s Garden, the Earl and Mary Watts After-School Program will operate Monday through Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
USFSM will hire six tutor-mentors to provide instruction. Byrd is requesting that USFSM students with a 3.0 grade point average or higher visit the online career portal Handshake to apply for the paid positions.
The program will be housed at the Janie’s Garden Clubhouse, which consists of a large central room with tables, chairs and book shelves, a kitchen/break room, bathrooms and two additional rooms for tutoring and other one-on-one instruction.
In addition to academics, the program will emphasize character building and social and emotional skills training. This focus aligns with the State Board of Education’s July 16 decision to require public school students, grades 6-12, receive at least five hours of mental health instruction.
Sarasota County schools and other Florida districts are responding to the decision by adding instructional programs to curb bullying, online harassment and other negative behaviors and to help those victimized by bullying manage the resulting emotional distress.
“With the requirement that all Florida school districts offer mental health education to students in grades six through 12, the idea for the after-school program is to start at the elementary level and provide lessons to help children learn how to deal with any social and emotional problems they’re having individually or with friends and classmates,” Byrd said.
“Research has shown that a child who has experienced effective social and emotional development will be more successful academically,” said Byrd, who expects to play a hands-on role visiting the site and overseeing the tutor/mentors.
United Way Sarasota approached Byrd about submitting a proposal for the program in the early summer. After she presented the proposal, the nonprofit group awarded her a grant to establish and facilitate the program. The grant will provide for the social/emotional learning curriculum, the character-building education curriculum and books that align to the students’ reading levels.
USFSM’s senior leadership, including Regional Chancellor Karen A. Holbrook, PhD, and Regional Vice Chancellor Brett Kemker, PhD, and leadership from the United Way Sarasota and United Way Suncoast are expected to attend the grand opening.
Also on hand will be Edwin Watts, oldest son of Earl and Mary Watts. The couple were well-known and admired administrators in the Sarasota County school district and active in Sarasota’s Newtown community.
“They had a tremendous impact on education in Sarasota and their legacies continue to be felt,” Byrd said. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to operate this after-school program in their memory.”
For more information about USF Sarasota-Manatee, visit their website.