Lebron James to Open School for At-Risk Youth in Hometown
Lebron James is known for repping his hometown of Akron, Ohio and motivating kids to get an education and dream big. Now the NBA star is showing his commitment to the children of Akron with the announcement that he will be partnering with Akron Public Schools to open the “I Promise School” dedicated to helping at-risk youth!
According to Cleveland.com, the goal of the “I Promise School” is to expand the exisiting Akron school curriculum with hands-on learning, an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, along with a dedication to The Lebron James Family Foundation’s “We are family” philosophy.
“We’ve learned over the years what works and what motivates them, and now we can bring all of that together in one place, along with the right resources and experts,” James said. “If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families.”
I Promise began back in 2011, when the Akron native wanted to take on the city’s high dropout rate. Since then, the foundation aimed to support youth with proper resources and encouragement they need to succeed. The foundation sponsors a variety of educational programs including after-school help, mentoring programs, and a scholarship to the University of Akron for students who choose to stick with the program.
“We’ve seen the positive influence of the LeBron James Family Foundation on our students and we look forward to continuing to do everything we can to put our students in a position to be successful,” said David James, superintendent of Akron Public Schools.
However, before opening, committees of local leaders, educators, parents and experts must perfect the logistics. A plan will be submitted to the Board of Education for approval in October 2017, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Once approved, the I Promise School will open its doors in fall 2018 with newly identified third and fourth grade classes while adding first and second grade the following year. By 2022, the school will house students through the eighth grade. Eligible students will be selected via a lottery system for the I Promise School.
Photo Credit: PR Photos
