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An FCAT STAR!

Mrs. Angela Pitts and her FCAT star, CeCe

Adopted at the age of three, CeCe Pitts has not had an easy beginning in life. Since birth, CeCe has had to struggle with an initial dependency to crack cocaine, and as a result she was developmentally delayed. Upon entering kindergarten, CeCe was diagnosed with an auditory processing deficiency. Year after year CeCe struggled to master the skills assessed on the FCAT and found it very difficult to keep up academically with her fellow classmates at Azalea Elementary in Pinellas County.

However, this time last year things began to change for CeCe. As a fourth-grader, CeCe was enrolled in the STARS (Students Targeted for Academic Reading Success) Class offered at Azalea. While in the program, CeCe was immersed in literature as teachers guided her through organizational charts on how to relate reading to her personal experiences. As a result, she was learning like never before! CeCe's mother excitedly noticed. "She has never been the same since," said Angela Pitts. "Teachers in this program set goals with CeCe and tracked her progress together," said Pitts. Since the program, CeCe has gained confidence and for the first time passed the FCAT. CeCe is now in fifth grade and is achieving like never before.

For more information on Azalea Elementary, visit
www.azalea-es.pinellas.k12.fl.us.