BMR Preparatory Academy opened its doors in January to provide a creative and tailored learning experiences for children. Just three months later, they are adding new members to their team: a pre-kindergarten facilitator, a social studies and physical education facilitator, and after-school and summer camp counselors.
BMR Prep is a nonprofit independent private school that aims to enrich the educational experience through activity and project-based lessons.
“We use tablets instead of textbooks and truly digital animated content. We are pioneering the way we look at education and are changing the way we educate our students,” says Amy Scott, co-founder and assistant head of school.
Currently located in Town ‘N’ Country, BMR Prep serves pre-kindergarten to fifth grade students. Their growth plan includes additional campuses in St. Petersburg and Tampa, near USF and Ybor City. Their goal is to begin serving preschool to eighth grade students and add up to 15 staff members.
The school enrolls 108 students, creating a smaller class size and allowing a focus on relationship building among facilitators, children and parents. The customized level program is designed to accommodate different learning levels, which “takes the pressure off the student, and keeps them engaged and challenged,” says Scott. The environment integrates technology and creative thinking with building skillsets and the ability to problem-solve.
Core subjects are scheduled for 75 minutes, totaling 45 hours of extra instructional time per core subject. Facilitators implement a traditional teaching atmosphere and lay the course ground work for the first 15 minutes; children move to digital curriculum for 30 minutes, and end in projects and activities to reinforce the lesson. “It allows creativity to really express itself,” says Scott.
Facilitators create program curriculum from concept to completion and are responsible for teaching an entire subject to all students. “We want students to have an experience from someone who is strong in that particular subject.”
The school has also partnered with
Kids Invest USA, a financial literacy program that teaches the value of money and allows students to earn money throughout the school day, make purchases, and invest in "stocks" on Wall Street.
Facilitators should have a bachelor’s degree in the subject they facilitate as well as classroom experience. Candidates may send resumes
via email or view the
website for additional information.
Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Amy Scott, BMR Preparatory Academy
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