By Gail Bulfin - Florida Catholic

FORT LAUDERDALE | Joe and Wini Amaturo believe in the strong academic and ethical values taught in Catholic schools. They believe that a Catholic education can provide children with the skills and values to become leaders who will one day change the world. And they worry that if we don’t continue to reinforce and innovate in our schools, the tradition of Catholic education might soon disappear.

For decades, the Amaturos have been backing their words with money. Through their Joseph & Winifred Amaturo Education Foundation, their generosity has touched most every Catholic — and non-Catholic — institution in Broward County. (Click here for related story)

Recently, their foundation hosted a luncheon to celebrate 10 years of academic success for the Accelerated Reader program, an initiative the foundation funded and first introduced to Broward Catholic schools in 2004.

The Accelerated Reader program began modestly with fewer than 500 students in two Catholic schools — St. Helen in Fort Lauderdale and St. Malachy in Tamarac. In 2009, the Accelerated Math program was introduced.

Today, over 7,000 students in 20 Catholic schools participate, including three high schools in Broward and the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West.

Since the introduction of the Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Math and START Testing programs in the archdiocese, the Amaturo Foundation has donated over $1.6 million toward improving reading and math scores in Catholic schools.

The foundation sponsors the unique programming offered through Renaissance Learning because it combines the power of computers with personalized classroom teaching to identify areas of academic opportunity and build on a child’s strength.

Students are evaluated at the start of each year-long program. Testing identifies areas of strength and weakness. Individualized programs are created specifically for each student, whose progress is then measured three to four times throughout the year, allowing teachers to adjust the curriculum as necessary to produce the desired results.

These programs provide guidance and attention for underperforming students while helping accelerated students go beyond their grade levels in math and reading comprehension. 

“Children work on their individual objectives and goals,” said Claire Dorini, Accelerated Math teacher at St. Anthony School in Fort Lauderdale. “It might identify a little one in first grade who is struggling with phonetics but strong in other areas. It helps us create building blocks for learning and identifies weaknesses that might not show up in traditional programs until much later.”

Participating schools receive all the tools needed to implement the program, including teaching guidance, technology and incentive funding. So far, schools have chosen to invest in software supplements, books for library collections and cash bonuses for teachers.  

“We had our first million word reader this year,” said Kelley Koepfinger, kindergarten teacher and Accelerated Reading specialist at St. Ambrose School in Deerfield Beach. 

“We introduce the AR program each year with a pep rally. Students dress up as their favorite book characters and act out the book,” said Kathy Murray, Accelerated Reading and Math moderator and librarian at St. Jerome School in Fort Lauderdale. “There are lots of school incentives and thanks to the Amaturos, we have the program.”

The teachers present at the 10th anniversary luncheon — held in mid-November at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale — all agreed that the program enhances and enriches those children above their grade levels.

That is exactly what Joe and Wini Amaturo hope will continue to keep Catholic schools competitive with the best of educational institutions.  

During his remarks at the luncheon, Joe Amaturo reflected upon the financial challenges many families face when choosing a path of Catholic education for their children. But he stressed, “We have got to get more students into Catholic schools.” 

He thanked the principals, teachers and pastors in the room, asked for their continued support and challenged them for the future. “We have a unique and winning deal going on here. How can we make it even better?” 

FIND OUT MORE

Terry Maus, current principal of St. Anthony School and owner of Education & Technology Consultant, Inc., has worked with the Amaturo Foundation to introduce the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs into South Florida’s Catholic schools. To learn more about these programs, contact Maus at [email protected]; 954-552-9667; or check out www.etcschools.com.