John Bush Selected as Principal of Robinson High

At the school board meeting on January 24 in Hillsborough County, the board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to appoint John Bush as the new principal of Robinson High School, effective February 6. In 2007, the school district established the International Baccalaureate program on the Robinson campus. This world-renowned rigorous academic program attracts students with exceptional academic potential and provides them an excellent education.

Hillsborough County offers the IB program on four high school campuses: Hillsborough, King, Robinson, and Strawberry Crest. Two middle schools offer a Middle Years IB curriculum—Williams in East Tampa and Walker in Odessa (Northwest Hillsborough County). MacFarlane Park, in West Tampa, offers an IB-approved elementary curriculum. Access to these programs is through a competitive Magnet Choice application process. Each high school enrolls roughly 140 freshmen each year.

Mr. Bush began as Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Robinson High School in 2009. He served as Assistant Principal for Administration at Brandon High School and Riverview High School. Before becoming an Assistant Principal, Mr. Bush was an instructor for the Hearing Impaired from 1997-2003 at Brandon High. A graduate of Concordia University, Mr. Bush also has a Master’s degree in Deaf Education from the University of North Florida and certification in Educational Leadership.

E-mail: Johnny.Bush@sdhc.k12.fl.us

We join Mr. Bush’s family, friends, and supporters in congratulating him on his new position as principal of Robinson High School. Go, Knights!!!

August 2 Developments

Koinonia and Jesse 8th-Year Wedding Anniversary

Why We Promote Academic Excellence

Ashley knows how to fuel my passion for promoting academic excellence in urban ZIP codes.  She got up early on a Saturday morning and joined others from King High School’s Student Government Association at Temple Terrace Elementary School.  The pictures she sent me include one in which she and a young student are reading.  Another picture shows a black male reading with a younger student.

 

“Gee, Jason, they are just pictures!” 

 No, they are REALITY!!!

Student Weapon Forum Mattered

Last Saturday’s forum made a difference. The organizers and forum participants provided an environment in which positive outcomes resulted. One young man and his mom discussed his disciplinary challenge with a School Board member and the director of school district security. The young man’s 10-day suspension, we learned this week, went from 10 days to 5 days. He was able to return to school in time to take the PSAT on October 13. That evening, at a Café Kili www.cafekili.com Academic Excellence Fellowship, we discussed the importance of the PSAT for members of his Class of 2013 year group. We are almost ready to definitively declare that the young man will contribute to raising average black male SAT scores in his senior year.

Average SAT scores for the Class of 2009 college-bound seniors in Florida. Excerpts:

Black Male	Critical Reading – 430	Math – 437
Black Female	Critical Reading – 436	Math – 421
White Male	Critical Reading – 524	Math – 543
White Female	Critical Reading – 521	Math – 508

A total of 15,285 “college-bound” black seniors are in the count. The combined Critical Reading and Math minimum score for a Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship is 970. In past years, that would pay for 75% of tuition at a state university. It doesn’t go as far anymore because the Legislature allows universities to increase the tuition beyond what Bright Futures will cover.

For high school students graduating in the 2012-2013 academic year, the student must earn an SAT score of 1020 which corresponds to the 50th SAT percentile rank. (House Bill HB5201).

In His Service,
Jason

Jason D. Mims
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired
3906 W. Tyson Ave. Tampa, FL 33611
CELL: (813) 787-0392
jason

The MIMS Institute http://www.mimsinstitute.com
Promoting academic excellence in key urban zip codes

…The fruit of LOVE is SERVICE. The fruit of SERVICE is PEACE.
Mother Teresa’s Business Card

A Favorite Son’s Journey

On September 25, 2002, the Board of County Commissioners recognized Jason Mims for his “tireless work as a community volunteer and role model for tomorrow’s leaders” and conferred on him the Favorite Sons and Daughters of Hillsborough County award.

Mother Teresa’s Birthday 100 Years Ago

Mother Teresa (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu

I have a quote from Mother Teresa’s Business Card on my business card.  “The fruit of LOVE is SERVICE.  The fruit of SERVICE is PEACE.”  Today is the 100th anniversary of her birth.  A special in the Tampa Tribune reminds us of the simplicity of her faith and the meaning of her service to others. 

Commitment to Service

Commitment to Service is an August 18 Tampa Tribune article highlighting Raphael’s journey to prepare to become a cadet at the United States Military Academy. His parents own Café Kili, a relaxing (and sometimes busy) coffee and sandwich shop in Temple Terrace. They prepare and serve excellent coffees and teas. In this economy, they remain in business because of their commitment to service. Inspired by their ethics, Raphael, the youngest son, decided to take “Commitment to service” to another level. His training over the next five years will enable him to lead America’s soldiers as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.

Thank you, Rose and Patrick, for “coming to America” and demonstrating your significant commitment to keeping our nation strong!

Celebrating Academic Excellence

The Mayor’s Office issued a memo last week. It stated that the city’s priority was capturing a suspect in the slaying of two Tampa police officers. The leadership and staff at Positive Support for Parents in Neighborhoods Inc. (Positive SPIN Inc.) ignored the memo.

Black Male Success

Jason, what evidence have you witnessed in the past two months that black males from the Tampa Bay area are demonstrating Academic Excellence?

Jarred Carter (Notre Dame Class of 2010) with cousin, Colin Carter (United States Merchant Marine Academy Class of 2013)

Raphael Waruinge (Hillsborough Community College Class of 2010) prepares to accept Offer of Admission to the Unites States Military Academy at West Point

Chris Copeland (Morehouse Class of 2009) at sister’s graduation from Blake High before returning to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the second year of his Nuclear Engineering doctorate program.
 

Tyrone Keys, Jr. (North Carolina State University Class of 2010 Summa cum Laude) before starting North Carolina State’s doctorate in Industrial Engineering program.

Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School Class of 2010 Graduate Christopher Butler with mom, Maureen Butler, PhD (Accounting). Chris joins the Florida State University Class of 2014 anticipating majoring in Accounting.

Robert Wren Gordon, Bloomingdale Class of 2010 Valedictorian at the end of the first decade of a century that began with one black male in his alma mater’s Honor Court! (Source:  Bloomingdale Class of 2001 Senior Yearbook).

Zaire Kemp left a record of Academic Excellence at Ben Hill Middle School in 2010 before he starts high school.

Read Good Books

“The man (or woman) who does not read good books has no advantage over the man (or woman) who cannot read them.” Mark Twain

Jay IV promotes higher academic achievement (even before age 1)!

http://www.publicschoolinsights.org/battle-books cites some studies indicating that my first honorary grandson, Jesse Givens IV, sitting in mom’s lap, is gaining an advantage over students who either did not get the memo—or who choose to spend their summer pursuing other activities. If one is to embrace the findings discussed, “a small investment in books for poor children might pay off.”

Exactly how many pictures of children and young people reading will we snap this summer?

DaSean is making use of "already existing opportunities" to prepare for school success

Joseph Browne (2005 Ron Brown Scholar) reads "I have risen"

"If only this became the norm for summer fun!"

Chris reads "Learning to Dream With Your Eyes Open" by Melanie Geddes