JA Academy: Beyond the classroom walls

JA Academy is empowering today's generation to be more prepared and motivated than ever before. Real-world connectivity is infused into the everyday learning experience and the result is a highly engaging and
relevant learning environment.

Business connectivity through case studies and site visits are two components that give students these
types of opportunities to connect their academics to life beyond the classroom walls. Integrated within
the standard curriculum, the students work through business challenges presented by and in conjunction with advisers from partnering companies.

As the groups of students work to develop a solution to a real issue that the company has faced, they
are exposed to the intricacies of the day-to-day for many employees in the business world. What makes this company who they are? How can we solve this challenge in a manner that reflects those values? What are the implications of our decision? Who do I collaborate with to make this happen?

The site visit serves not only as a culminating experience after weeks of research, discussion and preparation, but also as an opportunity to discover positions, companies and industries they may not have known existed. 

JA Academy at Norcross High School’s first site visit was to WestRock, a Fortune 500 global printing, packaging and recycling company headquartered just three miles from the school. Through the case study, the students discovered that the process of printing something as unassuming as a tissue box involves infinitely more steps, collaboration and decision making than they imagined.

While in the Structural Design department, students built off of what they learned in class to get a complete scope of the challenge. Does the client choose the design of the box? What if they don’t like what you come up with? Let’s back up; what kind of technology and background do you have to have to create these in the first place? What if the material the client wants doesn’t do the job as well as another material may, how do you relay this information to them?

In a span of a few minutes, students fed off of each other’s questions to dive into what actually goes on in these employees’ work days. They went beyond the surface level questions and into the questions that will begin shaping the trajectory of their own aspirations and futures as they discover how their interests can translate into career.

These are the kinds of unassuming moments that can last a lifetime. When we provide authentic experiences students become energized around not only what they could become, but what they can do now to help get them there. That’s where the transformation of education becomes obvious; when students begin connecting their academics to their future possibilities, they are more motivated in the classroom and empowered to go further than they can dream.

Feature Friday: Zerubbabel Y.

Today's ‪#‎featurefriday‬ is Zerubbabel Y., a freshman in our JA-MBA program at Banneker High School.

With a name like Zerubbabel, you know he must be an interesting 15 year old! What some people may not know though, is that his dream is to become a video game designer. He is also the tallest person in his house, an accomplishment among 6 siblings, plus his parents.

Zerubbabel is one of more than 120 students that make up the freshman class at the JA-MBA at Banneker High School. Stay tuned to meet more of these driven future-leaders!

The Goizueta Foundation and Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation grant $2 million for the development of the JA-MBA

Grants will support Junior Achievement's efforts to develop an innovative high school model that prepares students for personal and professional success.

The Goizueta Foundation and Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation have each awarded $1 million to Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia to support the development of the Junior Achievement Magnet Business Academy (JA-MBA) that will be piloted on the campus of Banneker High School in Fulton County. 

Called "JA-MBA" for short, the innovative high school model is the first of its kind in Georgia. The launch of the JA-MBA represents a partnership between Fulton County Schools and Junior Achievement that provides students the opportunity to participate in hands-on, full immersion learning with a business and entrepreneurial focus. Students will complete three pathways – Business & Technology; Entrepreneurship; and either Marketing & Management or Financial Services. The funds will support curriculum development, teacher professional development, case studies and specialized activities aligned to the business community.

The JA-MBA will be piloted at Banneker High School, located in the southeastern corner of the county, beginning this August. It is open to all rising ninth grade students who reside within Fulton County Schools attendance zones. Initially the program will house 150 students in ninth grade, with the program growing in size as students matriculate to the next grade level and a new freshman class enrolls. At full attendance, the JA-MBA program will serve approximately 600 students by 2018.

JA-MBA will operate as a "school within a school," with the overall goal of driving students to achieve greater educational, personal and professional success. The benefits of the program are expected to extend far beyond the JA-MBA school walls by achieving systemic impacts on Banneker's surrounding school population.  

"The JA-MBA is designed to provide unmatched business connectivity to expose students to professional opportunities and deliver experiences where they can apply their knowledge in real-world situations," said Jack Harris, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Georgia. "Thanks to the partnership with Fulton County Schools, experiential and authentic learning will be the foundation of the high school experience for the students enrolled in the JA-MBA." 

Ken Zeff, Interim Superintendent for Fulton County Schools, agreed. "We are excited to bring this option to families," he said. "Finding, developing and supporting community engagement and leadership is a hallmark of our charter system model and we are pleased to have established this productive partnership with Junior Achievement to the benefit of students from across our school district."

Programs like the JA-MBA also serve as a way to combat the skills gap and income inequality that plague much of the country, including Atlanta. In fact, according to a recent report issued by the Brookings Institution, Atlanta currently ranks highest in the nation for income inequality. JA has worked hand-in-hand with leaders from the business and education communities to discuss the needs and develop viable education options that are authentic, relevant and engaging to cultivate a generation of highly aspirational and skillful individuals. 

The JA-MBA is designed to provide rigorous standards-based education infused with relevant and engaging learning experiences that prepare students to thrive and meet the demands of today's economy.  Through interdisciplinary case studies and business challenges, students will explore careers while developing an understanding of essential business concepts. The curriculum also will give students hands-on experience through internships, collaboration teams, job shadowing and executive guest lecturers. 

"We have high expectations for the JA-MBA and believe that piloting the program with Fulton County Schools at Banneker High School is the ideal launching point. The overall vision for the JA-MBA extends beyond the initial location with plans to develop a model that is scalable to other schools and districts. JA is grateful to The Goizueta Foundation and Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation for their support in developing an innovative learning model to empower young people with the skills and knowledge to achieve a lifetime of success," said Harris. 

Click here to find out more about the JA-MBA.  

About the Fulton County School System

The Fulton County School System is the fourth largest school system in Georgia. Approximately 96,000 students attend 100 schools in the cities of Alpharetta, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Palmetto, Roswell, Sandy Springs and Union City. The district also serves students in unincorporated Fulton County. For more information, visit www.fultonschools.org.