April 1 – If the saying “great minds think alike” is true, we should expect even greater things after a recent meeting that focused on a new partnership between the Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and Pro-Vision Academy of Houston. The meeting of minds was to advance a collaborative effort, coined the PV + PV plan, that will ultimately result in innovative opportunities for Pro-Vision and Prairie View students, and the community.

After a visit to Pro-Vision months ago, PVAMU’s CAHS Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs Dr. Gerard D’Souza, walked away inspired, and determined. “We wanted to figure out how to develop a pipeline from Pro-Vision (Academy) to PVAMU’s CAHS, but if not here, then somewhere on campus,” said D’Souza.

Pro-Vision is ripe for the dean’s concept. The academy began as an all-male middle charter school that relocated to the Sunnyside area in 2008, and welcomed female students in 2012. The school now serves grades 3 through 12, with a concentration in college and career prep and plans to expand.

D’Souza’s idea of a partnership was met with great enthusiasm by Pro-Vision Academy’s superintendent, Andre Credit, who had similar aspirations. “There are some things PV provides that we never knew they provided within the components of agriculture and nutrition.” Credit added, “We were able to see how we could fold the students at Pro-Vision into the university’s programs, the nutritional aspects that lend themselves to what’s already going on at Pro-Vision.”

The leaders mentioned two CAHS initiatives, Ag Day on the Hill, and the Robot on PVAMU’s Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Farm and Ranch as immediate attractions. However, the long-term plan would involve a multi-phase framework that includes a workforce development program assisting with Pro-Vision’s Parent University, onboard student teaching rotations, and field experience for PVAMU graduate students. While the plan begins with the CAHS, it is designed eventually to include other collegiate departments.

Pro-Vision’s district advisor, Dr. Edna Forte said Ag Day on the Hill is the perfect way to draw in potential PVAMU students. “Being able to bring students to campus for the field experience is important in the mind-mapping of certain students who are living in certain communities because, when you can show them something different, they can hold onto that and visualize that as they move forward.” She said Pro-Vision is passionate about supporting their students, getting them to college and continuing that support as they matriculate through to graduation.

To drive that point home, those at the meeting didn’t have to look far-off for proof of a Pro-Vision success story. Also in attendance was a Pro-Vision graduate, Jacorey Miller, a former valedictorian of the school and current PVAMU student who spoke highly of the time spent at his alma mater.

“Pro-Vision wasn’t just a school for me, when I got there it was like open arms.” Jacorey said, “Pro-Vision helped me so much, I could never turn my back on them.”

During the meeting, Credit and others referred to Jacorey as one of Pro-Vision’s most excellent ambassadors who proudly stands as a role model for students, a role he undertakes with passion as he returns to the campus regularly.

Pro-Vision’s goal is to develop more students like Jacorey, and to ensure they turn out more successful students, Pro-Vision’s Academic and Career and College Counselor Cherone Flakes said they coach students on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSI) regularly. “From the 9th grade, all the way up to the 11th grade as well, as our Seniors are tested so that they are college ready.” The TSI test enables high schoolers to earn dual credit and complete high school with college credits. “You’ll have students who are already exposed with college credits when they transfer over.”

While the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is between PVAMU’s CAHS and Pro-Vision, D’Souza is already branching out across campus to expand the collaboration. He invited Interim Dean of the College of Juvenile Justice and Executive Director of the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center Dr. Camille, who said her department is eager to expand into area schools. “One of the things we have planned is doing some telemedicine on school campuses. If we can set up equipment there, people can have ready access. This means students and families can have ready access to counseling.” That was something all agreed would be beneficial to schools and communities.

With the PV + PV plan as the foundation, the group of like-minded educators are looking toward the future by investing in young people and helping to transition them into a pipeline that will turn out productive people who can ultimately return to their communities and help make a difference.

Tucker Wilson

Tucker Wilson
Media and Publications Manager
tuwilson@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5116