Commenting on the school’s improvement to a “B”, Taskforce Chairman Doug Lockwood commented, “Principal Gina Williams, her staff, teachers and students at WHHS deserve a congratulatory round of applause for WHHS’s dramatic improvement from a D to a B school. As a community, we must make every effort to improve all our public schools with the goal that each of them excel in every way. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to create the best education possible that all of our kids need and deserve. But what a great start for the Blue Devils of Winter Haven High!”

According to reports, Principal Williams first announced the news to the school via the public address system … shortly after ordering a celebratory cake!”

Go Big Blue!

Tresa Warner

Tresa is a young professional that has far exceeded expectations as an educator and community activist. Her numerous contributions to the community are no secret. In addition to her passion as an educator, over the past 10 years she has served as President of the National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation (the national non-profit organization dedicated to the identification, treatment and cure of urea cycle disorders). She has also teamed with foundations and organizations such as the National Health Reform, Urea Cycle Disorder Consortium, family support and fundraising to support that foundation’s cause.

In addition she raised $14,000 for a student with Burkitts Lymphoma, $10,000 for a student needing a prosthetic leg, and provided 19 families and 69 children with holiday gifts.

As an instructor, nothing is more important to her than education. She is 100 percent dedicated to the development and empowerment of the students’ education and is involved in organizations such as iMAG, DECA and the new Winter Haven Public Education Partnership (all focused on furthering education for students).

When asked if there was an individual that she feels has made an impact on the growth and development of young professionals in the Polk County community, she answered, “Seretha Tinsley is a role model for all professionals in Polk County to aspire to. In the short time that I have know Mrs. Tinsley, she has inspired me to dig deeper, look harder and dream bigger for the youth of our community.”

As for her own greatest accomplishment, her response is swift, “Work with NUCDF to change the course of my daughter’s life and the lives all patients affected by Urea Cycle Disorders.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from Florida Southern and a Master of Business from Webber International University. She is the Marketing Education Instructor at the iMAG Academy at Lake Region High School.

We honor Tresa Warner, 2011 Polk Emerging Leader.

Enjoy their new Sunday Brunch: 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Brunch will include complimentary mimosa upon your arrival.

Carving stations feature roast beef and pork replete with Yorkshire pudding. You’ll also enjoy a soup and salad station. A delicious way to help a great cause … our Winter Haven public schools.

Tickets for the brunch are $22 each and available at Tanner’s or the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Lobby. $8 of every ticket will go to the Public Education Partnership project.

The Public Education Project or P.E.P. is a key recommendation of the Educational Outcomes Committee that evaluated Winter Haven schools earlier this year. It was Chaired by Doug Lockwood.

This is their first “P.E.P. Rally!” Come, bring a friend and help kickstart this important effort to improve our educational outcomes.

New buttons featuring Polk State's new look were on hand at today's unveiling.

In an effort to underscore the educational excellence they strive to represent, Polk State College today unveiled a new series of bold graphics that will represent the college as it moves forward.

Polk State President Dr. Eileen Holden noted that a good mascot should reflect the excellence of the college. Other mascots in Florida were reviewed and found in many instances to represent the local region in some way. The college’s “Viking” image didn’t seem to fit and a virtual “logo soup” had developed over the past 47 years.

Holden then noted, “We’re excellent and our mascot/logo should be as well.” She then unveiled the new “Eagle” mascot. As pictured here the new “Eagle-on-shield” logo represents “secure, assertive, stable, dynamic, open.”  In a word, “Polk-tastic!” (Note added 7/29: There are more than 200 bald eagle nests in Polk County … approximately 20% of all those is Florida!)

The school’s initials will no longer be used — hence forth the name is “Polk, Polk State or Polk State College.”

It’s a new day.

USF Polytechnic Regional Chancellor Dr. Marshall Goodman, explained why the university is funding the program. “The United States faces stiff global competition from China, India and other countries that emphasize science and technology,” said Goodman.  “As Florida’s first and only public polytechnic, our programs have a particular emphasis on science and technology while providing multi-disciplinary, applied learning and research experiences to prepare our graduates for the jobs of the future. We must engage students early in math and science, and keep them engaged, so they are prepared for these highly-skilled fields later. Through our partnership with LEGOLAND Florida and Polk County Schools, we hope to inspire these young minds through their experience at the park and the associated curriculum that will be introduced in their classrooms.”

USF Polytechnic will underwrite the cost of field-trip admission for second grade classes in Polk County public schools beginning in November 2011.

Valley View elementary students react to the announcement that all Polk County second graders will visit LEGOLAND Florida courtesy of USF Polytechnic. Winter Haven is host city to the park.

“What a wonderful surprise for these students,” said Polk County Schools Superintendent Sherrie Nickell.  “Second grade is when students start to go beyond the fundamentals and discover the interrelationships between math and science.  It’s the perfect age to really engage their minds and what better way to get their attention than immersing them in imaginative play at LEGOLAND Florida.”

Florida Learning Programs to be Offered Year-Round

LEGOLAND Florida will offer year-round learning programs for students of all ages.  One such program is “Amazing Machines,” which teaches students ages 8-12 how simple machines work through pulleys, levers and gears.  Students participating in the program will build a motorized model and be sent on a chaperoned scavenger hunt throughout the park to identify simple machines at work in the many rides and attractions.

“We’re building an educational program rooted in kids’ love of play and especially their natural affinity for the LEGO^® brand,” said LEGOLAND Florida Director of Sales and Marketing Kim Isemann.  “In fact, whether kids are involved in a school-sponsored program or simply visiting with their families, they’ll have lots of learning opportunities throughout their visit.”

Isemann cites places like LEGOLAND Florida’s Imagination Zone, which emphasizes hands-on exploring and creation.  Here kids can build a LEGO car and compete against other racers on a digitally timed track test.  They can also build and test program cutting-edge, computerized robots.

“We’re working on a whole host of other programs custom-built for school-age children and expect to roll those out as the next school year gets started,” said Isemann.

For more information about LEGOLAND Florida K-6 educational programs, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Report of the Educational Outcomes Steering Committee
Reviewing Winter Haven Public Schools

Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce

The future of Winter Haven depends on the educational outcomes of its schools. Out of concern for the quality of Winter Haven’s public schools The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce (“The Chamber”) formed the Educational Outcomes Steering Committee (the “Committee”), to survey the public schools and recommend strategies to improve the schools through community involvement.

In furtherance of this mission, the Committee interviewed teachers, administrators, parents, students and others within the community as detailed in the report. The Committee reviewed statistical data of the student population, FCAT performance, school grades, and other data relating to the performance of the schools. Moreover, the Committee consulted with representatives of the School Board, City of Winter Haven, and others within the community who have a heart for education. Based on the Committee’s research, it is the conclusion of the Committee that the community, its institutions, businesses, and citizens, have the talent and the resources to partner with the schools to substantively elevate the quality of our public schools.

The Committee proposes that the community, and those involved the implemention of the strategies, consider the following recommendations:

• Create a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support Winter Haven’s public schools. – a partnership that reflects all sectors within the community and whose membership has a heart for quality education. Within the structure of this organization as described in Section VI of this report, the City, the District, PSC, the Chamber, and other entities and local organizations would be expected to participate for purposes of supporting, advocating, and expanding support for this educational mission to all sectors within the community.

• Partner with the local schools and the District to specifically address the problem of absenteeism in the schools. Truancy is a complex issue because it is caused by many factors outside the schools. Consequently, the approach must involve more than developing a school environment that attracts students, but working with parents, churches, law enforcement and others to increase awareness of the problem and counsel students and their families on the importance of school attendance.

• Development of elementary school reading programs similar to Beymer Methodist Church’s program at Inwood, that would expand such a community based program to all of Winter Haven’s public elementary schools, and would include volunteers from the various minority communities to assist students who have reading problems because English is their second language.

• Expand successful after school and summer programs that currently exist within the schools, and develop other such programs as appropriate for the needs of the individual schools. Support the traditional after school and summer programs in the community, so programs like those offered by the Boys and Girls Clubs, COLA, Florence Villa Community Development Corporation, Girls, Inc., scouting, and the youth athletic programs, can expand and accommodate larger numbers of children.

• Transform WHHS into A Center for Technology and Applied Science, where technology related career academies are developed by the District with the support of the City, which plans to connect Winter Haven’s schools to its fiber optic system, and through partnerships involving technology firms, PSC and USF Polytechnic. Develop an IB program at WHHS to be introduced as soon as possible for students who qualify and live in the greater Winter Haven area.

• Transform LRHS into a Business Enterprise Center, where more business related career academies, like the successful IMAG Academy, are developed by the District in partnership with the business community, Chamber, and Webber International University, as a potential partner whose curriculum is focused on business education.

• Introduce STEAM, a curriculum that introduces an arts component into the high schools, at both LRHS and WHHS, and foster partnerships between the schools and the thriving arts community in Winter Haven.

• Diligently implement pre-career academy programs at Denison and Westwood that would naturally transition to the career academies at WHHS and LRHS.

• Recognizing that physical health is a key component to academic achievement, focus on the development of sports and physical education programs at the middle schools. This initiative includes the construction of gymnasiums or covered areas to accommodate athletic and sports programs.

• Develop a community-wide mentoring program that is organized, dependable, and consists of mentors who have varying talents or skills so that mentors can be paired to students who have differing needs and interests. Partner with the faith-based community and organizations like Big Brother and Big Sisters to reach every student who needs a mentor.

• Develop a leadership program through the Chamber, that is supported financially through the business community, for select seniors at WHHS and LRHS who demonstrate business leadership potential. This program would be an abbreviated version of the Chamber’s Leadership Winter Haven program, but focused on the interests of young adults.

• Through the involvement of educators, administrators, school psychologists, counselors, parents, students and the community, develop an approach to discipline that will enhance civility within the schools and foster respect for all. Introduce character building programs led by students into the middle and high schools, but immediately initiate such programs starting the 2011-2012 school year in the 9th grade academies at LRHS and WHHS. Discipline protocols should be combined with character development and enhanced academic and behavioral expectations for each and every student who attends Winter Haven’s public schools.

• That the City and PSC develop a program for high school students with an interest in government and public administration as practical experience and as a feeder to PSC’s bachelor’s degree program in public administration.

• That PSC partner with the District and Winter Haven Hospital to develop a pre-nursing career academy in one of Winter Haven’s high schools.

Ultimately, the proposals outlined in this report must have the support of the community and those who implement them. These proposals have been discussed with members of the community, and are at varying stages of development – both in concept and implementation. All of these proposals remain to be further aired and refined in the public domain. The Committee notes, however, that there is substantial support for strategies described in this report.

It is anticipated that these initiatives will evolve as they are implemented over time. In the event the community decides to adopt these recommendations and embark on the journey ahead, the Committee believes that time is of the essence. The forces at work that created the situation in our schools are still with us. The Committee believes that today is the day to make a difference in our schools and our community.

The report was presented to members of the School Board, City Commission, Chamber Board and general public. Committee Chairman Doug Lockwood will be scheduling organizational meetings to move the report recommendations forward in the coming weeks.

The overall efforts will involve contributions from all sectors of the community — especially individual contributions of time to help our schools and students. Mayor Jeff Potter noted the City of Winter Haven is moving to support city employees who volunteer to become student mentors.

A key challenge emerged in the discussions … “What can each of us do individually to help make a positive difference?”

This blog will report future developments in this educational initiative as they occur.

As part of National Small Business Week, May 16 to May 20, the CFDC’s Small Business Development Center, in association with the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida, will conduct its Second Annual Business Growth Conference from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 16 at the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, Winter Haven, FL. All of the sessions designed to assist either start-up or growing existing small businesses are free and lunch will be provided for participants.

The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Registration – 8:00 a.m.

Certifications for Growth – 9:00-10:15am

Growing Globally – 10:30-11:45am

Legislative Town Hall Meeting – 11:45am-1:15pm (lunch provided)

Growing Through Traditional and New Media Marketing Strategies – 1:15-3:15pm

Financing Growth – 3:30-4:45pm

Registration can be done online at www.polksbdc.org or by calling 863-534-5915. This conference is open to both Chamber and non-member businesses.

You must register for the event as seating is limited!!

At last year’s successful inaugural conference, sessions centered on helping entrepreneurs and business owners learn strategies and tools to win new customers and grow. Topics included exporting, marketing for growth employing electronic media, financing options and obtaining state and local certifications to facilitate new business opportunities.

Word of the approval was distributed to Stacy Campbell-Domineck with Polk Works, Rodney L. Carson with the Central Florida Development Council and Rob Clancey with Polk State College as well as LEGOLAND Florida officials. The grant includes funds for instructors wages, curriculum development and training manuals. LEGOLAND Florida also makes a more than $1 million investment in the process.

LEGOLAND Florida is scheduled to open in October, 2011.

Douglas A. Lockwood

Meeting for the January Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting President Cindy Price proposed the creation of an ad hoc Educational Outcomes Steering Committee with Doug Lockwood serving as chairman. The mission and members were presented to the Board of Directors as follows:

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES STEERING COMMITTEE
GREATER WINTER HAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Taskforce Mission:

The committee will perform comprehensive analysis of Winter Haven’s public schools, with particular emphasis on Winter Haven High School, Denison and Westwood. The study will entail the consultation and collaboration with all sectors of the Winter Haven community with the goal of identifying ways to significantly improve the quality of these schools.  With the consensus of the business, educational, professional, civic, governmental and minority communities, the committee intends to propose changes to substantively enhance the quality of Winter Haven’s public school system. The committee intends to make recommendations to implement, maintain and improve those proposed changes into the future.

Because the success of these changes depends upon the support of the community, it is the intent of the committee to build a consensus of the needed improvements in our schools before submitting the report to the Chamber and the community. The committee plans to submit the report by mid-May, 2011.

Steering Committee Members:

Chairman:
Doug A. Lockwood, Attorney
Peterson Myers Law Firm

Committee Members:
Sam Bennett, Ed.D.
Dean, College of Education, Southeastern University
Chairman, Chamber Education Committee
Past Florida Teacher of the Year, Garner Elementary

Eileen Holden, Ed.D.
President, Polk State College

Sherrie Nickell, Ed. D.
Superintendent, Polk Public Schools

Honorable Jeffrey Potter
Mayor of Winter Haven

Seretha Tinsley
Chief Financial Officer, PenGeo, Inc.
Co-founder, Chain Of Lakes Achievers, Inc.

After discussion, the Chamber Board of Directors unanimously approved the establishment of the committee. For further information on this initiative, contact President Cindy Price at chamber1@winterhavenfl.com.

Dignitaries move the first dirt for the new collegiate high school at PSC.

With a bit of appropriate editing for the occasion, Gwen Simmons sang the Etta James classic to mark the groundbreaking for the Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School. The “campus within a campus” will become a reality on the Winter Haven grounds of Polk State College. PSC President Dr. Eileen Holden said, “The doors will open in August 2011 — yes, I said 2011.”

The school, founded in 2006 at PSC, met in a variety of campus locations until (as related by Principal, Bridgette Fetters) “the portable village was established” more recently.

Here are a few fast facts about Chain of Lakes High School:

-  COL opened in August 2006 with 68 11th grade students.

-  Currently enrollment is 250 11& 12th grade students – maximum allowed by charter.

-  320 graduates in 3 years – 266 were high school honor grads (3.2 cumulative grade point average or higher). 52 COL high school grads earned the A.A. degree at time of high school graduation in the last 3 years.

-  COL Class of 2010 had the highest graduation rate of any Polk County public high school. The 116 2010 graduates earned an average of 42 college credits.

-  COL juniors have had the highest FCAT science scores in Polk County for the last two years, last year scoring in the top 3% statewide.

-  All COL seniors complete a 20 hour work based learning experience in the community and formally present to a community panel their reflections of the experience. The first of those presentations will take place Friday morning before the groundbreaking and will continue throughout January.

-  Groundbreaking: 15,000 square foot building – 7 classrooms, computer lab, science lab, office wing.

In addition to those previously mentioned, the celebratory program, conducted by Campus Provost Dr. Sharon Miller, included comments from COL Student Government Association President Ian Murphy, Winter Haven Mayor Jeff Potter and Dr. Bruce Tonjes with Polk Public Schools. The ceremonies opened with a stirring perfomance by the PSC Chorus under the direction of John Anderson. The artist rendering below depicts the building which will be located just south of the Health Center.

Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School opening in August 2011.