Spring Break at Allen Temple
While most look to spring break as an opportunity to travel or even binge-watch TV, the pastor and parishioners at Allen Temple AME Church decided to take on a different approach. This spring break, Pastor Dames, teachers, and members attending Allen Temple opened the church doors. They didn’t do it for Sunday school lessons but for reading and math instruction.
With the help of Safe and Sound, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Public Schools, the program—affectionately referred to as Super Kids—will run the entire week of spring break and each weekend in April. It targets students attending Achievement Schools in Hillsborough County. Achievement schools have the highest need when compared to other schools in the county; and as result, the School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC) has attempted to match the right resources with a focus on high expectations to move students forward.
When asked of his commitment to students in Hillsborough County, Pastor Dames argued that “Education remains the civil rights issue of our time. Thankfully more African American and Latino students are going to college than ever before…but we still have much further to go to make the real promise of an equitable and excellent education for every student in Hillsborough our reality.”
Students across that state will soon take the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA). FSA is a high stakes test designed to measure student achievement of the Florida standards and is also used to determine school grades. The Spring Break Camp and Super Saturday sessions formulated by the staff at Allen Temple serve as an additional attempt to help prepare students for the upcoming test.
Pastor Dames went on to celebrate the progress that school leaders have made to the benefit of students attending Achievement schools. “I am looking forward to additional opportunities to partner with the school system so that our students are equipped for success. The school community partnership is one of the keys to that success.”
If you would like additional information about the educational programs taking place at Allen Temple AME Church, please contact the church’s office at 813-229-1438. You may also email them at info@allentempletampa.org.
