Quality instruction at this sprawling Title I Florida school shapes students to become active learners, and a structured character program empowers them to grow as compassionate citizens. A visit to the classrooms of Seminole Elementary, located in a residential neighborhood outside St. Petersburg, which has consistently maintained an A in Florida’s state rating system, shows how a dynamic staff makes learning come alive by actively engaging and empowering students. For Seminole students, 58 percent of whom are on free or reduced-price lunch, it is the spirit of discovery, not an accent on drill, which shapes the instructional process. And students obviously thrive on this approach, because Seminole consistently meets or exceeds district and state assessment results.
Read more about Seminole in the 2010 NSOC book: “Engaging and Empowering Students.”
Signature Practices
Lesson Plan: Being Kind to Yourself
Students will understand the kindness begins with being kind to yourself.
Promising Practice: Peer Power, Learning Life’s Lessons (P2L3)
Peer Power, Learning Life’s Lessons (P2L3) is embedded into all areas of the curriculum to teach students skills to handle life’s situations and learn to accept responsibility for themselves – make right choices even when no one is watching.
Promising Practice: Principal’s Shadowing Program
Invitations are sent to parents of a specific grade level to participate in Principal’s Shadowing. Parents arrive on the shadowing day and meet with the principal for an introduction and overview of their visit.
Contact Information
Randy DeVriesPrincipal
10950 74th Avenue North Seminole, Florida
Phone: (727) 547-7668
Email: devriesr@pcsb.org
Website: www.seminole-es.pinellas.k12.fl.us