Tampa Street School

What do you do for students who aren't comfortable in public schools, because the classes are too crowded? The alternatives are few. But there is an Ordained Minister in Tampa who believes you can help these children, educationally and spiritually.

In Assignment: Education.. Bill Ratliff takes you on a trip to "The Tampa Street School", where the students are on their own trip.. to finding success. It's a story you told us about at an Eight Listens Community Forum.

--[Rev. Mary Ellen Ciganek says] ".. And what I'd like you to do"--

The Reverend Mary Ellen Ciganek quietly prods one of her students.

--[Reverend Ciganek continues:] " I want you to come up and let us know. I want you to circle how many pages you did, because you can do it."--

A quiet voice.. a positive approach.. one-on-one. It's the way Reverend Ciganek is reaching students, where others failed.

--[Ciganek says:] "This is to give them an opportunity to an alternative that they perhaps have not had in the past."--

Rosa Harrington is one of those eight students. She started the school year at a Hillsborough magnet school. But she switch to Tampa Street School to raise her grades. It has worked.

--[Student Rosa Harrington says:] "I'm easily distracted and I would rather be hrere with only eight kids instead of a class of 31 or 20." [Bill Ratliff off camera says:] "Sure."[harrington says:] "It's more easy to get my work and stuff."

The students learn at their own pace. They don't take a test until they're ready. They're not forced to sit at their desks. If they want to do their work while they sit on the floor, they may. But Ciganek believes the way she and teacher
Gladys Miranda approach each child is the reason once low-performers are now getting A's and B's.

--[Ciganek says:] "We give them love and intensive care. We help them. We respect them. And we command respect from them. We trust them and we command trust from them."--

There is also a healthy dose of prayer. For students like 13-year-old Jose Otero.. it's a formula that works and a school he hopes he never leaves.

--[Student Jose Otero says:] "I don't really want to." [Ratliff asks:] "And why wouldn't you want to?"[Otero says:] "Cause I like it here."

If you would like to find out more about "The Tampa Street School", Call the number on your screen. (813) 685-3152.

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