HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Getting kids ready for college is a big deal for Jasmine Clarke. She teaches the AVID program at Hillsborough High School. You could call it a college prep program in hyper drive.

“We prepare students using writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading skills to get them so that they can excel in higher level courses,” she tells me.

In her 13th year of teaching, Clarke has over 140 students in her class. She also has five senior student leaders playing a huge role in mentoring.

These are her “wiz” kids.

“They provide an extra set of hands to tutor the kids that need some extra help to stay on task," Clarke explains. "I’d be lost without them.”

Clarke comes from a long line of well-known educators, including her grandmother, the first black woman to earn her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. 

In short, she knows what it takes to succeed.

“My thing that I want to stay true to is that students take ownership of their learning,” she said. “Once a student is my student they take on their role as my kid. That’s my ownership.”

That hands-on example, preparing her kids, has led to some amazing accomplishments.

“I was able to get accepted at every single college I applied for," said senior Raheem Ra’Wallace. "I’ve been accepted for scholarships. I’ve taken all of my tests like the SATs. She helped me get to where I need to be.”

And if you think it ends when these students walk out the doors toward a new future, you are so wrong.

“I am constantly sending them text messages," Clarke said. "I'm on social media with them to let them know that I'm here, I'm watching you guys, I expect greatness from you.”