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Realtors Group Tours Schools

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

Jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

EAST TAMPA - Schild Real Estate Services owner Nancy Schild labeled the experience "invaluable."

Schild and a group of several other Market Movers, a band of area Realtors who meet regularly to discuss and view new listings, recently toured Terrace Community Middle School. The excursion was their sixth among local school visits that in the last couple of months have also included King and Tampa Bay Tech highs and Lewis, Riverhills and Temple Terrace elementaries.

"Each school has a different philosophy, and this allows you to get a feel for their different learning styles," Schild said. "It's just a wonderful opportunity."

The assemblage of Realtors also included representatives from Shaw Realty, Century 21 and Coldwell Banker.

Led by the administrative entourage of Terrace Community's chief education officer Gary Hocevar, building level administrator Kristine Bennett and director of students and personnel services Helen Radcliffe, Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti accompanied the on the tour.

Hocevar positioned himself in front of a banner recognizing the school as a U.S. Department of Education's 2007 Blue Ribbon School, an honor he said was bestowed on just nine charter schools in the nation.

He described Terrace Community as a public charter school of choice, whereby students apply through the Hillsborough County School District and are selected by a lottery. It receives almost the same funding as traditional public schools and supplements its budget through fundraising events.

While working in partnership with the district, the school is governed by its own board of directors. The board determines the curriculum. All its classes are advanced.

"People who brought this school alive believed scholarship is alive," said Hocevar, a 37-year educator who came out of retirement six years ago to be its principal.

For seven consecutive years the school has achieved an "A" rating on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Last year its sixth- and seventh-graders had the highest FCAT reading scores in the district and its seventh-grade scored highest in reading among middle school students in the district.

In the 2007-08 school year its seventh-grade also had the second-highest math scores among middle school students and its eighth-graders had the highest FCAT math and science scores in the district.

Hocevar said the students live by his "three Rs" philosophy of respect, responsibility and results.

"Typically our students move up a year in the first year. In the eighth grade they take high school courses," Bennett said. "We focus on mastery at every level."

Enrollment is at 528 students and class size is limited to 22. With 198 students on a waiting list, Radcliffe said enrollment will probably increase to 600 next year.

"We used to have to beg students to come, and now we have a waiting list," said Radcliffe, one of the school's first employees.

Bennett showed the group several of the school's state-of-the-art classrooms, gym and band room.

"Learning here is not in a box. It translates into real life," she said. "We have the flexibility because we have our own board and when we see a need we can respond."

Radcliffe said, in her opinion, the best thing for students and staff alike is that "it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from" when you enter the school.

"I love it," she said. "There is such a sense of spirit here."

Jane Land of Century 21 was also delighted to be part of the tour.

"It's a great opportunity and it helps us do our jobs," she said. "For people with children, their first concern in buying a home is the neighborhood's schools. This type of thing helps to educate us."

Visiting the area's schools stemmed from a meeting requested by a member of the Realtors group with Affronti and Temple Terrace City Manager Kim Leinbach. The meeting was an attempt to learn more about ways Realtors could educate themselves on important issues and happenings in the city.

"I immediately thought about our wonderful schools," Affronti said. "They've met all the principals and have been given the red-carpet treatment. Right now I think their opinion of the school is great."

In April the Market Movers will visit Greco Middle School and Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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