Classroom renovations at Poinciana High School thanks to Addition Financial partnership and award
Poinciana High School and Addition Financial have had a longstanding partnership.
The Poinciana Boulevard school has been the home of an on-campus student-run Additions bank branch, and former PHS students have gone on to work for the bank after graduation, creating an employment pipeline.
So it came as little shock but great surprise when Addition Financial awarded PHS as one of three schools to receive “dream” classroom renovations.
Through the third annual “Renovate to Educate” contest, Addition Financial selected one public school teacher from Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties to receive a free classroom makeover, providing renovations up to $2,000 per room.
Intensive Reading teacher Alenaira Feliciano will get a new ergonomic desk out of it, and her students receive new desks, laptop stations, plenty of supplies … not to mention a pair of super-comfy yellow beanbag chairs.
The walls feature fresh paint and four whiteboards around the room to allow study in smaller groups.
PHS Assistant Principal Steven Darago showed off the “new room” at a sneak peek for the News-Gazette Monday, beaming about the corporate investment in the school.
“Having a business partner willing to invest back into our school like Additions has done is extra special,” he said. “Our staff and administration are grateful for the relationship.”
“At Poinciana High School, the Intensive Reading class helps students conquer fluency and comprehension as they prepare for graduation,” a release from Additions Financial said. “With a theme of ‘Words Are All We Have,’ this classroom was designed to create a safe and positive environment for students to grow in their reading comprehension.”
The company said its sees initiatives like this to help make a difference in public education.
“Teachers empower their students each and every day, and we at Addition Financial believe in the power of education to transform communities,” said Linh Dang, Addition Financial’s Chief Development Officer. “We are proud to show our support through programs like Renovate to Educate.”
Addition Financial teamed up with Seminole State College’s Interior Design program, hiring paid interns to collaborate with each school to also gain hands-on, real world interior design experience.
