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The Thomas J. Pappas Schools were a series of related alternative schools located in the Phoenix, Arizona area. A part of the Maricopa County Regional School District, the Thomas J. Pappas schools provided primary and secondary education to homeless children in the area. They were named for Thomas J. Pappas, a prominent Phoenix businessman known for his strong support of homeless causes, who died in 1989. The schools closed in 2008 following several years of controversy and legal issues surrounding the schools' administrator, Sandra Dowling, the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools. ==History== The early beginnings of the school can be traced to a volunteer effort by Phoenix firefighters in 1989 to provide tutoring classes to local homeless children. Originally held in a shelter and later moved to a hotel, the first classes were attended by only 8 students.〔(The Maricopa County Schoolhouse Foundation "Pappas Kids" )〕 In an effort to determine whether the small effort could be expanded into an official program, city officials contacted Sandra Dowling. Anticipating the potential growth of the program, Dowling founded the Thomas J. Pappas School'' in 1990 and funds were allocated for the development of an official curriculum and school facilities. A former car dealership was purchased and renovated, becoming the first school for the homeless children in Phoenix. In response to growing attendance a new school was constructed in 1997〔(Phoenix Points Of Pride )〕 and the existing building was converted to a middle school. The concept was further expanded by the founding of the Tempe Thomas J. Pappas Elementary School in nearby Tempe in 2001. While originally housed in a strip mall, the satellite school moved into a new facility constructed in 2004. United Airlines sponsored annual fantasy flights for students.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=United Airlines Fantasy Flight - It's Time to Fly )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Thomas J. Pappas School」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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