Experience 1 - Thursday February 13th, 2014

Maritime Academy of Toledo is a local charter school in the heart of Toledo, Ohio. They are known for their marine-themed environment and principles. The school is very passionate about their students, success and reputation. They put great empathy on discipline, honesty and integrity. There is a diverse background when entering this charter schools. It is half and half: half are from lower-middle class caucasian families while the others are in the lower-class but are being well supported and encouraged at Maritime. The Maritime Academy of Toledo has also recently moved to a hotel. This means that the classrooms are still set up with bathrooms and are very fortunate to have a pool, fitness center and even hotel rooms that are designated 'dorms'. It is even still has the hotel keycards for faculty and staff to enter and exit their classrooms. It is great that they encourage student creativity and participation by making them help the culinary students in the large kitchen. They lunches are healthy and affordable. Faculty and staff may have to pay a hefty $3.00 compared to the reduced-lunch plan of only $0.40 per a meal. However, there is a below-average intervention specialist program but it still needs time to grow. Unfortunately the school is unable to afford a social worker so the 4th/5th grade social studies teacher Mrs. Amy Hineline has to deal with students inside and outside her classroom. Overall the Maritime Academy of Toledo is excellent at keeping the parents involved with their child's academic life and encouraging students to remember their manners with Maritime Bucks which is their reward system. The Maritime Bucks is a form of currency that can be exchanged, at the end of the grace period, for rewards such as an iPod, Kindle or other goodies.