Savannah area school celebrates 10-year milestone, to focus on expanding computer science

Despite the huge, shiny scissors and the blue ribbon, Tybee Island Maritime Academy (TIMA) is not opening a new facility. Rather, Thursday’s ribbon cutting was a symbolic gesture meant to commemorate the public charter school’s 10th anniversary as it looks toward the future.

The intent of Thursday’s event was also to, “celebrate the community partners that have and continue to shepherd TIMA’s unique learning style," according to TIMA’s press release.

Current TIMA principal Peter Ulrich and founding principal Patrick Rossiter reflected on the school's journey and achievements. Board President Brigitte VanBaelen discussed approaches designed to strengthen the school's commitment to providing a holistic education experience. City Council Member and TIMA parent Nancy DeVetter also spoke, discussing TIMA's impact on the community. Even Founding Board Chair Carolyn Jurick made an appearance via video since she was away on a trip with her family.

Place-based learning & Innovation

At TIMA’s inception it was only the second maritime-themed elementary school in the United States. The school leaned heavily into place-based education by combining problem-based learning with real-world experiences. Regular field trips to the beach and opportunities to connect with maritime industry partners have long been a part of TIMA’s mission.

TIMA parents Sam Oughtred, a local public relations professional, and Nikki Parks, a local realtor, love that the ocean and marsh were built into the charter as part of the classroom experience. Oughtred and Parks also appreciate the autonomy TIMA provides to its teachers to be innovative. Parks’ son came home from school one day excited about large cardboard boats his class was going to race with students inside them. She thought her son was mistaken. “But, the next day, a permission slip came home for the first cardboard boat regatta,” she said.

Other aspects of TIMA’s innovative learning were on display during Thursday’s ceremony.

Second-grade students presented artistic geography projects that incorporated shapes into lessons on the history of Georgia. Students talked about research they did on Yamacraw and Creek tribes that lived in Savannah at the time James Oglethorpe, Mary Musgrove’s and Tomochichi led the settlement of Savannah. Students combined their historical research with studies on cubism and collage to produce their projects.

Fifth-graders shared how they got to witness live sea turtle babies being released. Their project entailed studying the turtles’ nests leading up to the hatchings.

Turtle Tracks: A rare green sea turtle nest found on Tybee Island

Turtle Released: Loggerhead Ike released into the Atlantic off Tybee Island's North Beach

Eighth-graders presented their oyster shell recycling project that has evolved over the course of the last year and transcends all their subject areas from math to science and art. This student-led initiative grew student-led discussions and went all the way to presenting to Tybee’s city council. The council approved the students’ proposal, which secured a dumpster for oyster shell donations. The students also secured two restaurant partners: Sea Wolf and Salt Island. This year they hope to engage more restaurant partners and develop promotional materials among other initiatives.

Looking Ahead

So where does a school like TIMA go from here over the next decade? “We're continuing to add more and more computer science,” said Ulrich. “Our colleagues went through some training on infusing AI into our instruction.” He also talked about how TIMA continues to expand its drone, robotics and underwater robotics programs.

Of TIMA’s 430 students, 80 or so live on Tybee. Many of them bike or walk to school. Most students are driven by their parents, some as far aways as Port Wentworth. Up until 2021, the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) provided transportation to public charter schools. When that was no longer deemed feasible, most other local charter schools had to accept the loss of buses.

TIMA, however, had been setting aside funds for potential transportation costs. That foresight allowed TIMA to secure three Kelly Tours buses at an annual cost upwards of $300,000. While TIMA offers bussing, it’s limited so there is a bus lottery for about 160 spots.

With more funding TIMA could offer more buses. The school would also like to secure more real estate to expand its offerings into high school – a dream of many TIMA parents. “The physical plant for us is what's probably our most dire need,” said Ulrich. The buildings that make up TIMA’s physical classroom space are 70 to 80 years old. Classroom sizes in 1948 were much different than they are now.

Community through it all

TIMA’s origin story is one of need met by the community. Started in 2013, TIMA was the first public school on Tybee in nearly 22 years. Tybee’s private school had also closed a few years prior. “There was no option for education on the island,” said Ulrich. According to Ulrich, when people in the community went to the district to ask for a school, district leaders said Tybee did not have the population to support it. The story goes that someone at the district suggested that the Tybee folks consider starting a charter school.

TIMA’s community-led effort is what drew parents like Oughtred and Parks. “It just feels more inclusive from past school experiences where I was very isolated as a single parent,” said Oughtred. “The way TIMA approaches parents, I've met made more friendships through that school than I did at my own schools when I was a kid.”

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Another aspect of the community approach is teacher collaboration and an emphasis teacher support. Ulrich said, “We really do lean into the idea that if you take care of teachers, they take care of kids.” He cited a 100% commitment from teachers to return for this school year. “They all committed to come back, although we ended up with a couple that had to move or take maternity leave.”

When asked what Ulrich hopes the greater public realizes about TIMA through this event, he responded, “How proud we are to serve the children of Chatham County. We're a public school. People give us their kids. We don't take that lightly.” Ulrich ended his speech Thursday with, “Our kids get to imagine and dream a lot. Then they take those dreams and create plans of action and change the world.”

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Island Maritime Academy celebrates school's 10th anniversary