American Graduate Day Returns to WEDU PBS on October 3rd

TAMPA, Fla. - Sept. 25, 2015 - PRLog -- American Graduate Day will return on Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. on WEDU PBS. Broadcast from Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City, American Graduate Day is a live, seven-hour multiplatform broadcast that leverages the power and reach of public media to focus on those organizations and individual Champions keeping kids on the path to graduation.  American Graduate Day centers on the critical themes of: Career Readiness and College Completion, Caring Consistent Adults, Dropout Prevention and Re-engagement, Early Education, More and Better Learning, Special Needs, and STEAM. Journalists, thought leaders, and celebrities will join together to raise awareness of the incredible work being done across the country to keep kids in school. The broadcast and online event features a mix of national and local segments from across the country that showcases how community organizations and individual Champions provide support, advice, and intervention services to at-risk students, families, and schools.

Throughout the day, viewers are invited to engage with their local public television stations and the featured community organizations. Viewers can participate in the event by asking questions and sharing ideas before and during the broadcast on Twitter (https://twitter.com/amerigrad) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/americangraduate), using the hashtag #AmGrad.

During the broadcast, three local educators form the Tampa Bay area will be featured as American Graduate Day Champions. Edna Bailey is the co-founder and principal at OASIS Middle School, a charter school for at-risk, low-income students in Bradenton. Kelley Beall is a teacher and trainer with Hillsborough County Schools and works with the district’s VPK and Head Start programs. Terry Boehm is the Executive Director of the Pinellas Education Foundation and has helped direct education foundations in supporting students for more than 25 years.

The three local educators being profiled during American Graduate Day 2015 will also be honored at reception on October 1^st at the WEDU Studios in Tampa. Tickets for this FREE event are still available and guests in attendance will get a preview screening of their American Graduate Day Stories of Champions profile. Tickets are available at www.wedu.org/americangraduate. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. and refreshments will be served.