In the News

Pappas School Shines in Recent Tour
February 11, 2002

PHOENIX, AZ --A group of dignitaries from Clark County Nevada recently visited the Thomas J. Pappas school for the homeless in Phoenix. The group was led by the Clark Co. Superintendent of Schools, Carlos A. Garcia. It included members from the Nevada State Assembly, Clark Co. Schools personnel, neighborhood activist and judges.

The group was here to view a model school for the homeless. They hope to apply the same successful techniques Dr. Dowling has used to create a similar program in Clark County. During their visit, the group was briefed on the basic fundamentals behind the schools operation, the funding mechanisms it has in place and other management practices. The group was then given an entire tour of the Pappas campus by Dr. Dowling as she explained the various functions of different areas of the school including:

• Health Center
• Intake Center
• Food Service Operations
• Classroom Instruction
• Library
• Computer Lab
• Clothing Center
• Warehouse System

The school operates on the motto, "Leave No Child Behind". Unlike typical public schools, Pappas has no real boundaries. A child from a homeless family in the Metro Phoenix area may move form their temporary residence or shelter a number of times within a school year. Under normal circumstances this would force a child to change schools several times a year because of attendance boundary lines. Pappas affords the child a consistent education with familiar faces and friends for the entire year regardless of where the child resides. The school operates over 20 buses and adjust routes accordingly to where children live and move to in the Metro area.

Pappas also offers programs to homeless and economic diversified children that a typical public school cannot afford. Pappas has a full health center on site where children are offered medical check ups, doctor and dentistry services. Some children here had never seen a dentist until they attended Pappas. The center is staffed by a full time physician and has a volunteer staff of over 50 doctors, dentist and nurses.

There is a clothing center on campus where children are allowed to pick their own outfits and shoes. Clothes are donated by the community. The school has a wonderful volunteer staff that sorts and organizes the clothing that is then hung on large industrial electrical racks. These racks were donated and originally designed for the medical field to store vast amounts of records. Now these racks allow for a larger quantity of clothes to be stored and remain on hand than by normal means.

Another amazing program at Pappas is the "Birthday Program". Some children come from economic backgrounds that will not allow them to have a birthday party. Once a month a big birthday party is given for all children whose birthday falls during that month. During the party children are allowed to go into the "toy room" and pick out their very own birthday present. Again through generous donations of the community and local retailers this is a very successful and popular program at Pappas.

The food service operation at Pappas is a program designed to give children and their families healthy meals. Children are allowed to visit the storeroom and fill a box with food items to take home to their families.

Through the generosity of two local corporations, Intel and Best Western, Pappas has a modern computer lab center and network so children can learn computer skills and stay in tune with today's society.

Dr. Dowling said this program is a wonderful success because of the community support Pappas receives through volunteers, donations and local corporations/retailers.

To learn more about the Thomas J. Pappas school for the homeless, you can visit their website at http://www.tjpappasschool.org/index.htm,  or call (602) 452-4752. If you are interested in donating to Pappas, click here.