Building a Real Legacy: Lebron's I Promise School

Photo: Google Images

Learning. Self-Respect. Good health. Perseverance. 

These are the core principles of the LeBron James Family Foundation I PROMISE Network, and also the values of the foundation’s newly founded I PROMISE School.

LeBron James is undoubtedly an incredibly talented basketball player.  As a teacher in a high poverty, inner city school, I witness so many students struggle with basic literacy skills, but who can flawlessly present a case on why LeBron is the greatest basketball player of all time.  He’s the catalyst for many of their NBA dreams.  

To see someone my students idolize genuinely emphasize the significance of education is refreshing. To see a successful athlete acknowledge his own educational struggles and adversity, and empathize with students from similar backgrounds is touching.  To see this same individual establish a program committed to advocating for and supporting struggling students and their families is powerful. To see a kid overcome the struggles that accompany the evil of disenfranchisement, rise to the top in his career, and then open a school committed to helping other kids overcome the same adversity is noteworthy.  

It is remarkable to see a non-educator, with significant financial means, recognize the shortcomings of the urban school design.  LeBron’s vision for educating high poverty kids in Akron, Ohio is impressive; however, it takes a special individual to recognize when to seek expertise from exceptional educational leaders to implement and steward that vision.

Here’s what the school offers each student:

·     Free tuition

·     Free uniforms

·     Free bicycle and helmet

·     Free transportation within 2 miles

·     Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks

·     Food pantry for families

·     GEDs and job placement services for parents

·     Guaranteed tuition to the University of Akron for every student who graduates

LeBron’s I PROMISE School has highlighted two concepts that many educators in inner city schools know to be true: 

1)   IT TAKES A SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED.  

2)   IT TAKES COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING.

Why is it that many stakeholders in public education fail to grasp these concepts?  Whose agenda are we really pushing?  If we aren’t educating the whole child, which includes providing parental and family support programs, the learning at school does not happen.  It’s time education evolved with society and once again became a vehicle for social mobility and social justice.

The vision behind the I PROMISE School is truly incredible, and I really hope to hear great things about student achievement as they expand in coming years. 

LeBron is building a real legacy, one that surpasses any triple-double or finals performance he could ever put up.