At Infinite Potential, Glen Oak Elementary lives on

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If you had the chance to attend November’s “Full Circle Celebration” at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg to welcome Dr. Tanika Tomalin as its new President/CEO, you likely left with a sense of inspiration. How many of us knew that Tomalin’s St. Pete heritage reaches back for five generations? That’s right, five! I sat at that evening’s event and wondered if it was possible for me to have even a fraction of her passion for equity and love for Southside St. Pete.

Reflecting on this event prompted me to consider my own journey. Although I was born at Mound Park (now Bayfront) and was raised in St. Pete, my experience differed from Tomalin’s. Our family lived in a predominantly white, middle-class neighborhood in Northeast St. Pete, where our cultural exposure was limited. Attending George M. Lynch and Shore Acres Elementary, I was consistently part of the majority, oblivious to concepts like white privilege, discrimination or racism.

My perspective shifted when, due to bussing strategies, I found myself at Glen Oak Elementary for my 4th and 5th grade years, in 1971-73. Anticipating a diverse cultural environment, I was surprised to find myself in the majority once again. Despite this, my memories of Glen Oak were extremely positive. For over 50 years, I thought about trying to find Mr. Brumfield, my 4th grade teacher, to express my gratitude for the positive impact he had on my life. Unfortunately, my desire to reconnect and visit the school again was met with rumors that the school had been torn down.

Fast forward to 2014, when Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg (2301 22nd Ave S) was looking for a Head of School, and they chose me to lead them. This opportunity allowed me to bridge the geographical and cultural gap between my childhood home and the Southside community. It also compelled me to confront my own biases and actively engage with the history of African Americans in St. Petersburg and beyond.

Then in 2018, Mrs. Twanna Monroe and Mr. Kori Monroe, owners of Infinite Potential Center (pre-school), visited Academy Prep. They wanted to learn more about us because they had heard Academy Prep was successful and they were looking at different facilities/locations to build an elementary school. Like Tomalin, I admired their total commitment, their passion, and their desire to make a difference in the community. The Monroes obviously had good intentions, and definitely a vision, but I wasn’t sure if they were prepared for all of the many challenges ahead of them.

To my delight, the Monroes overcame obstacles and opened the doors to Infinite Potential Learning Academy, at 1900 12th St. S. They invited me to visit and we both embraced the opportunity to partner. As I walked through the halls, memories flooded back, and that’s when I realized that the familiarity I was feeling was because I was walking through a transformed Glen Oak Elementary. When it all started to sink in, I got sentimental and teary-eyed. Glen Oak had not been demolished after all – and it still stands strong!

Since that visit, I found my original report card from Mr. Brumfield’s class, found the 4th grade class picture, and, yes, I recently located Mr. Brumfield, who is still alive and teaching! Whenever people have asked me what the most pivotal time in my educational journey was, I have always said that it was at Glen Oak in Mr. Brumfield’s 4th grade class, and I have never forgotten what he and the school did for me. I was finally able to share that with him. I’ve now discovered more locals who thought Glen Oak was demolished, and they also had a great experience and have fond memories of their time there.

The Monroes have not only started a school to provide an excellent education for the families of Southside St. Petersburg, but they brought back its history. If those walls could speak! I wonder how many locals realize that the ole Glen Oak still stands, but either way, I think we can all agree that how it now stands carries on the important legacy of positive community impact.

Academy Prep recently held a “Breakfast of Faith” and celebrated over 30 churches, 10 nonprofits, and a handful of schools in attendance. The purpose was to ensure that the social institutions of St. Petersburg understand how much Academy Prep wants to embrace partnerships that make a difference in our shared community. Although I can’t come close to Dr. Tomalin’s full circle experience, I feel my time at Academy Prep has allowed me to serve this community that gave me so much in the ‘70s in that little school in Southside St. Petersburg.

Gina Tanase Burkett is Head of School, Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg (and St. Petersburg High School grad, Class of ‘80)