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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Ed Lee, program coordinator for historically black colleges, universities and minority-serving institutions, looks over classwork with Clayton Hovik, a 5th grader in Stephanie Lay’s science class at Endeavour Elementary School in Cocoa Fla., Sept. 7, 2016.  Lee visited the Title I facility to observe the partnership between the school and the Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick AFB, Fla.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Susan A. Romano)Senior Pentagon leaders visit AFTAC’s community school
                        
                        
                        Ed Lee, the program coordinator for historically black colleges, universities and minority-serving institutions, looks over classwork with Clayton Hovik, a fifth-grader at Endeavour Elementary School in Cocoa, Fla., Sept. 7, 2016. Lee visited the Title I facility to observe the partnership between the school and the Air Force Technical Applications Center, which is at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Susan A. Romano)
                
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        Rachad Wilson (right, in light blue), principal of Endeavour Elementary School, Cocoa, Fla., discusses the community school program with Dr. Jarris L. Taylor Jr.,  Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Strategic Diversity Initiative, Sept. 7, 2016.  Taylor and members of his staff were in town for the Women in Science and Engineering Symposium hosted by the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick AFB, Fla., which is also a community partner with the local elementary school.  Also pictured starting from bottom left to right:  Doreen Carlo-Coryell, Endeavour’s assistant principal; Michele Scott, planning director for Children’s Home Society; Rose Day, AFTAC’s human resources program manager; Wilson, Christy Meraz, Endeavour’s assistant principal; Ed Lee, program coordinator for historically black colleges and minority institutions; Maj. Denisha Darcus and Col. Angela Giddings, both with the Air Force Diversity and Inclusion office; and Taylor.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Susan A. Romano)Senior Pentagon leaders visit AFTAC’s community school
                        
                        
                        Rachad Wilson (right, in light blue), principal of Endeavour Elementary School, Cocoa, Fla., discusses the community school program with Dr. Jarris L. Taylor Jr., the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for strategic diversity initiative, Sept. 7, 2016. Taylor and members of his staff were in town for the Women in Science and Engineering Symposium hosted by the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., which is also a community partner with the local elementary school. (U.S. Air Force photo/Susan A. Romano)
                
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Senior Pentagon leaders visit AFTAC’s community schoolPublished Sept. 15, 2016
                    
                    By Susan A. Romano
                    
                    
                    Air Force Technical Applications Center Public Affairs
            **PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --**Senior officials from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Manpower and Reserve Affairs toured Endeavour Elementary School in Cocoa, Florida, during their visit to the Air Force Technical Applications Center Sept. 7 for the center’s annual Women in Science and Engineering Symposium. The school is Florida’s only elementary-level community school.The senior leaders and school administrators discussed specifics of Endeavour’s community school program and to answer questions the visitors had about AFTAC’s mentorship and the school’s demographics.“Two things come to my mind when I think about AFTAC and the impact they’ve had on us as a school,” said Rachad Wilson, the school’s principal. “The first thing is last year’s Math and Science Night. We had the largest turnout of both parents and students for as far back as anyone here can remember. It went beyond our expectations and we couldn’t have done it without the folks from AFTAC making it as interactive, educational and entertaining as they did.”Wilson continued “The second thing is the opportunity AFTAC gave us by taking ‘our babies’ to the Science Bowl in Orlando. They restored faith in these kids by bringing home the point that just because our students come from poverty doesn’t mean they lack great minds.”After discussing various aspects of the community school concept, Wilson and his staff took the group on a tour of the campus, including a visit to two math classrooms and the school’s science lab. They also stopped by Endeavour’s “Responsibility Room,” a portable trailer where students who are struggling with behavior issues can come to re-vector their thoughts and cool down before returning to their classroom.The Responsibility Room is also where children receive needed items that have been donated, such as uniform shirts, gym shoes, school supplies, backpacks and healthy snacks. Several of AFTAC’s private organizations have contributed to the cause with various donations. Jackie Nichols oversees the room and takes great pride in the assistance she provides to the students.“Many of our kids just need a little extra help since their families might not be able to afford simple things like pencils and notebooks,” she said. “We also offer weekend meals to certain children who might have to go home to an empty refrigerator. Little things like that really make a difference.”Dr. Jarris L. Taylor Jr., the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for strategic diversity integration, requested to visit the school to see the work being undertaken between AFTAC and Endeavour, specifically from his vantage point as the Air Force’s senior official responsible for oversight of all programs affecting diversity integration and outreach in the Air Force. And while he had heard and read about the partnership, he said he was quite surprised to see for himself the depth of their program.“As I look around and see what’s being accomplished here, I realize this is precisely the kind of program I want to see benchmarked throughout the Air Force,” Taylor said. “Airmen are volunteers by nature and dedicated to service. This partnership is something that needs to be replicated, and I hope my office can play a role in spreading the word about this enormous success story.”AFTAC Featured News
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