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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

DOWNTOWN - The dining room of Valencia Garden was abuzz with children's voices. One look inside the private room would prove this wasn't a typical after-school party.

Dressed in white shirts and blue ties, the boys sat up straight in their chairs, hands politely folded. Girls, in their crisp white shirts and blue stoles, talked about the four-course meal, laying the cloth napkins over their laps.

"Thank you, sir," said third-grader Thomas Austin, 9, as Jamarcus Randolph, 11, passed him the bread basket.

"You're welcome," said Jamarcus, a fifth-grader, wiping the salad dressing from his mouth, courtesy of an errant piece of lettuce.

In short, they were acting like the ladies and gentlemen they aspire to be.

The Just Elementary School third-, fourth- and fifth-graders are part of the Ladies' and Gentlemen's clubs, two after-school groups with select membership. Manners, behavioral skills and grammar are taught with the hopes of instilling self-empowerment, leading to higher academic performance, a better self-image and setting a higher bar in life.

"I think it can really make an impact," guidance counselor Lynette Henry said. "We are giving them exposure to the world outside, a world to hope and dream about."

The 55 students dress in their uniforms every Monday when the clubs meet for an hour after school on the campus, 1315 Spruce St.

They earn points for good behavior, turning in permission slips on time and following directions. The points give them admission to special events, such as the dinner Dec. 3 and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game Nov. 25 as guests of Bucs running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.

The students are a mix of those who struggle with discipline, those who are good role models and those who are borderline.

"I've been with this group for three years now, and I've seen dramatic changes," Principal Tricia McManus said. "I can't tell the difference of who's who anymore."

The state gave the school an F rating for the 2006-07 school year, and 94 percent of Just's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

After hearing former educator Stephen Peters speak about the Gentlemen's and Ladies' clubs at a conference, McManus knew the program would be perfect for Just.

Peters is founder of the Peters Group, a South Carolina-based organization that sponsors 78 clubs nationwide. He keeps track of every club member once they reach ninth grade. If they maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average, are active in their communities and behave well, he gives them college scholarships.

Since 2005, Peters has awarded $10,000, and he has pledged $20,000 for 2008 graduates.

"We can't teach children first. We have to capture them," said Peters, who references Just in his book "Teaching to Capture and Inspire All Learners: Bringing Your Best Stuff Every Day!"

He said building relationships with students builds trust and confidence.

"Society looks at them as thugs, and I was calling them gentlemen," he said. "If you call someone something long enough, they start acting like those names."

McManus said Just started the program this school year with a three-year grant from the Council for Educational Change, which matched the $100,000 donated by the school's business partner, the Patel Foundation. Peters came to Just to offer training and provided the curriculum and uniforms. Cafeteria worker Gloria Brooks volunteered to wash and iron the uniforms weekly.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Ashley Moody was the guest speaker at Valencia Garden, invited by Hillsborough Circuit Judge Ralph Stoddard, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Tampa, which was sponsoring the meal.

As a juvenile delinquency judge, Moody said she often sees children who haven't been taught manners and respect.

"When I went to sit down tonight, a young man rushed over to pull out my chair," Moody said. "I'm seeing another side that's positive and encouraging. The more time they are engaged in this type of programming, the less likely there is a chance I'll see them in front of me."

Cheryl Champ, a third-grade teacher, said students want to join the clubs.

"When given the right incentive, we have seen a tremendous turnaround in some of our behavior," she said. "Sometimes all it takes is the right kind of attention and for them to see the potential inside them. I think the Ladies' and Gentlemen's clubs are starting to accomplish that."

Henry agrees.

"I can see it in their eyes. They see we care, and we're here to help them," she said. "We're taking them all the way."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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