Education Matters: Redefining Education at Visible Men Academy

January 2023—When Adrian’s parents were looking for a school for their son, they knew that they needed a place with a flexible education plan and people who could understand his unique learning style.  Adrian is a very bright child but struggled with traditional schools in the past.

“Visible Men Academy has been the perfect school for our son.  At VMA, the entire faculty and staff are involved in his education and they work collaboratively to ensure that he has the best opportunity to learn,” said Adrian’s mother.  

Founded in 2013, VMA’s culture is defined by an unwavering commitment to setting boys on a path toward lifelong achievement and the enrollment embodies a commitment to socioeconomic need, racial diversity, and inclusion. More than young males, these students are “Suns” who SHINE with Selflessness, Honesty, Integrity, Niceness, and Excellence. 

The mission of Visible Men Academy is to redefine education for underserved elementary-aged boys through understanding, innovative academics, and dynamic character and social development. VMA is not the first to embrace education as a solution to poverty and social injustice but is among the few whose answer involves taking bold, innovative approaches to transforming the lives of students, families, and the community.

This second-grade student is working hard to ensure he gets to grade level in reading this year, so he is receiving extra support during the school day.

“Adrian has made friends and wants to go to school each day. The entire school community has our son’s very best interest at heart and we could not be more pleased,” mentioned Adrian’s dad.

The combination of teaching the boys life skills and the commitment to addressing the academic success of each student will lead to an improvement in educational achievement for every VMA student. This solid foundation is enhanced through instruction in STEAM and robotics, and attention to each boy’s emotional and spiritual growth. inclusion of Arts & Entertainment initiatives, and lessons in etiquette & social decorum. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an especially heavy toll on Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities. School shutdowns denied students from these communities the opportunity to get the education they need to build a brighter future. The U.S. education ecosystem is built around an in-class experience, and in many communities, schools are also the hub for support such as school meals, mental health counseling, and childcare. As a result, the gap is growing between the country’s highest-achieving students and the lowest-performing students who struggle the most.

To address this challenge and help students return to pre-pandemic academic and behavioral performance levels, VMA leadership has developed a comprehensive plan including strategies and actions designed to provide students and their families with the tools and direction to recover and succeed.  This initiative is an example of VMA’s commitment to providing each student with a personalized education – an educational plan that is tailored to meet each student where he is. The foundation of the plan is the immediate implementation of the Great Minds curriculum, staff additions, metrics enhancement, and mentoring and tutoring programs.

A key component of the plan is Project Visible, a mentoring and resource support program will connect successful men with students to serve as mentors, tutors, and life coaches while providing resources to their families.  Project Visible will enhance these boys’ academic performance, build character and self-esteem, promote spiritual well-being, and support parents with financial and material resources, direction, and a sense of hope. Mentors work directly with VMA educators and administrators to provide individual and group guidance in a specific “Visible Men Success” curriculum.  

This initiative takes community collaboration and stakeholder involvement to the next level, providing boys with both a strategy to recover from the educational, social, and financial devastation of the pandemic as well as the tools and networks for lifelong, sustainable success. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Visible Men Academy, please visit vmacademy.org or call (941) 758-7588.