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Berean Sends Satellite South

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

PALMA CEIA - Three things set Berean Academy apart from other private schools, parents and administrators say: the small classes; the classical method of education; and a Christ-centered environment.

"We chose Berean because we thought it was consistent with what we believed," said parent Wendy Shell of Beach Park. "It married the academic standards we were looking for and mirrored the faith we were teaching at home. That's rare."

Shell and her husband, Dave, who serves on Berean's board of directors, have been involved with the academy since its inception in 1995 at the University Church of God near Interstate 275 and Fowler Avenue. In January, their family followed when the academy moved to a new main campus off U.S. 41 in Lutz.

Shell said the distance has been difficult and a barrier to making a community. She looks forward to having Berean in the neighborhood. In the fall, the Shells plan to transfer the two oldest of their three children to the new South Tampa satellite campus, 3511 W. Bay to Bay Blvd. The academy will share the property with Palma Ceia Baptist and Holy Trinity Presbyterian churches.

Headmaster Bruce Kirby said classical education includes teaching memorization of facts to young students, gradually upgrading to learning logic and critical thinking for middle schoolers and then to expressing and defending theories for high school students.

"As the student matures, our method of teaching matures," Kirby said. "We're really preparing them for college and university and life, really."

Berean, which is accredited by the Association of Classical and Christian Schools, is a nondenominational school with plans to serve about 100 students in kindergarten through sixth grade at its satellite campus. Athletics and clubs are part of the curriculum.

Kirby said kindergarten classes will be capped at 13 students, first grade at 16 and second through sixth grades at 18. The academy is registering students and hiring teachers and a principal for its South Tampa campus.

The academy is leasing part of Palma Ceia Baptist's property and renovating the adult education classrooms on the west side of the campus.

Annual tuition ranges from $7,000 for kindergarten to $9,000 for high school. Scholarships are available.

"We're elitist in regards to the quality of student we admit, but not elitist in whom we admit," Kirby said.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Berean Academy's South Tampa satellite campus, set to open in the fall

WHERE: 3511 W. Bay to Bay Blvd.

CONTACT: Call Kristi Meyers, Berean South admissions director, at (813) 521-1711, Ext. 306, or go to www.berean academy.org.

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

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