THE HISTORY OF TEAM PRIME TIME

Executive Director Peter Straus created TEAM PRIME TIME (TPT) in response to the critical need for after-school programming for at–risk children from low–income areas of Los Angeles. With over eighteen years of experience teaching and coaching in LAUSD Schools and at his Prime Time Sports Camp, Straus was all too familiar with this crisis. Most programs that did exist ended at the elementary school level, creating the void at the middle school level TEAM PRIME TIME set out to fill.


TPT first opened its doors on February 6, 2001 to 21 students at Webster Middle School (Webster MS) a Title 1 school where over 75 percent of students qualified for some form of government aid. The program continues to enjoy great success as demonstrated by the program’s sustained growth, enhanced program content, strategic partnerships, and ultimately, the ongoing success of the students in the program. There are currently over 250 students enrolled at Webster MS alone, a twelve-fold enrollment increase in less than 8 years!


In the Fall of 2004 Team Prime Time extended its programming to an additional at-risk population – children with developmental disabilities – by creating its full-inclusion sports program the Prime Time Games (the GAMES.) As the centerpiece of TPT’s leadership component, the GAMES gives TPT students the opportunity to peer–mentor and coach, creating a win–win situation for everyone involved. Over 250 “athletes” have participated in the GAMES since its inception.


The 2006-07 academic year provided even more excitement as TPT, in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), opened two new sites, Palms Middle School and Westside Leadership Magnet. In so doing, TPT doubled its outreach, providing comprehensive after-school programming for over 600 at–risk youth.


Most recently, LAUSD invited TPT to open its fourth location at Emerson Middle School. During the 2008-09 academic year TPT will be providing outreach to over 1,200 students at four locations. That equates to over 320,000 hours of programming over the course of the 180 days school is in session.


The history of TEAM PRIME TIME continues to be written every day. Come back soon, you won’t want to miss it!!!