Advantage Lancaster offers an innovative program that extends learning opportunities throughout the school year and into the summer. In 2002, Ty and Shayne co-founded this program in response to the low retention of knowledge they were seeing in their classrooms as a result of the “summer slide“. Advantage Lancaster’s partnership with Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is designed to expose middle and high school students to a college campus and expectations at an early age, and to prepare students for higher education and ultimately a future career. Advantage Lancaster offers after-school tutoring and summer advancement courses and preparatory classes that reinforce the program’s 5 fundamental principles throughout a student’s education.
OUR 5 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Provide youth with enrichment courses in Math, Science, Literacy and Technology through partnerships with local colleges and businesses to increase students aptitude and attitude towards academics.
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
Share in rebuilding their neighborhoods and learning the value of contributing to the common good.
APPRECIATION
OF THE ARTS
Provide young people with an opportunity to experience and appreciate different forms of the arts through workshops, theaters, libraries, and museums.
WELLNESS
Share in maintaining a healthy lifestyle through increased physical activity, clean and nutritional eating, and practicing healthy living habits.
CAREER
EXPLORATION
Provide students opportunities to engage with people in different careers and learn the comprehension, decision making, and communication skills needed to thrive in the workplace.
OUR STAFF
Our staff of certified teachers is dedicated to assisting students in discovering their life passions as they are exposed to different opportunities and experiences through the Advantage Lancaster program.
Shayne Meadows
Co-Founder
Shayne has over 21 years experience as an elementary/middle school and special education teacher in the School District of Lancaster. Shayne has a strong desire to help middle and high school students complete some form of post secondary certification. Realizing the need for mentoring relationships, Shayne joined Ty Bair 13 years ago to co-found Advantage Lancaster.
Shayne has received special recognition from Office Max for “A Day Made Better” teacher program, which recognizes exceptional primary and secondary school teachers.
A husband and a father of two children, Shayne enjoys music, cookouts and traveling to the beach with his family.
Ty Bair
Co-Founder
Ty Bair is a 7th grade social studies teacher at Edward Hand Middle School within the School District of Lancaster. During Bair’s 16 years of teaching, he and fellow teacher, Shayne Meadows, had a vision to bring the same mentorship principles Bair benefited from to their students.
Ty grew up in Lancaster City, in a household of 13 children to a single mother on welfare. Ty experienced many trials during his childhood but through the efforts of Christian mentors, he was able to encounter a different option for his life. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and has since won a number of awards. These include Walmart Teacher of the Year, Coca-Cola Teacher of the Year, Essence of Humanity Award, and Alumni of Year from Lancaster Mennonite.
Ty enjoys traveling with his family and spending time at the beach.
Jenn Meadows
High School Director
The teacher/mentor of today is the cornerstone of tomorrow’s society is a belief of Jennifer Meadows. Jennifer graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Science in Education – Mathematics. She taught 1 year at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, DE and for the past 20 years for the School District of Lancaster at McCaskey High School Campus. She has taught all levels of Math from Consumer Mathematics to IB Mathematical Studies SL.
Having a true aspiration to mentor and help students develop to their fullest potential, Jennifer joined Advantage Lancaster in 2011 as its High School Coordinator.
Jennifer has been married for over 12 years and has 2 children, Genesis and Xavier, along with a cat named, Tiki.