Advance Baton Rouge, Southern announce school partnership

Southern University and Advance Baton Rouge are teaming up for a “cradle to college” program centered around three public charter schools. The program will allow students and teachers to use Southern as a resource, while providing a place for Southern student-teachers to work and better prepare children for college. “What we are launching today may soon become a model of best practice for providing education and teacher training in school districts across the state,” says Mwalimu Shujaa, executive vice chancellor and provost at Southern. As part of the project, Advance plans to turn three of its schools into academies, focusing on certain curriculum. Prescott Middle will become the Prescott Business Academy, focusing on business principles and entrepreneurship. Glen Oaks Middle will become the Glen Oaks Institute of Science, with a concentration on physical, earth and life sciences. Pointe Coupee Central High will include an honors and leadership academy for junior high students, instilling personal leadership and team-building skills. While the partnership focuses on the College of Education at Southern, other colleges at the university will also be involved with the Academy schools: for example, representatives from the College of Business would work with Prescott. Southern will provide professional development for the faculty and staff at the schools, along with student support, says Matthew Broussard, the chief spokesman for Advance Baton Rouge. “Our teachers and school leaders now have access to additional resources to help them fulfill our mission of providing every student with the opportunity to attend a college or university,” says Henry Shepard, CEO of Advance Baton Rouge.