Lead Academy Builds Healthy Communities and Healthy Youth

LEAD Academy is an asset-rich charter school in Davidson County. They build many Developmental Assets, including Support, Positive Values, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations. According to their website, these are the standards each student will experience:

1. “Proven College Level Academic Capabilities: graduates will be prepared for the transition to the collegiate level by having developed core academic knowledge, strong personal work habits, self-motivation and confidence.” [COMMITMENT TO LEARNING]

2.”Expectations of College Success: graduates will embody the community values, recognize the opportunity and value of a 4-year college education, and expect to graduate from college.” [BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS]

3. “Intellectual Curiosity and Awareness of Opportunities: graduates will seek to explore new opportunities that take them outside their “comfort zone” and encourage them to value learning for its own sake.”

4. “Commitment to Community Service: graduates will recognize their responsibility to others, seek service opportunities and contribute positively to their community.” [EMPOWERMENT]

5. “Positive and Supportive Relationships: graduates will have friends and supporters whom they will be able to call upon for support and encouragement during challenging periods.” [SUPPORT] Teacher Nancy DiNunzio says, “Students meet daily in small groups that build self esteem and help them set goals. We use circle games to build communication skill, teamwork and positive relationships.”

Perhaps this student’s words describe the school best, "LEAD Academy is a school filled with dreams. I feel I can be whatever I want to be when I graduate. This school is filled with lots of love; teachers who want to help you."

KUDOS to Lead Academy for doing such a great job embracing students and helping them to become the best they can be! Find out more at www.leadacademy.org.

To learn more about the 40 Developmental Assets, visit www.Search-Institute.org.