In Akron, Ohio, it’s the first day of school for 240 at-risk students who will be attending the inaugural year of the I Promise School — and it’s all thanks to LeBron James. The NBA superstar created the school as an extension of the LeBron James Family Foundation to give kids opportunities to thrive despite difficult life situations.
How did LeBron start his own public school?
In November 2017, the LeBron James Family Foundation approached the Akron school board about assisting in the creation of a school designed to help at-risk kids who are lagging behind in their studies and struggling at home.
The I Promise School is a joint venture between the foundation and Akron Public Schools. The school board oversaw the creation of the curriculum and ensured the school would meet educational standards, while LeBron served as the primary donor to help shape the outside-the-classroom goals of the school.
How does the I Promise School differ from any other school?
The school will operate with a longer-than-normal school year, with a focus on accelerated learning to bring kids up to speed who otherwise might be lagging. In addition, there is a focus on combating factors outside of the classroom that could cause children to struggle.
Services are available to help students deal from stress related to parents who are struggling to make ends meet. In addition there are activities to prevent the kids from having too much idle time and potentially getting into trouble.
The school also provides services to families, which include job placement assistance for parents and an on-site food bank that will allow parents to pick out foods they can prepare at home.
LeBron James often credits his bicycle as a huge factor in his childhood that gave him an escape from dangerous parts of his neighborhood and the freedom to explore — every student will receive a bicycle when they arrive.
Principal Brandi Davis explained the goals of the I Promise School to the Los Angeles Times:
“I think the missing link in public education is that family wraparound support,” said Brandi Davis, the school’s principal. “Because our students come to school and they’re worried about things at home. … We want to create that safe, that secure and that caring and loving environment for our families and our students so that our kids can focus on education.”
Hasn’t LeBron assisted with education before?
The LeBron James Family Foundation has been involved in helping Akron and its surrounding areas for years. In 2015 he announced an initiative that would pay for more than 1,000 kids to attend college.
LeBron has also funded the “Wheels for Education” program, which started in 2011 and provides kids with school supplies, access to computers, and a bicycle inside a system designed to keep kids motivated to complete their homework and get good grades.
Are there photos of the school?
Absolutely, and it looks amazing.
How seriously will the students take the “I Promise” pledge?
Very seriously.
What ultimately motivated LeBron to make this happen?
He explained why in his speech announcing the opening of the school:
I want people to know that these kids should still have the same opportunity as everybody else. That’s what’s most important. Us as adults, we have a responsibility to not let these kids down, to continue to be the teachers, the mentors, the parents, the coaching, the life skills, the superheroes ... whatever it is that gives the inspiration, everything, that’s our responsibility. These kids are our future and they have dreams and aspirations bigger than the city of Akron, than the state of Ohio, than the USA.
Comments
This is fantastic -- what a great way to help the community.
Hate on him all you want… Lebron is a good dude that gets it and wins at life.
By iMakeTheMaps on 07.30.18 11:35am
Thank you
A good man who understands that escaping an intercity environment is dam*ed hard. I would have given anything for a bike. LeBron, thank you so much for helping these kids. A few good teachers and schools are the only things that save kids like me.
By Rose McFrog on 07.30.18 1:20pm
I wonder if "who did this" will help more in this case
I can see that this all came someone that the kids recognize and admire as being a motivator to actually take advantage of this, rather than it coming from a nebulous "generous grant from the OmniCorp Foundation" that they never really connect with.
By Alx_Nick on 07.30.18 2:37pm
in addition to the lack of connection
There’s probably also the sense that James is doing this out of genuine care rather because it’s a tax-write off that allows for virtue-signalling, as is the case for "charitable" donations by many major corporations.
By Proud Defender of Academic Integrity on 07.31.18 2:09am
That so called "virtue-signalling" is a major reason why the U.S. dominates tertiary education globally.
But hey, lets continue to act as if the entities that actually need quality talent pools don’t give a damn about education.
By We Can We Will on 07.31.18 11:32am
this isn't tertiary education?
By Proud Defender of Academic Integrity on 07.31.18 5:33pm
No it's not, but the same group has been banging its head against the wall to positively change primary & secondary education as well.
They’re the reason for No Child Left Behind and the last line against the masked re-segregation called "school choice".
By We Can We Will on 07.31.18 6:19pm
what group?
By Proud Defender of Academic Integrity on 07.31.18 6:23pm
Major corporations, corporate foundations, foundations of individual executives & directors.
Of course it goes without mentioning the corporate executives and directors themselves.
By We Can We Will on 07.31.18 6:27pm
oh you made it sound like a specific entity, not a general group
Many members of that same group have donated a lot of money to a political party that doesn’t really care all that much about education or really any other sort of public good.
By Proud Defender of Academic Integrity on 07.31.18 6:47pm
If you want a specific entity have excel randomly select a number from 1 to 500
Then find the company on the Fortune 500 list with the corresponding number and find out everything they’re doing towards education. There’s no need to make ignorant generalizations when information is easily accessible in today.
By We Can We Will on 07.31.18 11:05pm
How does that get balanced with everything they’re doing towards supporting a political party aggressively trying to damage the public education system?
By Proud Defender of Academic Integrity on 08.01.18 2:11am
The mere fact you believe most major corporations and their executives solely support a single political party tells me we have nothing further to discuss.
By We Can We Will on 08.01.18 3:55pm
it's a good thing I didn't say that then
By Proud Defender of Academic Integrity on 08.05.18 9:53pm
segregation is by race, and government sanctioned…school choice that leads to less diverse (in skin color) public school demographics is NOT segregation, nor would it be a concern of state or federal governments.
By YouSeeBerkeley on 08.05.18 5:09pm
This is wonderful.
I hope that it succeeds. Thanks to James for doing this.
By Gerry Dincher on 07.30.18 3:22pm
Good looking out Lebron.
Hope it doesn’t turn into another Prime Prep Academy
By mxtha_fxcka_jonesjr on 07.30.18 3:28pm
It is LBJ...
It is NOT going to be Trump University.
By grat_is9 on 08.01.18 2:37am
His greatest goal and what should be his greatest accomplishment if it works out. Well done.
By njccc on 07.30.18 6:10pm
One more reason to love him lol
By Peter P. on 07.30.18 6:56pm
GOAT
By gumbypuppy on 07.30.18 7:53pm
Wow, great job Lebron James!
You are giving 240 kids a chance and the school staff their jobs. And this is ongoing so more 3rd and 4th grader kids would be helped every school year. Great job partnering with the Akron school board. Seriously, mad respect for this project.
By DoubleBogey on 07.30.18 8:08pm
Incredible way to help kids
Truly using his money and visibility to do a ton of good for disadvantaged youths. Hope this continues and delivers education to the kids of Akron
By godogs13 on 07.30.18 8:15pm
LeBron is the king.
By Gg121 on 07.30.18 8:34pm
How do I enroll my kids?!
This is by far the greatest thing an athlete has done for our youth in Ohio in quite some time! I would love to get my kids in if I can! #TeamLebron
By Ohio_Mommy330 on 07.31.18 11:36am