LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) – The start of the school year is a special time for everyone, but it's especially significant for a new JCPS middle school. The W.E.B DuBois Academy is about to make its debut, offering something never seen before in the district.
Starting a new school is no small task, but for principal Robert Gunn, it's an adventure he's more than ready for.
“I think whether you look at local data, national data, when it comes to education, especially males, and even more specifically males of color, you find that there are some pretty disparaging data and numbers out there that just don’t speak to these young men, who they are, and what I know they can become,” Gunn said.
The school’s motto is PRIDE, and each letter has a purpose.
“The P is for perseverance, the R is for resilience, the I is for initiative, the D is for disciple, and the E is for empathy. Outside of literacy and numeracy, I believe that if every young man that we serve has these dispositions, he will be the leader that he was meant to be,” Gunn said. “It’s not about how many times you fall down. It’s just about how many times you get back up and lessen the likelihood you have to make mistakes in your life and just continue to forge forward. They should have the right and the opportunity and the skill set and the ability to be whatever they want to be in this world, and it’s our job as educators to make sure they have those tools.”
He's got his mission in mind and his men in place.
“Everything I’ve heard about this school is good, and the mascot is a lion. That’s my second favorite animal. The principal wants people with leadership, and that one word really got me thinking. I went to the website, and I said I really want to be a leader, as well. I think they’ll teach us to go our own way, our own path, to not follow what other people do, to teach other people the right way- that’s what I basically thing a leader is and what I want to do,” sixth-grader Andres Rodriguez said. "I've done a lot of things to prepare. My mom has helped me with my speeches, helped me learn how to shake people's hands and manners and stuff. I think it’s going to give me pride.”
"I look forward to being able to learn and share the experience with my other family members,” sixth-grader Jaden Mostiller said. “I’m like the type of person who likes to help people, so I’m looking forward to helping people.”
The students have their goals.
"To make new friends that I haven't seen before and to keep up on all of my studies,” sixth-grader Marcellous Malone said.
Principal Gunn has his goals, too.
“I think it’s just really about surrounding them with the support they need and showing them that they define their narrative,” Gunn said. “What you’re going to see is a building full of adults that truly love our young men. Love comes in very different forms. Every one of these young men I look at as my son, and I’m willing to do whatever I need to do to make sure he is successful.”
Gunn is determined to flip the script the statistics all too often spell out, implementing a rigorous academic program that also emphasizes African American history and culture.
“They’ll learn that the man our school is named after was the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard, one of the most prestigious institutions in our land. He was an innovator. He was a critical thinker, a poet, and a writer,” Gunn said.
It's an innovative idea that's been met with its fair share of criticism.
"There's been arguments that we're trying to resegregate schools. There's been arguments that we're cherry-picking our students,” Gunn said.
Gunn said that's simply not the case.
"Our enrollment policies were open to every young man in our community. We really want to look specifically at how we can best educate young men to be the leaders that we want them to be so they can start forging and blazing paths in their community because we need it,” Gunn said. “It’s just pushing back against that thought and that belief that we’re going to be selective, and we’re only going to take high-performing students so we can be successful. Everyone deserves it. Our community, our city, our country- they deserve to see them in leadership roles and positions that are changing the narrative and positively impacting our world.”
Working with this age group isn't just a profession for the principal. It's deeply personal.
"Sixth grade was the worst year of my life. I'll show them pictures of me. My nickname was Chub, I was a big kid. They'll see my report cards that had Cs and Ds. They'll see some of the comments that were written about their principal from teachers. So, I think I'm just an example for them that if you work hard and you have the right support in your life, you can be successful,” Gunn said.
It's an idea both students and parents are embracing wholeheartedly.
"It gives me confidence. It gives me trust. It gives me faith that somebody like Mr. Gunn is taking an interest in our boys,” parent Toya Rodriguez said.
“It means a lot. I’ve tried to help them understand their history and to be able to see that there is more to this life than what they can see in their environment. I think he will be able to understand more about what a leader is and be able to look at his history a little closer and see examples of that history and see where he fits in,” grandmother and guardian Patrice Malone said. "We're looking forward to a new journey.”