Literacy Services for ESL Learners

Program Overview

The Gargiulo Education Center is a pro bono after-school and summer program founded in 2000 to serve agricultural, migrant and at-risk students. The Gargiulo Education Center provides enriching academic and entrepreneurial opportunities in a caring environment to students from the agriculture, migrant, at-risk population with the goal of improving the future of the families, one child at a time. The Gargiulo Education Center was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2014, after having been in operation since the year 2000.
The Gargiulo Education Center's ("GEC") core programs include 1. STEAM educational program (science, technology, engineering, art/music and mathematics), 2. Community outreach which pairs our young students with helping and spending time with seniors in Southwest Florida, 3.Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Program which teaches young students core work skills and empowers them to earn stipends and reward points which can then be redeemed for items from the student operated store, 4. SMART (Serenity, Meditation, Awareness, Respect and Trust) Program which provides emotional health support and first aid for migrant students due to lack of services otherwise available to them, 5. Summer Camp which keeps young students safe and engaged throughout the summer and combines art, math, yoga, acting, music and science, and 6. After-school Nutrition Program which, in partnership with Child Care of Southwest Florida, provides hot meals to children year-round. In addition to these core offerings for migrant students, the Center hosts English classes for adults.

The Gargiulo Education Center now employs three administrators, a dedicated mental health counselor, eight hourly teachers, four STEAM instructors, and benefits from the help of dedicated volunteers throughout the year, as well as a devoted Board of Directors.