The Lee Next Step Fund supports Lee students' participation in Fantastic Learning Opportunities (FLOs)

What are Fantastic Learning Opportunities (FLOs) and why are they important for Lee HS students?

Fantastic Learning Opportunities (FLOs) are characterized by educational programs that meet the following three criteria:

• They are external. FLOs are planned, organized, and executed by individuals outside of Lee faculty. These external providers range from non-profit organizations, companies, professional institutions or associations, to undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities. While most FLOs physically occur externally, where they take place has less to do with this criterion than how their programs are developed. The external nature of FLOs is critical because it mandates that our students engage in assignments that assume noprior knowledge of them (their needs, strengths and weaknesses). In other words, FLOs position students to learn and develop in contexts that are objective to the intimacies of Lee High School. This is what college will be like for them one day.
• They promote knowledge or skill development related to college or career readiness. FLOs do not focus on high school coursework as an end in it of itself. Most FLOs do not focus on high school material at all, yet they do educate students on knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in college and/or high-quality careers beyond college. In this light, FLOs are different from school field trips. While class field trips can be seen as instructional field experiences to supplement the in-class instruction of a specific high school course, FLOs should be seen as instructional or developmental field experiences to supplement the overall high school career.
• They position students to take healthy risks. FLOs require students to pursue and participate in programs without the “comfortable” support network of their Lee-based peers and teachers. FLOs require some type of formal application, registration, or interview process. FLOs force students to meet youth from other classes, schools, cities, states, even countries, as well as other adults. For Lee students, this frequently brings with it a first-time opportunity to meet and work closely with students and professionals from unique ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic levels. This is what college will be like for them one day.

Making FLOs Possible for Students: Lee Next Step Fund Goals and Outcomes

2007 – 2008 School Year

2008-2009 School Year

2009-2010 School Year

FLOs and LNSF Change Life Trajectories: Student Testimonials

Joel Flores (class of '08) was accepted to the University of Dallas' Shakespeare In Italy program in the Spring of 2008 (his senior year). This study-abroad, Shakeseperean literature immersion was geared to prepare high school students for college-level reading and writing, as well as help them build their expertise in one of the most studied literary forms of our time. The cost to do this program, however, was well out of Joel's or his families reach: $4,000. With Lee Next Step Fund support, Joel was able to fulfill his tuition requirements and attended the Shakespeare in Italy program before beginning his studies at the University of Texas the following fall. Of his experience, Joel wrote:

"Essentially, what this program did for me was expand my knowledge not only in the specific area of English but as well as becoming a leader and a person who gives back to the community by understanding the everlasting concept of diversity. The enrichment that the travel to Italy gave me was a deeper understanding of the Italian culture. Additionally, through the university English course I took while I was there, I gained an in-depth awareness of what the Roman times where like. I had read Othello, The Merchant Of Venice, and Julius Caesar in my English Class and had a very good understating of the concept, symbolic, and rhetorical meaning of it but traveling to Italy and understanding and actually being in the places where these monumental events took place is a very unique experience beyond explanation. This trip was life changing for me. It built my confidence and my awareness of what I am capable of. Since the price of participating in this program was $4,000 I thought it to be impossible for me to take part in it. But with the help of Lee Next Step Fund I was able to live a dream come true."

Joel is currently an uprising junior at the University of Texas at Austin. He is an Astrophysics major, and is the first person in his family to attend college.

Letisia Sanchez (class of '11) was accepted to participate in a two-week leadership development program called The Woods Project. The program, geared to immerse low-income, minority youth in some of the prestine outdoor environments in our country and thus sharpen their ability to take on new challenges and develop new habits, cost $350 to participate the year Letisia was accepted (2007). This tuition fee covered Letisia's travel to and from Yosemite National Park, her meals, hear lodging, and not to mention two weeks of an unforgettable, life-changing leadership experience. Yet, Letisia's parents had no where near the income they needed to support Letisia's enrollment in Woods. With the help of Lee Next Step Fund support, Letisia attended The Woods Project in the summer of 2008. Of her experience, Letisia wrote:

“I went camping at Yosemite National Park in California for two weeks, as a part of this program. This was an adventure. I had never done anything like this in my life and this was an opportunity for me to try something new. The camping was awesome! I’ve learned so much I can’t explain it. They taught us wonderful things at Yosemite National Park including the history of the park, animals that inhabit the park, camping rules, and safety about camping and conservation. I went to all of these wonderful, gorgeous places I never thought I would go. Some of these places I went were the Hetch Hetchy, Lumbertdome, River of Merced, Vernal Falls, Spider Cave, Mount Dana, El Capitan, Merced Grove, fire tower, Yosemite Falls, inside a helicopter, and a Sequoia tree named Dead Fred. I spent two nights sleeping next to a Sequoia tree, which I never expected to do. My group ate an ant, which I never expected to see. I had so much fun! I also conquered my biggest fear – heights. I was very scared of heights but I climbed a mountain. I was very proud of myself. It changed my life! I feel so much more confident of myself now. I am not scared to try something new in my life. I want to do lot of other new things."

Letisia is currently an uprising senior at Lee High School. She is enrolled in advanced classes and is confident she wants to attend college.

Other programs & places the Lee Next Step Fund has supported student participation in...