A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
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Welcome to Spring FLA Family.
As we continue to navigate our new norm while staying focused on helping our Scholars soar to greater heights, it is important that we do not lose sight of our “why.” Why do we do what we do as an institution and why are we completely dedicated to the advancement of our Scholars?
The answer is very simple, yet very complexed. Today, we are building tomorrow’s next generation of leaders for our communities and that effort must be met with unrelinquished focus of a collaborative community. We believe it truly takes a village to raise a child and a Scholar. Our FLA village is strong enough to develop hundreds of our sons into productive leaders of tomorrow.
As we begin to enjoy the newness of Spring, we are prepared to finish our school year strong. We are asking our parents and guardians to help our Scholars to finish strong by achieving a minimum 85% standard mastery in each of their core classes. The Georgia Department of Education has announced that we will take the End of Course and End of Grade Assessments this Spring. Although the U.S. Department of Education has waived the accountability component of requiring the State to report CCRPI scores, we at Fulton Leadership Academy are pressing nonetheless to ensure our Scholars are prepared to demonstrate their mastery of the standards taught. To that end, we are asking every parent to know your Scholars content mastery score that are achieved via their progress on USATestprep assessment.
It is going to require faculty/staff, Scholars, and parents to mature in our consistency in monitoring and redirecting our Scholars to academic success. So, continue to monitor Infinite Campus, i-Ready, USATestprep, and Summit Learning platforms.
Below are a few links to help your family prepare your Scholar for this year’s test.
Nash Alexander, III, Principal
Where Young Men Soar to Greater Heights
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Walter W. Sullivan, Ph.D., and Louis W. Sullivan, M.D. (The Sullivan Brothers) are encouraging the Scholars at Fulton Leadership Academy (FLA) to support each other and to strengthen their foundation of brotherhood daily.
The Sullivan Brothers grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, which was the only (segregated) public high school for Blacks in Atlanta during the 1940s. Upon graduating from high school, Dr. Walter W. Sullivan, the eldest brother, attended Clark College (presently known as Clark Atlanta University) to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He continued his higher education and earned his Master and Ph.D. degrees in Organic Chemistry at Ohio State University. Dr. Louis W. Sullivan attended Morehouse College and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Dr. Louis W. Sullivan also earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Boston University School of Medicine.
The Sullivan Brothers have numerous accolades and accomplishments. Dr. Walter W. Sullivan currently serves as the Acting Chair of the FLA Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors of FLA. He has extensive experience in chemistry and consultancy. His service as an educator includes: Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, North Carolina A&T State University; Dean of Arts and Sciences, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Director of The Science Research Institute, Atlanta University Center; Acting President and Academic Dean, Fort Valley State University, and Vice President for Operations and Planning, Morehouse School of Medicine. He also served as a research chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture and Rohm-Haas Chemical Company.
Dr. Louis W. Sullivan served as: Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School from 1963-64; Assistant Professor of Medicine at Seton Hall College of Medicine from 1964-66. Co-Director of Hematology at Boston University of Medicine in 1966; founder of the Boston University Hematology Service at Boston City Hospital in 1967; he became professor of medicine at Boston University in 1973; In 1975, he was appointed Director of the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College. In 1981, the Medical Education Program became independent from Morehouse College as the Morehouse School of Medicine with Dr. Louis W. Sullivan as President. He retired from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2002.
Dr. Louis W. Sullivan is the current Chairman of the Sullivan Alliance to Transform the Health Professions (a volunteer organization which works to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the nation’s health professions). He served as Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services during President George H. W. Bush's administration. His memoir, Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine, tells his story about his medical career, the significance of education, and how, amid adversity, he pursued his dreams of becoming a doctor.
The Sullivan Brothers have a deep-seated brotherly love for one another. They often reflect on their relationship growing up, how their parents transferred their values of honesty, integrity and service to them.
"Walter and I were the only two children in our family. Our parents were very committed to our educational goals. We learned from our parents to be self-assured and independent. They instilled in both of us the importance of serving others. They taught us to rely on each other," said Dr. Louis W. Sullivan. "We had a great relationship while growing up, and that relationship has continued to this very day. Having such a relationship is quite rewarding. It enables us to work with each other, be honest with each other, give positive criticism when needed, praise when it is merited, and trust one another's opinion. Our relationship is built upon trust and respect for each other."
It is easy for men to see each other as rivals instead of partners, but brotherhood is one of the most significant and honorable relationships for every young man to have. The Sullivan Brothers display their camaraderie daily and with a sense of pride. They understand the importance for youth to see elders share a bond that surpasses the test of time and why the perspective of a positive brotherly relationship can impact a young man's self-esteem and his perception of other men.
Dr. Louis W. Sullivan spoke about his interactions with some of the FLA Scholars when he visited the FLA campus for the first time.
"The spirit was quite positive and infectious. The Scholars exuded a spirit of confidence, optimism, and a commitment to become significant contributors to society," said Dr. Louis W. Sullivan. "I was quite impressed because it reminded me of my student experience at Morehouse College. My peers challenged me academically. Beyond that, they were committed to lead lives of service. When I visited FLA, I saw an echo of what I had experienced as a student."
The brotherhood at FLA is a powerful sight to behold. FLA, often referred to as "Little Morehouse" by some community members and parents, has set the bar high with its thriving curriculum and a solid foundation for brotherhood.
"We want FLA to be a role model for other institutions to emulate on how to deal with the education of young men of color. We have courses that include aviation and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). We want FLA Scholars to receive exposure to a variety of courses, including the humanities,” said Dr. Walter W. Sullivan.
The Sullivan Brothers have contributed significantly to FLA and the success of young men by donating their time and resources. They have vowed to continue to uplift the FLA Scholars and advance their educational and career efforts. The Sullivan Brothers challenge every Scholar at FLA to build upon their relationships as brothers because it will help them reach greater heights in their personal and professional lives. No one man can do everything by himself, but with the help of a brother, everyone can achieve incredible feats.
To learn more about how you can enroll your Scholar into Fulton Leadership Academy, visit www.flaforward.org.
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Mr. Arif Ali, high school computer science and geometry teacher at Fulton Leadership Academy (FLA), is encouraging his Scholars to expand their problem-solving capabilities to earn themselves careers as future computer scientists and data scientists.
FLA continues to do a phenomenal job exposing its students to careers in aviation, robotics, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The two computer science courses that Ali teaches are made possible by FLA's relationship with Amazon Future Engineers.
Ali is also the coach for the newly implemented Sports Analytics Club Program (SACP) for FLA's high school Scholars. SACP is a nationwide program that supports Scholars in learning about sports data analytics through research projects both enjoyable and practical. FLA is one of about 30 high schools in the country offering this program. The SACP program allows students to master a new data science skill while incorporating their love for professional sports.
"We started a project this year which involves the Scholars utilizing data science and statistics to help Herschel Walker, former running back for UGA and several NFL teams, gain a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We are preparing a report based on data that we are currently analyzing that will show that he deserves to be in the pro football hall of fame," said Ali. "We will present that to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame committee in May or June. Ostensibly, Herschel Walker will be added into the pro football hall of fame if we are successful."
As part of the program, FLA's club is paired with and mentored by two esteemed professionals; Sarah Bailey, Los Angeles Rams, Analytics and Data Manager, along with Professor Karim Jetha at the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business, lecturing on the topics of data science and sports data science. Ali shows his Scholars how to actively utilize real-world technology applications as the world is continuously moving into a tech-based society.
"It's a two-edged sword. When you talk to the FLA high school students about sports data, they get excited about it because they typically have a favorite team or player and already know the statistics. There is a hump to get over when you move from the general sports conversation into putting it into a spreadsheet and an analysis," said Ali. "The students see the power of being able to explain their argument on why their player is the best through the use of statistics. They can back up what they believe through a demonstration of graphs, charts, and data. And some of these skills will serve Scholars well even as they enter college or move directly to an internship or job out of high school."
Ali is proud of his Scholars' work, often noting that some club members work diligently on a project because they are excited about the end goal. The SACP at FLA, sponsored by leading science and technology development company, Battelle, allows Scholars to learn about data science early on in their academic careers, which helps them get ahead of the learning curve.
"My students are excited about the partnership with SACP, and data science is a big thing in corporate America," Ali said. "If you don't expose kids to careers, then how will they know about it."
To learn more about joining the sports analytics club, contact Mr. Arif Ali at [email protected].
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Mr. Demetrius Freeman, the high school social studies teacher at Fulton Leadership Academy (FLA), leads the Young Litigators of Fulton Leadership Academy (YLFLA) into new successes. The YLFLA is a cohort of students involved in studying laws and policies, writing case briefs, and preparing themselves for an oral argument in front of actual judges.
The YLFLA is involved in the Young Litigators Project (YLP) currently offered to metro-Atlanta middle and high schools that want to participate in simulated court hearings. The YLP enlists attorneys and law students to help the various school teams to analyze the cases, write their briefs, and prepare their court arguments. Several prestigious organizations and law schools volunteer their time with the YLP, including Emory University Law School, John Marshall Law School, City of Atlanta Solicitor's Office, and Gwinnett County Solicitor's Office. The judges' panel includes renowned attorney Benjamin Crump, Chief Justice Harold D. Melton, and many more.
Freeman, who attended Georgia Southern University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in political science and pre-law with a minor in psychology, had a true passion for law. Although he didn't go the traditional route of becoming an attorney or judge, he had a passion for leading the FLA Scholars in learning about their legal rights, which led him to become the YLFLA coach in 2018.
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"The nature of the cases that the students argue are real cases and socially relevant legal cases," said Freeman. "For the past three years that I have been the coach, we've had socially relevant topics which included an athlete who was fined for kneeling in protest to the national anthem, voter suppression, and excessive use of force by police officers."
Each spring, the YLP hosts a moot court competition for all the schools where students write briefs and then engage in oral arguments at the Fulton County Government Center in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of the mock court proceeding, an award is given to the winner of the competition. In 2017, FLA's moot court won the mock court competition. One Scholar won an award for best legal brief, and another Scholar won for best individual argument.
Since the start of FLA's moot court team, Scholars have learned invaluable skill sets, including critical thinking, persuasive advocacy for oneself (and others), and legal writing. Although mooting (an oral presentation given on a legal issue against an opposing counsel that is presented before a judge) can be nerve-racking, it has proved to be intellectually rewarding and enjoyable for the Scholars.
"The moot court gives the Scholar's an opportunity of how these critical issues get dealt with properly through our justice system and to gain some insight on why people "get off," so to speak," said Freeman. "Since they FLA Scholars will be stepping out into the real world, the moot court will help them to understand it's not just about who is right and who is wrong, and they see now that one small factor could mean life or death, freedom or jail."
If you are interested in joining the Young Litigators of Fulton Leadership Academy, please contact Mr. Demetrius Freeman at [email protected].
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SAVE THE DATE!
MORE DETAILS COMING SOON.
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FLA Family,
The SACP honors Sarah Bailey as Woman of the Year in the category of Professional Sports Data Scientist. Ms. Bailey is the Manager of Football Analytics and Data for the Los Angeles Rams. She is the Advisor to the SACP Sports Analytics Club hosted by
Fulton Leadership Academy in Georgia.
We are very proud to partner with this amazing organization who provides opportunities for our Scholars to gain experience in the field of professional sports analytics.
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Our community is
"our" community.
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Non-profit founder and community leader Antoinetta Stallings encouraged the young men at Fulton Leadership Academy to become active leaders in their Fulton County community.
Stallings is the founder and President of the non-profit organization, Girls with Gifts (GWG) and founder and CEO of Eye Create Productions. Stallings founded her organization, GWG, in 2011, which serves young women ages 12-18 to develop their gifts and contribute to society in a meaningful way. There are two signature programs which include Inspi(Her) Summit and Reach Back, Pull Forward.
"I founded Girls with Gifts, Inc., in 2011 when I was working for Stephen Hill, former President of BET, as his executive assistant. I felt that being from Flint, Michigan, I had an obligation to reach back and pull forward. The best way to do that was utilizing my resources and connections," said Stallings. "When I was working on the television show, Black Girls Rock, I met Beverly Bond, founder of Black Girls Rock, and I was super inspired. I was excited to show up to work every day and put the segments together for these women. However, I realized that there was a void for certain types of girls."
Stallings' experience on the popular television show, Black Girls Rock, which celebrated black women and their talents, motivated her to create an organization to help underserved young women who wouldn't necessarily get a fair shot at specific opportunities. GWG aids young women to learn about skills involving interviewing, team building, one-on-one mentorship. The Reach Back, Pull Forward program recruits ten girls each summer for small and intimate sessions. Thus far, GWG has assisted more than 125 young ladies in reaching their highest potential.
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Stallings' community leadership is extraordinary. She believes that mentoring young children are an investment to all of society. She often encourages others, specifically, adults, to use their resources or talents to teach young children to lead with confidence, compassion and to assure them that they have a unique purpose in the world. Stallings' favorite song, which attributes to why she invests her time and resources into GWG, is the famous song "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston.
"If you want to be an active community member, you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves. You can't work from the top down. You have to start from the bottom up. When you are on the ground level, you start to understand what people need," said Stallings. "If you want to be a true leader, you have to show people that you can meet people where they are while also infusing the wisdom that you have gained because you have been in that position. I would recommend the young men at Fulton Leadership Academy to start leading where they are. You can start anywhere in your journey and be an effective leader."
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