Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By JULIE CHURCH
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 15, 2001
Beth Cigoi, 16, has the same hopes and dreams as other kids her age. She'd like to go to college, move into an apartment with friends and eventually get married and start a career in child care or possibly as a singer or dancer.
Two things, however, distinguish Beth from other 16-year-olds. She has Down's syndrome. And she recently was named a delegate to this summer's Able Trust Youth Leadership Forum in Tallahassee.
Beth, who lives in Lansbrook, is a sophomore at East Lake High School, where she is mainstreamed into regular classes in biology, algebra, art, English, food preparation and keyboarding.
She does regular 10th-grade work with modifications to her class load and with help from an aide who stays with her throughout the day. Her test times are sometimes lengthened and assignments are sometimes modified.
"For example, if the other kids in algebra do 40 problems for homework, Beth will maybe do 20," her mom, Pat, said.
According to her mom, Beth is the first child with Down's syndrome to be mainstreamed into regular classes at East Lake High. But even though there are not a lot of other kids like her, she doesn't hesitate to jump in and get involved.
Beth is a member of the school's multicultural committee and eats lunch with a group of other students who are not handicapped.
She has tried out for the school's talent show for the past two years and although she hasn't made it, she plans to try out again next year.
Outside the classroom, Beth plays golf every week, takes dance classes and volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen and Special Olympics and participates in a march against breast cancer.
Pat said Beth is a leader and serves as an inspiration to those around her.
"She is so courageous," Pat said. East Lake High principal Rick Misenti agrees.
"If everyone could role-model her qualities, the world would be a much nicer place," Misenti said.
Misenti and Beth have shared a special relationship ever since she started at East Lake High School last year.
"At least once a week I'll hear a little soft knock on my door and it will be Beth with her lunch bag," Misenti said. "I'll invite her in and we'll have lunch together in my office."
"He (Misenti) supports me," Beth said. "Sometimes he takes me to high school activities and out to eat. When I go to school he is there in the parking lot waving to me."
Part of that support from Misenti includes recommending Beth's nomination for the Able Trust Youth Leadership Forum.
Beth was selected as a delegate, and will travel to Tallahassee on July 12 to attend the three-day conference. More than 50 students from throughout the state with various disabilities are chosen to participate in the leadership training event. They were chosen because of their leadership qualities as evidenced through applications and letters of recommendation from teachers and others who know them.
"These kids are either ignored or underrated by other members of the community," said Jackie Pardue, who is working to coordinate the Youth Leadership Forum in Tallahassee. "What they don't realize is that while these kids may need help in other areas, they can be leaders and contributing members of society."
For Beth, the forum is an exciting opportunity to meet new people and to do something away from home.
"When I got the letter (of acceptance as a delegate) I was so happy," she said. "I was in!"
In Misenti's letter of recommendation for Beth he said, "Beth's outgoing personality and the warm smile which she possesses have significantly impacted those who know her.
"By her actions and presence she has become an advocate for all learners to reach for their dreams."
Manny Leite, 28, was chosen by a three-member selection team as the second director of the library, which was built in 1999
Leite serves as a research librarian at the Land O'Lakes Library in Pasco County. He brings enthusiasm to the job, said Palm Harbor Library Director Gene Coppola, who was on the selection panel.
"Manny is a real go-getter," Coppola said. "He loves what he's doing and can't wait to get started."
Leite's responsibilities will be far-reaching, Coppola said.
"He'll be doing everything from A to Z," Coppola said."He'll be responsible for reference management, collection development, volunteers. You name it he'll do it."
Leite starts his new job, at a salary of $32,500, on May 14. He is looking forward to the challenge.
"I felt that I was ready to take it to the next level of librarianship," Leite said. "I'm extremely excited."
Leite lives in New Tampa with his wife, Alison, and 6-month-old son, Holden.
The East Lake 2000 monthly breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday at the Crescent Oaks Country Club, 3300 Crescent Oaks Blvd.
The guest speaker will be Oldsmar Mayor Jerry Beverland, who will discuss his interest in getting a middle school built along the East Lake corridor.
The cost of the breakfast is $9 and it is open to the public. For information, call (727) 786-4940.
- If you have news or photos about East Lake schools, churches, businesses, neighborhood groups, community organizations or people, contact Julie Church at the North Pinellas Times. You can call her at (727) 445-4229, e-mail material to her at church@sptimes.com or mail material to North Pinellas Times, 34342 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684.