Philanthropist to open elementary school at educational campus

TAMPA — Dr. Kiran Patel, a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist who sold WellCare in 2002 for $200 million, is adding a public, tuition-free elementary school to an educational campus he founded in Temple Terrace.

The Dr. Kiran C. Patel Elementary School, according to a news release, will welcome 270 students beginning in August 2022. The school will be located 10739 Raulerson Ranch Road, Temple Terrace, adjacent to Patel High School and Terrace Community Middle School. 

In its first year, the release states, the school will enroll students in kindergarten through second grade; each year after that, it will add a grade level until it reaches a capacity of 652 students.

“After two years of hard work and dedication by our team, we now have an extraordinary new principal in place and we are ready to offer families a great new school choice,” Patel states in the release. “I am blessed to be given an opportunity to work with Tampa Bay children in their formative years to create the future  generation of leaders in America.”

Ashley Galfond, formerly of Chiles Elementary School in Tampa Palms, has been hired as the school’s principal.

“I am truly honored to be the founding principal of Dr. Kiran C. Patel Elementary School,” Galfond states in the release. “My goal is to build a strong school community that sets high expectations and supports the well-being of every child. I am excited to welcome our first students and families.” 

Enrollment applications will be accepted starting Feb. 1 at patelelementary.org.