Chelsea Witter - Agape Christian Academy, Orlando
Like most students, middle school was a tough time for Chelsea Witter.
Before starting sixth grade, Chelsea, now 17, and her family moved from New York City to Orlando. The adjustment to a new city, school and neighborhood was overwhelming. When school started, Chelsea’s attention shifted away from earning good grades to following the wrong crowd. To read more about Chelsea, click here.
Mercedes Gonzalez - Beacon of Hope Christian School, St. Augustine
Hector and Maria Gonzalez knew something was wrong midway through their daughter Mercedes’ second year at preschool.
Mercedes had always been a bright and bubbly girl; now she was sullen and quiet and no longer liked going to school. The Gonzalez’ soon learned Mercedes was being bullied by other students and her teachers had labeled her a troublemaker after defending herself. To read more about Mercedes, click here.
Danielle Stone - Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, Miami
When Danielle Stone crosses the stage next June to collect her diploma at Miami’s Archbishop Curley Notre Dame, she’ll join an exclusive club in her family: high school graduate. To read more about Danielle, click here.
Jacob Rogers - Escambia Christian School, Pensacola
Tammy Ducat will never forget the day two years ago when she and her son Jacob Rogers were attending the neighborhood school’s orientation to meet Jacob’s new teacher. Jacob, then entering fifth grade, had always looked forward to the new school year. But as the two entered his new classroom, Jacob looked around at the other students and suddenly became rigid. To read more about Jacob, click here.
Anthony Shaver - West Oaks Academy, Orlando
Anthony Shaver arrived at West Oaks Academy just a year ago reading behind grade level and carrying a suspension on his school record. Today, he’s one of the top third graders at Orlando’s West Oaks Academy, who’s been honored a number of times for good behavior in class.It’s quite a turnaround for Anthony, who ended first grade at his neighborhood school unable to read well and dreaded going to school. Anthony was often disciplined because of his behavior issues. He was a target of bullies and after one altercation with a classmate, was suspended from school. To learn more about Anthony, click here.
Darius Sapp - Seven Hills Academy, Tallahassee
When Debra Clayton was told her son would be held back in third grade because he was too “immature,” she finally had enough. Here was a youngster who had shown promise since before entering kindergarten, who was a whiz in Head Start, and yet she had to fight to keep him from being placed in exceptional education and struggle to keep him from being labeled as a failure. To read more about Darius, click here.