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New charter school to open in Plant City

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By ESTELLE STRADER

Special to the Tribune

Published: July 29, 2009

PLANT CITY - Advantage Academy of Hillsborough, a new charter school approved by the Hillsborough County school district for up to 550 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, opens next month.

Charter schools, which are publicly funded and privately operated, take state-required standardized testing. There is no tuition or other fees except those normally charged at traditional public schools.

At Advantage Academy, the academic focus will be math and science employing innovative teaching strategies and research-based curricula. Advantage Academy expects to mirror the success of its sister schools - The Charter School at Waterstone and Summerville Advantage Academy, top-rated "A" schools in 2009.

Applications can be completed at www.advantageacademyhillsborough .com or at parent information meetings at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Road. Meeting times are on the Web site.

Advantage Academy is at 350 W. Prosser Drive, a site originally proposed for professional office condominiums.

The 3-acre site includes 10 single-story buildings totaling more than 27,000 square feet. Interior construction has begun to configure the buildings as classrooms. Facilities are operated by Charter School Associates, the school's developer.

William Davis, former assistant principal of curriculum for Tomlin Middle School and a Plant City educator for the past decade, has been named principal.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to be a part of the foundation for a great educational facility in Plant City," Davis said. "I am so confident in the excellent education that will be offered at Advantage Academy, my own children will attend the school."

Davis, who began his career teaching at Cork Elementary School and has held administrative positions at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School of Technology, earned his master's in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.

A First Baptist Church of Plant City deacon and Sunday school leader, Davis has been married to his high school sweetheart, Amber, for 11 years. The couple have two children, Austin and Zoe.

Kathie Pagliaro will teach kindergarten, Leonard Bessant will teach courses in the middle school, and Tiffanie Richmond will teach fourth grade.

Other teachers will include Morgann Moore, Heather Hames, Susan McLeod, Stephanie Shuff, Heather Amann, Diane Ritchart, Brandie Palmer, Janet Vorderburg, Collette Baker, Richard McLean and Racquel Sturgis.

Davis, who is currently interviewing to fill additional positions, said Advantage Academy offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

For information, go to the academy's Web site or call (813) 567-0801.

Estelle Strader works for Charter School Associates.

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