Exploring Endeavour Elementary, A Community Partnership School
Media Contact: Katherine Allen
allen.katherine@brevardschools.org
Exploring Endeavour Elementary, A Community Partnership School
Being the only designated Community Partnership School™ in Brevard County, Endeavour Elementary in Cocoa, enjoys a unique partnership which helps this school embrace the children and families who attend on a larger scale than a traditional school relationship.
You may be wondering what is a “Community Partnership School?” Simply put, it is a model which consists of four community partners which include a school district, a university or college, a nonprofit and a healthcare provider that all commit to a long-term partnership to sustain the community partnership school. In the case of Endeavour Elementary, we are proud to partner with UCF, Eastern Florida State College, The Children’s Home Society of Florida, The City of Cocoa and Brevard Health Alliance.
Senator Tom Wright joined the team at Endeavour for a tour of the school to explore how a partnership school works and how this model positively impacts the lives of the students and families it serves. During his tour, he was able to hear about the barriers students face in learning such as poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, lack of access to healthcare and more. These are precisely the types of things that a Community Partnership School works to resolve by providing access to resources, nutritious food, and equitable opportunities for all students to succeed in the classroom and in the world.
It’s also important to note that in this model, it isn’t just the students who receive services. In fact, parents of students also have access to adult education, housing and utility assistance and more. By embracing the families, this community works together to create opportunities for learning and new pathways to success for its’ families.
When speaking about the school model, Cocoa Mayor Mike Blake said, “The Community Partnership School at Endeavour Elementary embodies the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The strategic partnership between the core partners provides such an array of services to the families including tutoring, mentoring, afterschool care, summer camp, medical, dental, vision and mental health services, food, clothing and more – all at no cost to the families.” With the stress alleviated from some of the items listed, families can focus on the academic success of their student.
“The Community Partnership School initiative at Endeavour Elementary has created a unique opportunity to showcase the difference that can be made when a school, and a group of partners including the City of Cocoa, Brevard Health Alliance, UCF, Eastern Florida State College, BPS, and the Children’s Home Society come together with a holistic approach in caring for not only our students, but their families as well. Through our work together, we have built a community where respect and genuine care are foundational principles in helping our students succeed. The expanded learning opportunities, support services, collaborative leadership and of course, our family and community involvement have paved the way for increased opportunities for our students to reach new heights” said Cheryl McDougall, District 2, Brevard County School Board Member.
Pictured L to R: Dr. Murielle Pamphile, Curtesa L. Vanderpool, Senator Tom Wright, Catherine Murphy, Principal, Dr. Synthia Michelle Doaks, Phebe Powell-Wehlen