By Tamas Mondovics
Riverview’s newest charter school, SouthShore Charter Academy—a sister school of Winthrop Charter School— is now poised for its official fall opening on Wednesday, August 10.
The brand new, 66,920 sq. ft., state-of-the-art building, which at capacity will house 1,145 Kindergarten through eighth grade students, is located on approximately 10 acres at 11667 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview, west of Balm Riverview Road.
With nearly 800 students on its roster to start the 2016-2017 season, the school will serve students grades K-6 followed by additional grades added during the next two years.
The new facility is the handiwork of general contractor Ryan Companies and is said to have designed an exciting academic environment, which includes well-outfitted classrooms, a multi-purpose room that can be used as a cafeteria as well as a space for general assemblies and indoor recreational activities.
School officials said that safety measures include a double-entry door security feature and security cameras in and out of the building not to mention spacious hallways designed for maximum traffic flow with minimal congestion.
Fully completed, the school’s outdoor amenities will include basketball courts, soccer and sports field and an elementary-age appropriate covered playground.
Trusting her experience and expertise, SouthShore Charter Academy has hired its founding principal Kristen Storm-Taylor, a veteran educator and who has formerly led the highly successful Henderson Hammock Charter School in Tampa.
“Taylor’s experience will ensure a successful opening and launch of the new school,” said April Williams, north and central regional director for Charter Schools USA.
Confident of her own leadership skills as well as the abilities of her 65-member staff, Taylor said that her first priority is the school’s smooth opening.
As a Tampa native, Taylor received her Bachelor of Science in elementary education and her Master of Education in educational leadership from University of South Florida in St. Petersburg.
Taylor formerly served as principal of Henderson Hammock Charter School and held a variety of educational roles from teacher to curriculum specialist.
School for K-5 will be 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and for grade six will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Apply at SouthShoreCharter.org.
