APPROVED THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JONES. NIGHT A LOCAL HOTEL MAGNET AND PHILANTHROPIST IS SHARING HOW HE IS HELPING SAVE OUR STREETS IN TANGELO PARK AND PARAMORE. HE SAYS REACHING KIDS EARLY IS THE KEY TO CURBING VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I SAT DOWN FOR A CONVERSATION WITH HARRIS ROSEN ABOUT HIS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND THE RESULTS. HE HOPES ARE REPLICATED IN MORE NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU KNOW. HARRIS ROSEN REMEMBERS THE MOMENT HE DECIDED TO INVEST IN EARLY EDUCATION IN THE EARLY 90S DURING A VISIT TO TANGELO PARK ELEMENTARY. HE ASKED A GROUP OF STUDENTS A QUESTION. HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE? NOT ONE HAND WENT UP. I SAID THIS IS THE RIGHT SCHOOL THAT WE’RE GOING TO CHANGE THINGS. THAT’S HOW THE TANGELO PARK PRESCHOOL PROGRAM BEGAN AT FIRST OUT OF HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW A PRESCHOOL ON CAMPUS WERE CERTIFIED TEACHERS PROVIDE FREE PRESCHOOL TO EVERY CHILD IN THE COMMUNITY. DESTINY MCGREGOR IS A TEACHER AND A MOM HERE. HE CARES SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT THESE COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THEY DON’T HE DOESN’T HAVE TO HE HAS PLENTY OF MONEY TO GO ANYWHERE TO DO ANYTHING, BUT THE FACT THAT HE POURS BACK INTO THESE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS. HE CARES THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AND A PARENT RESOURCE CENTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES. BOARD HUNDRED PERCENT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES AWARD THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO SAW DECREASING CRIME OVER THE YEARS A 78% DROP OVER TWO DECADES A TREND MR. ROSEN MIRRORED IN PARAMORE WHERE HE OPENED A SECOND SCHOOL LOOK AT THIS. IT’S BEAUTIFUL. IMAGINE EVERY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY IN AMERICA HAVING THIS KIND OF A PRESCHOOL IT WOULD CHANGE AMERICA FOR GOD SAKES THE DESIGN IN PARAMORE IS A NODDED THE HOUSES WHERE THE PROGRAM IN TANGELO PARK STARTED MR. ROSEN HAS WORKED TO GET OTHERS OTHERS TO FOLLOW HIS FORMULA. WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL? WITH FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN OF THE LARGE CORPORATIONS HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, WOULD HOP ON BOARD. I THINK SIMPLY SPEAKING IF IT’S NOT THEIR IDEA. THEY’RE MUCH LESS INCLINED UP ON BOARD. MY DREAM IS THAT ONE DAY EVERY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY IN AMERICA. WE’LL HAVE A TANGIBLE PART PROGRAM AND THAT QUESTION MR. ROSEN ASKED A GROUP OF KIDS ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE ASKS IT NOW HOW MANY OF YOU ONE DAY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO COLLEGE. EVERY HAND WENT UP THE TANGELO PARK PRESCHOOL MODEL IS EXPANDING TO EATONVILLE TRAVEL AND LEISURE IS FUNDING IT AND USING THE ROSIN BLUEPRINT. THEY A
Rosen preschool program boosting graduation rates, decreasing crime, he says
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Updated: 7:12 PM EDT Apr 12, 2023
Harris Rosen remembers the moment he decided to invest in early education. In the early 1990s, during a visit to Tangelo Park Elementary, he asked a group of students a question. “The question I asked was, 'How many of you plan to go to college?' Not one hand went up. I said, ‘This is the right school, and we're going to change things,’” Rosen said. That's how the Tangelo Park Preschool Program began. At first, it was out of homes in the neighborhood. Now, a preschool sits on campus and certified teachers provide free education to every child in the community. “He cares. Somebody cares about these communities. You know, he doesn't have to. He has plenty of money to go anywhere, to do anything. But the fact that he pours back into these low-income communities like this, he cares, somebody cares, and he shows it,” said Destiny McGregor, a teacher and a mom. The program also includes full scholarships to college or vocational schools and a parent resource center. According to Rosen, “High school graduation rates soared to 100%, college acceptance soared.” The neighborhood also saw a decrease in crime over the years. A 78% drop over two decades. It's a trend Rosen mirrored in Parramore, where he opened a second school. “Imagine every underserved community in America having this kind of preschool! It would change America, for God's sake,” he said. Rosen has worked to get others to follow his formula. “Wouldn't it be wonderful if five or six of the large corporations here in central Florida would hop on board? My dream and hope is that one day every underserved community in America will have a Tangelo Park Program,” Rosen said. Rosen asked a group of kids, “Who here wants to go to college?” during a visit from WESH 2’s Nancy Alvarez, and every child in the classroom that day raised their hand. The Tangelo Park preschool model is expanding to Eatonville. Travel and Leisure is funding it and using the Rosen blueprint. They are the first corporate partner to join the movement.If you would like to learn more about the program, click here.Top headlines:Orange County school board votes to keep teacher accused of using students as 'political pawns' on TikTok'Swept under the rug': Father speaks out after 29-year-old daughter shot, killed in OrlandoOrange County elementary school employee arrested on child pornography charges
Harris Rosen remembers the moment he decided to invest in early education. In the early 1990s, during a visit to Tangelo Park Elementary, he asked a group of students a question.
“The question I asked was, 'How many of you plan to go to college?' Not one hand went up. I said, ‘This is the right school, and we're going to change things,’” Rosen said.
That's how the Tangelo Park Preschool Program began. At first, it was out of homes in the neighborhood. Now, a preschool sits on campus and certified teachers provide free education to every child in the community.
“He cares. Somebody cares about these communities. You know, he doesn't have to. He has plenty of money to go anywhere, to do anything. But the fact that he pours back into these low-income communities like this, he cares, somebody cares, and he shows it,” said Destiny McGregor, a teacher and a mom.
The program also includes full scholarships to college or vocational schools and a parent resource center.
According to Rosen, “High school graduation rates soared to 100%, college acceptance soared.”
The neighborhood also saw a decrease in crime over the years. A 78% drop over two decades. It's a trend Rosen mirrored in Parramore, where he opened a second school.
“Imagine every underserved community in America having this kind of preschool! It would change America, for God's sake,” he said.
Rosen has worked to get others to follow his formula.
“Wouldn't it be wonderful if five or six of the large corporations here in central Florida would hop on board? My dream and hope is that one day every underserved community in America will have a Tangelo Park Program,” Rosen said.
Rosen asked a group of kids, “Who here wants to go to college?” during a visit from WESH 2’s Nancy Alvarez, and every child in the classroom that day raised their hand.
The Tangelo Park preschool model is expanding to Eatonville. Travel and Leisure is funding it and using the Rosen blueprint. They are the first corporate partner to join the movement.
If you would like to learn more about the program, click here.
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