‘At-promise’ males find home at Woodson Academy

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, October 17, 2011

BMW co-director Roger Cleveland, Woodson dean of students Rosz Akins and program director Jaynae Laine are the core planning team. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

The Carter G. Woodson Academy, which opens next fall in Fayette County Public Schools, will serve “at-promise” males whose potential has yet to be tapped through encouragement and motivation.

“It’s in all these young men. They just need a little something special to pull it out,” said Roszalyn Akins, Woodson’s dean of students.

Akins should know; she is founder and director of the Black Males Working Academy, a collaborative program of First Baptist Church Bracktown and the school district. In BMW, volunteers meet with students weekly to focus on reading, math, ACT preparation, leadership and social skills, and enrichment opportunities, including field trips abroad. Successful local citizens also share “Power Stories” to inspire the youths.

The Woodson Academy will expand this 7-year-old Saturday model into a five-day-a-week program offering a rigorous curriculum through the lens of African-American culture and history. Culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies will be at the core.

“Our mantra is all kids will learn, so expectations are high not only for students but also parents,” said BMW co-director Roger Cleveland, who is helping set up Woodson.  

In August 2012, the traditional college preparatory program will welcome 100 students in grades 6 through 9. In subsequent years, one grade will be added at the high school level annually. The goal is that all participants will graduate college- and career-ready.

“I hope we can really show these kids can be successful,” said Jaynae Laine, Woodson’s program director. “They may be down on themselves and don’t have high self-esteem. But over time, you start to build a relationship and things turn around.”

Laine intends to visit all-male academies around the country for ideas on how best to dispel stereotypes and close achievement gaps. She also plans to recruit top-notch teachers for Woodson, which will be housed at Crawford Middle School.

The Woodson Academy will be the latest option for FCPS students who need something beyond the usual classroom setting, such as The Learning Center at Linlee, Opportunity Middle College and Locust Trace AgriScience Farm. Parents can learn more about Woodson at a Family Information Night, set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Crawford.

Akins said one key to reaching young minds is to touch their hearts.

“When they know you genuinely care about who they are, they respond through their academics,” she said, adding, “There’s a brand new world out there, and they can be a part of it because they have somebody to push them.”

 

Did you know?

The new academy is named for Carter G. Woodson – a historian, author, journalist and educator who devoted his life to the research of African-American people, culture and history.

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