BRADENTON, Fla. — Hallways and classrooms at the Pace Center for Girls in Bradenton look pretty much like any other school; except for it’s just girls here, and the positive messaging that adorns almost every wall.
“We say here at Pace that every day we are changing girls' lives, and we believe when we are changing a girl’s life, we are changing the fabric of the community,” explains Amy Wick Mavis, the executive director of Pace Manatee.
Sixty-four middle and high schoolers attend Pace for a variety of reasons. Most have suffered some kind of trauma; maybe their home life isn’t the best, or maybe they’ve been bullied. And because of that, they’ve fallen behind in school.
“I’m doing a lot better here than at my regular school,” 13-year-old Grace Faasse said. The teen says throughout her school career, she felt unseen by teachers and picked on by classmates.
“I used to be super chubby,” Faasse. said “So they would make fun of my weight, my glasses, my teeth...just a whole bunch of different things,” she said, acknowledging that kids can be mean.
At Pace Manatee teachers are supportive, and the small class sizes ensure that students get attention. They can’t just slip through the cracks.
Students also go to school year-round, but Pace is more than academics. Mental health counselors have time to help with problems encountered at both school and at home.
"Pace is different in that each student is assigned a master’s level counselor, that’s working with them on their social and emotional needs,” explains program director Jessica Hamilton. “That includes coping strategies, self-esteem building, conflict resolution, communication — as well as life skills.”
These are exciting times for the Manatee Pace program. Right now, Pace is operating in a temporary space and construction will soon start at 3508 26th St. W. in Bradenton on a new much larger center.
“We will be able to improve our services, add more services to girls and provide outreach services as well. So, this is really something quite extraordinary,” says Wick Mavis, gazing at a rendering of the proposed building.
Since 1989, more than 2,000 Pace girls have gone on to become successful and proud Pace women.
“Really, our Pace girls are all over the community and they’re our best representative of why Pace is so important,” Wick Mavis said.
And Grace, well, she’s on her way, too. Someday she aims to wear a police badge.
Faasse says there’s a long line of police officers in her family and then there’s this: “I think with everything that I’ve personally gone through, I think I might be able to help kids like me.”
10 Tampa Bay and the TEGNA Foundation are pleased to support Pace Manatee with a $2,000 grant.