The Endeavor & Discovery Academies in Brooksville mission statement
The Endeavor Academy’s mission is to strive to create a safe, caring and structured environment for at-risk students. Students are empowered to take responsibility for their social, behavioral and academic goals.
For two years Latressa Jones has resided as Principal at Endeavor & Discovery Academies. With her strong presence and passionate goals of overseeing as well as instilling future visions within these students, she brings a great venture of encouragement to all student levels.
“This year we opened a new program for students who struggle at the middle school level and are trying to get into high school. This is kind of our last effort to be able to reduce that potential for them to drop out,” Latressa Jones said.
Horace Copeland worked with the students at Endeavor as a mentor during the school year, to help motivate them to improve their academics. Copeland has an extensive athletic background which includes playing college football for the University of Miami and playing in the NFL for the Bucs, Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins. He came up with the idea of using an athletic incentive to reward students that showed continual academic improvement throughout the school year.
That idea came into play Friday on the Central High school football practice field. Endeavor Academy students participated in “Cops vs Kids” in a 7 on 7 flag football game.
Sixteen students gathered on the field, warmed up and corresponded major game plays for offense and defense, as the ten cops threw the football back and forth to warm up their arms.
“Hopefully it’s making a good impact on them,” Brian Timothy, School Resource Officer said. “They had to get decent grades, and this was incentive for them.”
These kids were ready and they were determined. Calvin Brown, Endeavor’s Dean of Students, blew the whistle to begin the first 15 minutes of some action packed, athletic skills from both sides of the field as well as high flexible maneuvering skills to deter the opposing players from grabbing their waist flag.
“I am going to be on you like peanut butter on jelly,” Josh, one of the Endeavor students stated to Brian Timothy.
The morning was great for these students. They laughed, showed great sportsmanship and built a better connection with those officers who participated in this event.
“I think it’s a very good atmosphere, you have deputies who are really engaging with our young people, and young people engaging with the deputies, it’s always a good sign. I hope this will be an annual thing we can do for our young people,” Calvin Brown said.
As the game of the year ended late morning with a 35 – 21 in favor of the cops team, the overall purpose was the real winner.
These students worked hard and made something happen, not only for themselves individually but as a team.
Endeavor & Discovery Academies
14063 Ken Austin Parkway, Brooksville, FL 34613
Phone: 352-797-7013 Fax: 352-797-7113
Principal: Latressa Jones TOA: Calvin Brown
http://www.edline.net/pages/HCSB_STAR