Wesley Chapel Office Of Pasco Cardiology Associates Expands Its Open Hours

The staff at Pasco Cardiology Associates in Wesley Chapel include (l.-r.) med. asst. Annette Vandenburgh, Dr. Binu Jacob, MD, FACC, practice manager Natalie Parsons & receptionist Joseph Hart.

As the population of Wesley Chapel grows, so does the need for its residents to have access to high-quality medical care.

For those who need the services of a cardiologist, Dr. Binu Jacob, M.D., FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology), and Dr. Ramanath Rao, M.D., FACC, are adding Tuesday morning hours to the schedule at their Pasco Cardiology Associates office located directly across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) in the Windfair Professional Center.

As of Mar. 1, Pasco Cardiology Associates is now open on Tuesday mornings, 9 a.m.-noon, in addition to the regular office hours on Thursdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We just see the population of Wesley Chapel growing tremendously and our patients are asking more and more (for us) to be more present in this community,” says Dr. Jacob, who received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Miami (Florida) Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and his Board certification in Cardiology & Heart Failure from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.

He returned to the University of Miami in Florida to become Board-certified in Electrophysiology.

Dr. Jacob joined Dr. Rao in 2010 at the Pasco Cardiology Associates office in Zephyrhills and they opened the Wesley Chapel office together in 2012. Dr. Rao earned his M.D. degree from the University of Mysore Medical College in Mysore, India, and completed his Cardiology Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, NY.

Both doctors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle a range of heart and vascular issues, but as Dr. Jacob explains, they have adopted an approach whereby each of the physicians focus on one particular “system” of a patient’s cardiovascular infrastructure.

“Dr. Rao and I always joke that he’s the ‘plumber’ and I’m the ‘electrician,’” says Dr. Jacob. “He deals with anything heart attack — and heart disease — related, venous disease and vascular disease, so he focuses on your ‘plumbing.’ I focus on the electrical aspects of the heart, electrical pacemakers, defibrillators, or if somebody needs an ablation, where we go into the heart and fix an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). That’s the aspect that I deal with.”

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) website, catheter ablation is a procedure that destroys small areas of heart tissue that are causing irregular heartbeats.

Some of the conditions treated at Pasco Cardiology Associates are: cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), ventricular fibrillation (uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle), peripheral artery disease (obstruction of large arteries), congenital heart disease (defect at birth), stroke, and angina pectoris (chest pain).

Services provided include coumadin clinic (to determine if coumadin, an anticoagulant medication, should be prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots), exercise and nuclear stress tests (where a small amount of a radioactive substance is ingested by a patient to determine blood flow to the heart), electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (or Echo tests) and Holter monitoring (a Holter monitor is a device worn by a patient and continuously records the heart’s rhythms during normal activity) among others.

Insurance policies issued by most major carriers are accepted, as is Medicare.

An Ounce Of Prevention…

What Dr. Jacob prefers, however is that people take care of their cardiovascular systems before repairs are needed.

He emphasizes prevention and says that it’s important for people to manage their lifestyle and risk factors by controlling what they eat and making regular exercise, such as walking, a part of their routine. “I really try to teach my patients disease prevention,” says Dr. Jacob, who is a Wesley Chapel resident.

For Dr. Jacob, his journey to becoming a cardiologist was something he set out on at an early age, entering medical school at age 19 after applying himself and getting ahead in his secondary education by taking advanced placement courses at Ely High School in Pompano Beach, FL.

Dr. Jacob credits his mother, who worked as a nurse for more than three decades, as a major influence on him.

“She always said, ‘Treat your patients like family,’ so I refuse to see somebody for just a matter of minutes,’’ he says. “I have to take my time and understand where they’re coming from.”

Dr. Jacob adds that he takes a conservative approach to treating his patients, preferring lifestyle adjustments over treatment and, if treatment is needed, always  opting for the least invasive procedures possible first.

“Too many people nowadays do a knee-jerk reaction where they want the latest and greatest, but not necessarily what’s beneficial for them,” says Dr. Jacob. “I really advocate to try the conservative things first.”

Hjalma Johnson has been a patient of Pasco Cardiology Associates for four years. He says his heart is in good hands around the clock with Dr. Rao.

“Dr. Rao is a consummate professional,’’ says Johnson. “He does follow-ups and calls to let me know if we need to do anything else and I have his cell phone number and can call him 24/7.”

In addition to Dr. Jacob and Dr. Rao, there’s a team of support professionals at Pasco Cardiology Associates who interact with patients.

Annette Vandenburgh is a medical assistant who makes her professional priority quite clear. “Number one is patient care,” Vandenburgh says. “We’ll do anything for the patient to make sure that everything is taken care of.”

Practice manager Natalie Parsons says patients can help themselves by bringing in their proof of insurance and a picture ID for their first visit and also recommends that you bring in bottles of all of your prescriptions each time you come to the office.

“Then, we can see who is prescribing the medication and when it was last filled,’’ she says.

The “face of the office,” according to his colleagues, is receptionist Joseph Hart. He says making often-anxious patients and their families feel better begins when they come in the door.

“I want them to come in and feel comfortable and assured that they’re going to get the care they’re expecting.”

With the additional availability to Wesley Chapel patients, Dr. Jacob anticipates Pasco Cardiology Associates will become further established as a contributing member of the local medical community.

“As Wesley Chapel grows,” he says. “I want us to grow with it.”

Dr. Rao and Dr. Jacob are affiliated with Adventist Health System’s Florida Hospitals in Hillsborough and Pasco counties (including Florida Hospital Tampa and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) and Dr. Jacob is affiliated with Bayfront Health Dade City.

The Wesley Chapel office of Pasco Cardiology Associates is located at 2649 Windguard Cir., Suite 102, in the Windfair Professional Center in Wesley Chapel. For more information or to make an appointment, call 788-0439.

Topash Painting — Three Generations Of Painting Homes In New Tampa!

(L.-r.): Cole, K.T. and Hollie Topash hope that when you need or want to have your home painted, you’ll think of Topash Painting first.

For three generations now, the Topash family has been painting homes in Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas.

“We’ve always been a family-owned business and we’ve been a second-generation business,” says K.T., who bought Topash Painting from his dad, Paul, in 2009. “But now, we’re getting to be third-generation painting company.”

He explains that his son, Cole, who is 16 and homeschooled, often works as his father’s helper. “He’s working with me today, in fact,” says K.T.

Paul Topash established his company in the Lutz area in 1978. “About 20 years ago, we moved the business out to Wesley Chapel to keep it local to where we live, and we’ve been there ever since,” says K.T.

Never A Subcontractor

When you hire Topash Painting, you will always work directly with K.T.

“Our family is a great team,” says K.T. “My wife, Hollie, does all the bookkeeping, which is a full-time job in itself. Without her, I couldn’t do what I do. She frees me up to do the painting, the estimates, and what I need to do to get the job. Then, my son helps me paint. We all make a great team together.”

K.T. also has a helper for bigger jobs when his son is not available, but Hollie says you’ll always see K.T. at your home when you hire Topash Painting.

“There’s not a job where you won’t see K.T.,” explains Hollie. “His helper won’t be there without him; that will never happen. K.T. does each estimate, does every job himself – from start to finish, including pressure washing – on every job.”

Because his services are so in demand and he doesn’t hire subcontractors or laborers, he often books well in advance, sometimes as much as 90 days in advance.

“When I say I’m going to be there, I’m going to be there,” he says. Hollie adds, “The only thing that gets us off schedule is rain – or the occasional illness or emergency – but we’re usually able to swap an interior job for an exterior, and it works out so that we stay on schedule.”

K.T. jokes that he, “works to support his hobby,” which is another family affair. K.T., Hollie, and Cole are all licensed falconers, training birds of prey. Hollie explains, “They hunt for squirrel or rabbit or pheasant, and are taught to come back to us on a whistle. K.T.’s bird is a falcon that hunts ducks or other birds.  The falcons develop a real bond with their trainers.”

K.T. adds, “Whenever we’re not painting, that’s our life.”

How To Hire A Painter

K.T. stresses the importance of protecting your investment in your home by painting the exterior when needed.

“Paint helps to seal off the wood and keep moisture out,” he explains. “Using a good quality paint makes a tremendous difference in how long the paint lasts. Some paints can be really expensive, but there’s a place where you get the biggest bang for your buck as far as quality.”

K.T. will help you get the best paint for your personal circumstances, such as if you’re planning to sell your home soon or if it will be your “forever home.” He offers some additional helpful tips for anyone who is considering hiring a painter for interior or exterior work:

‱ Ask friends and neighbors about painters they’ve used.

‱ A clean vehicle indicates a neat painter who takes pride in his or her work. Observe the vehicle he or she arrives in when they come to do the estimate.

‱ You shouldn’t be asked to buy your own paint before the job.

‱ Painters should return your calls in a timely manner.

‱ They must be able to show they are licensed, bonded and insured in your county.

“Always ask,” says Hollie. “If someone gets hurt at your house and isn’t insured, you’re liable. Make sure they’re bonded, too. If something expensive gets broken at your house, K.T. is bonded so you can replace it.”

She adds that if you’re not specific and you only ask, “Are you licensed?,” some contractors might answer “yes,” meaning they hold an occupational license.  “Anyone can pay $35 at the county and get an occupational license,” she says. “Ask if they are a licensed paint contractor.” Hollie says this is what K.T. is, and he’s had training, invested money, and had to take a test to earn it.

“There are a lot of companies in Pasco and Hillsborough counties who are not licensed,” says Hollie. “There’s a big difference between an occupational license and a proper paint contractor license. It doesn’t benefit us to be properly licensed; it protects the customers.”

Painting His Whole Life

“K.T.’s dad, Paul, painted for me and my family when K.T. was a kid,” says Michelle, a long-time Wesley Chapel resident who didn’t want to share her last name. “The minute K.T. could hold a paintbrush, he was painting. I’ve seen him grow and watched him become the dad to his son that his dad was to him. He’s just a great guy.”

She says that K.T. also is a man of integrity, which she believes is rare. “I’ve watched him hold tight to his moral code,” Michelle says. “This is a time of uncertainty with contractors. You wonder if they’re coming, if they’ll be on time, (if they’re) using the product they say they’re using. K.T. is true to his word and he really cares.”

She adds, “I think that’s why he has so many repeat customers. Sometimes he gets really busy, but I don’t mind waiting. I just tell him to put me on his list.”

K.T.’s truck touts that Topash Painting is the home of the “neat and tidy professionals,” and Michelle says that’s absolutely true. “I have white carpet in my house that’s 25 years old. It’s that old because I take really good care of it. He’s painted every wall inside and out you don’t even know he’s been in the room.”

For estimates or appointments, call Topash Painting cat 780-2511 or e-mail topashpainting@gmail.com. Or, find “Topash Painting” on Facebook .

You Don’t Have To Be An Educator To Be Insured By Florida Educators Insurance

Gary Cucchi (fifth from the left in front row) and his professional crew at Florida Educators Insurance in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel can handle your insurance and financial services needs, even if you’re not an educator yourself.

The word “educators” in Florida Educators Insurance indicates that, primarily, this local insurance agency serves teachers and others who work in schools. Owner Gary Cucchi says it’s also a hallmark of how his agency does business.

“The biggest thing we do is educate our clients,” Gary says, “Not only do we serve educators and their neighbors, family members and friends, but we also educate our clients about their insurance and retirement plans to be sure they have the right strategy and coverages so their family is protected, now and in the future.”

Gary adds that it’s a common misconception that, because the company is called “Florida Educators Insurance,” people think the agency only serves educators.

“But, that’s not the case,” Gary explains. “We help non-educators all the time. They’re often family members, friends, and neighbors of our current clients — but they don’t have to be — and we help them with auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, life insurance, IRAs, and 401k accounts.”

Gary is a Seven Oaks resident who used to be a teacher himself, before opening Florida Educators Insurance in 2002. His company is an independent agency of Horace Mann, which specializes in insurance products and financial services for educators. Founded in Springfield, IL, in 1945, Horace Mann is named for the founder of American public education and is now a multi-billion-dollar company traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HMN).

Florida Educators Insurance moved to its current location in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56 (just east of I-75) in 2008. The agency offers auto, home, umbrella, flood and life insurance, along with retirement and investment plans, such as IRAs and 401(k) plans, “529” college savings plans, plus plans just for educators known as 403(b) and 457 plans.

As an independent agency, Florida Educators Insurance writes policies with a wide variety of insurance companies. Gary explains that he works with many of the largest companies across the industries his agency represents. Some examples include insurance and financial services through – of course – Horace Mann, and financial services from American Funds, Fidelity and Raymond James Financial, life insurance through Lincoln Financial and Ameritas, home insurance through Tower Hill and American Integrity, and auto insurance through Safeco, Progressive and Mercury.

Of about 1,000 Horace Mann agencies nationwide, Gary says Florida Educators Insurance is now the largest.

“We don’t try to be the largest,” he explains, “It just happens and we get some plaque (from Horace Mann for it). I don’t care about how big we are; I care about my employees and our clients. If all that’s going well, it doesn’t matter if we’re number one or 100.”

Gary says all 19 agents in his office are fully licensed through the Florida Department of Insurance, and all financial services staff members hold numerous state and federal investment licenses through FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

“We’re a good size, especially staff-wise, but we’re like a mom-’n-pop in that we try to really get to know people and get to know their families so we can advise them properly,” Gary says. “We genuinely care about our clients and are not just trying to sell policies. The teacher in me has this philosophy to help people.”

Serving Schools

Gary says that in 2016, Florida Educators Insurance spent at least $100,000 to provide reading and attendance incentives, school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts, and more to local schools in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas County.

“Instead of buying billboards, we try to give back to the community,” Gary explains. “We advertise in the Neighborhood News because it’s local, but we don’t do any other ads. We want our dollars to go back to the people we serve.”

Florida Educators Insurance often gives away bicycles, based on incentives chosen by participating schools, including all of the schools in Wesley Chapel.

“For the last five years or more, we have donated several hundred bikes a year to schools in the area to promote attendance and reading,” he says. “It takes us a couple of weeks to deliver all the bikes. We got tired of renting U-hauls to do it, so we decided to get our own bus.”

Now, Florida Educators Insurance delivers those bikes in a customized school bus that has been wrapped with the company’s information and had seats removed on the inside to accommodate bikes, school supplies, or whatever is being delivered.

“Our relationships with the schools are based on what (each) school needs,” Gary explains. “Not every school needs bikes. We help every school in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in some way.”

He says this includes providing at least $25,000 worth of teacher appreciation gifts, typically $25 gift certificates to local restaurants, which many schools give away at appreciation breakfasts and lunches.

“This is our way of letting [teachers] know that we care about them, with no strings attached,” Gary says. “They don’t have to be clients, although we do insure 10,000 people in that three-county area.”

Happy Customers

Jerry Jackson is a recently retired educator who has been a Florida Educators Insurance client for 15 years, in part because he thinks so highly of Gary.

“He’s awesome,” Jerry says. “With him, there’s no high pressure. (Gary) just really wants to help people.”

Jerry also explains that he was in the State of Florida deferred retirement program, and Gary made retirement easy for him.

“He guided me through all of the requirements and all of the paperwork,” he says. “He’s an expert. If I need any kind of advice, I’ll call Gary. If he doesn’t know the answer, he knows where to find it. I refer him to everybody I know.”

Gary adds, “We’re not here just to save you a couple of dollars on your auto and home insurance, although we generally do that, and that’s the fun stuff. But, saving money on your home and auto insurance isn’t going to change your life. We also change lives with what we do. When we help someone properly plan for their future — their retirement needs —that can be life-changing.”

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to insurance and investment planning, so Gary asks his clients to be willing to discuss their unique situation with a Florida Educators Insurance agent.

“Most people spend more time planning for their summer vacations every year than they do for their own futures,” says Gary. “We ask you to give us one hour each year to go over your budget and goals so that you can be better prepared for the future.”

He explains that budgeting and goal-setting are part of the agency’s full-service retirement planning, but adds that the agency provides these services for all of their clients, even those who might only have auto insurance through the company.

“We’re here for all phases of your life,” Gary says.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News readers who call for a free quote on home or auto insurance, or who meet with a Florida Educators Insurance agent to discuss planning for retirement or insurance, and mention this story or the ad on page 18 will receive a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate, and, Gary says, there’s absolutely no obligation to purchase anything to receive it.

Florida Educators Insurance is located at 26809 Tanic Dr., Suite 101.  For more information, call 600-3268 or visit FloridaEducatorsInsurance.com. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and on Saturdays by appointment.

Vuelo Mexican Grill Is Taking Flight On Bruce B. Downs Blvd.!

I guess I was just about the only one who actually really liked the old Señor T’s, the original Mexican concept restaurant opened by owner Tom Reynolds in Nov. 2015 in the former location of Romano’s Macaroni Grill on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., next to Chili’s Grill & Bar.

Even though Señor T’s closed only nine months or so later (in Aug. 2016), I was kind of addicted to the unique mahi-mahi fajitas. Few people in our area believed that Reynolds shut down to revamp, but revamp he did, and on October 25 of last year, Reynolds and an all-new crew brought in by Carol Daniel and Dennis Borders of Chicago-based Levy Restaurants opened the new Vuelo Mexican Grill.

Reynolds and company are hoping that the now-four-month-old Vuelo, which means “flight” in Spanish, will take flight in New Tampa. Daniel and Borders brought in celebrity chef consultant Mark Estee — a former James Beard award semifinalist for “Best Chef in the West” for his Campo restaurant in Reno, NV — to completely overhaul the menu, and award-winning Reno-based architect Larry Henry to improve the interior.

Since then, Reynolds has hired new general manager and head chef Michael Lopez, fresh off a three-year stint as the food and beverage director at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club in Dade City, to maintain quality control in the kitchen and to also make sure the “front of the house” runs smoothly.

Estee (who appeared on a recent episode of WCNT-tv on YouTube) and Lopez have been working together to keep Vuelo as a “scratch kitchen” and Lopez says that about 90-percent of what comes out of the kitchen is made in-house. “Ultimately, we will be closer to 98 percent from scratch,” Lopez says. “The only things we won’t make are our own mayonnaise and our own breads, but all of our chips, salsas and entrĂ©es are made here.”

Speaking of salsas, one of the focal points for Vuelo is the new fresh salsa bar, which has about seven different salsas (from roasted maize verde to hot Tomas to mild Luis), plus fresh lemon, lime, cilantro and jalapeños to spice your salsa your way.

“And yes, chips and salsa are absolutely free at Vuelo,” says Reynolds, who took a lot of heat locally for charging for chips and salsa at Señor T’s. “We want to be a long-term player in New Tampa, so we know we have to keep our customers happy.”

And, that customer base is growing. Lopez says that, thanks in large part to advertising in the Neighborhood News. “We were absolutely slammed on Valentine’s Day,” he says. “I know we had some people who weren’t happy about their wait times, but we had more than 300 people in here on that Tuesday night.”

OK, So What About The Food?

All this talk about new people is great, but for most of us, what matters most at any new restaurant is the food and I have to say that I think Reynolds, Estee and Lopez are on to something.

My favorite dish at Vuelo is the bubbling filet mignon molcajete, which is served bubbling hot in a lava rock bowl with chunks of tender filet, potatoes and sautĂ©ed veggies and a deliciously zesty peppercorn gravy. There’s also a seafood molcajete I can’t eat with shrimp, scallops and snapper. I may have to try it without the shrimp someday.

Lopez also is proud to announce that, due to customer demand, the sizzling asada platters the restaurant opened with have now been replaced by some absolutely excellent chicken, steak and shrimp fajitas, for just $15 or pick a combo of any two of those items for just $17. The chicken fajitas pictured above are thick slices of tender chicken breast with some of the best onions and peppers you’ll find anywhere and basted in and topped with a savory lime butter. Yum!

Also added to the menu since Vuelo opened are the Vuelo wings served in your choice of sauce — traditional fire hot, chipotle BBQ glaze or mojo Cubano. I haven’t sampled them yet, but you can bet I will…soon.

Other Vuelo favorites so far in our office include the trio of “street” tacos, available with pork carnitas, barbacoa beef, achiote chicken and our favorite, the fried or blackened fish. We also love the chicken quesadillas and the enchiladas. We haven’t yet sampled the burritos that Lopez says he will bring to this year’s Taste of New Tampa (see pages 34-39). Vuelo’s marketing director Suzanne Deveney says many Yelp reviews have called the burritos “the best in town.”

I really love Vuelo’s beautiful bar area, which is stocked with a wide variety of Mexican beers in bottles (try the Victoria beer), some of the world’s most famous tequilas and a nice selection of fresh fruit margaritas. Even the Casa ‘Ritas on the rocks are potent and absolutely delicious.

There are great specials almost every day, including five mini tacos for $5 Mon.-Fri., from opening til 6 p.m.; and one kid eats free every day 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (with each purchase of an adult entrĂ©e at full price).  There’s DJ dance music on Vuelo’s covered patio on Taco Tuesday nights (when two tacos & a draft beer or Casarita cost just $6), and on Fajitarita Friday, you get a free Casa ‘Rita or glass of house wine with any fajita purchase. There’s also a great weekend brunch menu on Sat. & Sun., with bottomless mimosas or bloody Marys/Marias for only $10 per person. Brunch starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.

“We get a nice crowd for UFC fights, too,” Lopez says with a smile.

Vuelo Mexican Grill is located at 17641 BBD and is open every day for lunch and dinner. For more information, call 972-4800 or visit VueloMexicanGrill.com.

Academy At The Lakes — An Independent Option For Students

Students at Academy at the Lakes on Collier Pkwy. in Land O’Lakes receive top-quality academics and have opportunities to participate in school sports, theatre and other programs.

Wesley Chapel families considering an independent school option for their children’s education will find everything they’re looking for at Academy at the Lakes (AATL) on Collier Pkwy., near S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes.

Consisting of two campuses on opposite sides of Collier Pkwy., AATL has a PreK 3-Grade 12 curriculum geared towards college preparation. Head of School Mark Heller says the day-to-day school experience at AATL develops more than academic knowledge.

“We have very strong academics, but so much more,” says Heller, who has been Head of School for 10 of AATL’s 25-years of existence. “We equip students with a set of skills that will last them for the rest of their lives.”

Heller adds that emphasizing things like good manners and even just mastering the basic handshake prepares students to interact easily and effectively with the world beyond AATL. He refers to this part of the school’s routine as its “hidden curriculum.”

“Our hidden curriculum helps build confidence and confidence builds success,” Heller says.

One way that schools, independent as well as public, measure student success is how many of their graduates who apply to college are accepted. According to information provided by AATL’s marketing office, that figure is 100 percent for the years 2014-16, with $7 million in scholarships offered for that same period.

Ryan O’Malley is a Class of 2017 AATL graduating senior with a mailbox full of college acceptance letters from Florida State, Central Florida and others. He says is waiting to hear from UCLA and Notre Dame before making a decision. O’Malley gives much of the credit to AATL‘s college counseling program that emphasizes applying to schools that match a student’s interests, talents and academic achievement.

“They helped me learn where I fit best when it comes to  deciding which college to go to,” says O’Malley.

As far as his educational experience at AATL, O’Malley cites the benefit of the school’s  smaller class sizes than he encountered while attending the public King High in the Hillsborough County School District.

“The teachers here really get to know you,” O’Malley says.

According to Heller, that’s the way it is supposed to work.

“Everyone has different gifts and a huge job of our school is to bring out those gifts,’’ he says. “It’s an awesome and wonderful task.”

Director of admissions & marketing Penny Rogers cites a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio (for elementary through high school grades; the ratio for PreK3-Kindergarten is only 8-to-1) as a factor in creating a nurturing learning environment.

“Your child will not get lost here,” says Rogers, who lives in Wesley Chapel and has two daughters attending AATL, which has 460 students in all of its grades. “We want (each of our) students to find (his/her) passion.”

It Starts With Academics

To help each student find his or her passion, AATL offers a rigorous curriculum with a wide assortment of honors classes and is a College Board-approved Advanced Placement Capstone school, a trademarked educational program. High school students can participate in Capstone to develop their skills and talents through exploration and research of academic and real-world issues.

Students interested in technology will find plenty of options with AATL’s Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics program (STEM), which begins with the youngest students in PreK3, who, if they haven’t encountered an iPad before, will as part of their Academy education. Other science and technology educational opportunities include a substantial robotics program, explorations of Lake Myrtle in the school’s recently purchased pontoon boat, a semester-long medical seminar, experiential trips to the Amazon rain forest and opportunities to compete in science and math competitions.

Artistic exploration and expression is promoted at all grade levels. In addition to classroom instruction in studio and performing arts, there are theatrical productions and musical concerts in which to gain on-stage experience. Literature is celebrated with events like Poetry Camp, where students gather before a video-recorded campfire, snack on s’mores and read aloud poetry ranging from the classics, such as the works of Rudyard Kipling, to student compositions written in observance of Black History Month.   

As an independent school, AATL’s teachers are able to focus on things other than standardized testing. Upper division English teacher Kim Vreeland, who also has taught in public schools in Pasco, Leon and Palm Beach counties, says teaching at an independent school allows her to tailor her instruction to accommodate the needs of her students.

“To be able to connect with each child is important,” says Vreeland, a Lexington Oaks resident. “To do that, I adjust how I deal with each student. We want to get the best out of every student and let them become the best version of themselves.”

That approach to education is appreciated by Sue Maxwell, whose 5th grade daughter has been a student at AATL for three years.

“We chose Academy at the Lakes because we felt that it was the best fit for our daughter,” says Maxwell. “It is a wonderful place for learning. The teachers are fair, supportive and most importantly, encouraging.”

Athletics & More!

AATL also has an active and successful athletics program. The school is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and has 40 middle school, junior varsity and varsity teams in 14 sports, including football, cheerleading, basketball and volleyball.

The school was the 2014-15 winner of the Carey E. McDonald award as Florida’s top Class 2A high school sports program and, this year, the AATL Wildcats began competing in the Class 3A division. There is a no-cut policy for all teams and more than 70 percent of AATL’s students in grades 5 through 12 participate in at least one school sport.

Community involvement is another feature of AATL student life. The school participates in food drives and other community outreach activities with organizations like Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa.

Heller says AATL fulfills its role as an educational resource for the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa communities by keeping in mind words at the heart of the school’s mission statement.

“We celebrate the love of learning and the joy in the journey,” he says.

AATL is accredited by the  Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS),  by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC).

Academy at the Lakes’ middle and upper schools are located at 2331 Collier Pkwy.; grades PreK3 through 12 are located at 2220 Collier Pkwy. For more information, or, to schedule a tour, visit AcademyAtTheLakes.org or email admissions@academyatthelakes.org. The phone number is 909-7919.