School might be out for the summer for most, but not for 15 dedicated and ambitious teachers.  Educator Cheri Borger from Grapevine Elementary School in Vista recently gathered some of her good friends from nearby community schools to play tennis on the North San Diego County playground.

It was three hours of fun “blacktop tennis” also known as the USTA Schools Program. The engaging group enjoyed learning how to teach tennis to children in preparation for their After School Programs scheduled to begin in the fall.

“Our kids typically don’t get enough exercise during the day,” said Borger, who spearheaded the drive to bring tennis to some of San Diego’s underserved areas. “More importantly, this is a great opportunity to learn to play tennis. We can give them the gift of an early start in the game.”

The newly christened tennis teachers represented 13 elementary and middle schools in the Vista and Oceanside areas. Their collective After School Tennis Programs will reach an additional 1,621 children.

“We were introduced to the Vista teachers at a conference and they were really excited to bring tennis into their After School programs,” said Tiffany Geller-Reed, the SCTA Schools Tennis Manager. “They took immediate action and their enthusiasm will make a difference in their communities. We look forward to supporting their efforts in the fall.”