Gratitude Days: Celebrating Our Community's Generosity and Impact
Reflecting on this school year, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support from our EPA families, grandparents, friends, and community partners. Your generosity through the Pathways Fund for Student Success has profoundly impacted our students' educational experiences. To honor this collective kindness, we are excited to introduce Gratitude Days—a special initiative dedicated to celebrating the transformative power of giving within our community.
As part of this celebration, we are excited to highlight the incredible work of the Pathways Fund Committee, celebrate the generous grants we've received, and showcase the many ways these contributions are fueling growth, innovation, and opportunity for our students at EPA!
Recognizing the Pathways Fund Committee
At the beginning of the school year, a group of parent volunteers stepped up to support and strengthen the launch of the Pathways Fund for Student Success. Known as the Pathways Fund Committee, these dedicated individuals have played an essential role in expanding our fundraising efforts, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership.
Led by Candace Johnson, Director of Advancement, the committee worked alongside her to build awareness, engage our community, and highlight the profound impact of philanthropy at EPA. Their unwavering commitment has significantly strengthened our initiatives, and we extend our deepest appreciation to each of the committee members for their dedication and support.
Committee member and EPA parent Beth Rozansky beautifully expressed the spirit of our community:
"I am so grateful for the fellow parents, friends, and staff of EPA who partnered together to generously give and bless the school. Not only does this help our current students, but it helps open the doors and support future children in our community who have yet to begin their journey at EPA."
Acknowledging Generous Grant Support
In addition to the heartfelt contributions from our families and neighbors, Educational Pathways Academy has been honored to receive substantial grants from esteemed local foundations and organizations. These grants have directly supported critical areas such as student scholarships, program development, teacher resources, and essential operations.
We are thrilled to announce that, through this collective generosity, EPA has received $60,000 in grant funding this year!
We extend our sincere gratitude to the following organizations for their generous support:
100% Support from Our EPA Team
The heart of EPA’s mission beats strongest in the people who live it out every day—our faculty, staff, and administration. This year, we are thrilled to celebrate 100% participation from our entire EPA team in giving to the Pathways Fund for Student Success.
Their support is more than a donation—it’s a reflection of their unwavering belief in our students and the life-changing education we provide.
As one teacher beautifully put it:
“It is a joy and privilege to teach every day at a school with such a compelling mission. Our students deserve the best!”
When those closest to the mission give so generously, it sends a powerful message: our team doesn’t just teach at EPA—they believe in it. And they’re invested in seeing every student thrive.
Celebrating the Impact of the Pathways Fund
This year, the Pathways Fund has enabled EPA to expand and enhance various programs and initiatives. Here are just a few of the ways your generosity has made a direct impact on our students:
Arts & Art Career Education Studies (ACES) Program
This year marked unprecedented growth in our commitment to building on our students’ strengths. Through these programs, we continue to support and uplift our students, giving them the opportunity to develop their inherent gifts.
Fully furnished and equipped The Warehouse and formally launched the Art Career Education Studies (ACES) program.
Expanded elective offerings to four classes, providing all necessary materials—from beads and paints to soldering equipment—ensuring students have everything they need to unleash their creativity.
Provided specialized instruction and portfolio support to help students develop strong, competitive art portfolios.
Equipped digital art students with 12 iPads and Procreate software, expanding their creative potential through cutting-edge technology.
Professional Development for Teachers & Administrators
To equip our teachers and administrators with the tools to support students on their path to literacy, we provided meaningful professional development opportunities through:
Sponsored training in the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education, strengthening expertise in evidence-based literacy instruction. Both faculty and administrators participated in this highly specialized program.
Write from the Beginning and Beyond: Training for Trainers, a three-day program that prepares staff to train teachers in evidence-based literacy instruction and strategies.
Offered access to the Dyslexia Training Institute’s 9th Annual Virtual Conference, expanding knowledge on best practices.
Attended the International Dyslexia Association - Florida Conference for Administrators, gaining valuable insights to enhance instruction and leadership.
This exciting launch is just the beginning, with even more opportunities for growth and innovation on the horizon!
Established a robust robotics program at both campuses for upper elementary and middle school students.
Invested in True Robotics equipment, providing curriculum-building tools, robot components, and professional development for teachers.
Introduced coding education for elementary students with Botley the Coding Robot, sparking early interest in STEM learning.
Math Enrichment
To support our learners’ academic growth, we’ve enhanced EPA’s math program through key initiatives:
Implemented software tools to reinforce learning and build essential math skills.
Provided hands-on, multi-sensory learning tools to make math more engaging and accessible.
Introduced Renaissance Star Math progress monitoring to track student growth and academic achievement.
Doris Frey Campus Outdoor Play Space
It’s no secret that our students love recess, and we take joy in making sure that their time outdoors is set up for fun and relaxation with spaces dedicated to all the different ways our students learn through play.
Added rope swings, hammocks, and balls to create an engaging and dynamic play environment.
Ensured that outdoor spaces stay fresh and exciting with continuous updates to equipment, including basketball hoops and interactive play elements.
With Gratitude
We are so thankful for the many hands and hearts that have helped make this year such a success. From generous grants and faithful family and friends’ support to dedicated volunteers and passionate educators, every act of giving has made a difference.
As we celebrate Gratitude Days, we honor each of you who has partnered with us to make life-changing education possible at EPA. We look forward to the future—with hope, purpose, and continued partnership!
If you would like to contribute to the Pathways Fund and join us in empowering students with learning differences, we invite you to make a difference today! Your support helps ensure that every child at EPA has the opportunity to thrive.