Hillsborough County Public Schools officials renewed an agreement with Brandon-based One Voice Academy to continue funding a dedicated teacher for children battling cancer over the next five years.
Supporting Vulnerable Students
This memorandum of agreement extends a specialized partnership that school leaders describe as critical for serving vulnerable students undergoing intensive medical treatment. One Voice Academy is the only school in the United States dedicated solely to children battling pediatric cancer.
The school offers academic instruction along with social and emotional support tailored to the unique challenges faced by pediatric cancer patients. The district-provided teacher will work exclusively with the eight or nine children currently enrolled at the school.
Impact on Families
For many students receiving cancer treatment, attending a traditional school setting is not an option because of the heightened risk of infection. This partnership gives children the opportunity to continue learning and socializing, helping them maintain normalcy during treatment.
Executive Director Mary Ann Massolio launched the program in 2021 to provide a safe learning environment for children whose compromised immune systems prevent them from attending traditional classrooms. Massolio said the academy creates a comfortable, safe environment where students can feel free to be themselves without wigs or fear of getting sick.
Peer support is crucial for these children during their recovery. Massolio said, “We’ve transitioned over 12 children back to their neighborhood classrooms. We have unfortunately lost three of our students, but what was nice is that they could come here. They weren’t home alone, they could be around friends, and there’s really nothing better than peer support.”
Future Expansion
Massolio said One Voice Academy is expanding into the Miami area. She hopes the specialized model can eventually be replicated in communities across the country.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
