The Ginn Academy, founded in 2007 by Ted Ginn, Sr., is the only all-male public high school in Ohio. Come in and see what goes on inside the hearts and minds of 655 E. 162nd Street each day. Let us tell you our stories. Photos and text not to be used without permission.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Class of 2014: Senior Honor Day and Graduation


The Ginn Academy Class of 2014 is proud to announce its graduation and entrance into the real world!

Thirty-nine courageous, dedicated young men graduated on June 1st in downtown Cleveland. Each and every one of them has plans to to attend a 2- or 4-year college, enter the workforce, or to serve in the United States military.

As a whole, this senior class performed more than 4,000 hours of community service. They were awarded a total of $2.7 million in scholarships, with sixteen of the young men earning full scholarships. Ninety-five percent of our seniors graduated this year. Yes, 95%. We're so proud of these young men!



Cleveland Browns safety and Glenville alumnus, Donte Whitner, was our speaker. He not only had everyone in tears with his heartfelt speech titled, "Possibilities are Endless," but also presented a gift of $50,000 to the Ginn Foundation to be used by Ginn Academy. Donte's generosity was the talk of the town that night and we are so grateful to have him back home with us. 


Browns safety and Cleveland native, Donte Whitner, with Valedictorian, Zaid Hightower, and Salutatorian, Erik Simpson

Quan Robinson, Jr., now at Kent State University, led the group in the turning of the tassels



Davon Anderson, soon to be a track star at The Ohio State University, was surrounded by his four grandmothers at graduation. See the preschool photo held by one of them?


Coach Ginn with a few members of the Ginn Academy Class of 2014
A few days before graduation, Ginn Academy traditionally holds Senior Honor Day. Family and friends are welcome and lots of love flows, along with the cake, ice cream, and punch.

Our Freshman greeters

Math teacher, Rhonda MacLean, with the math award winners

College Now's Colleen Damerell with College Now Scholarship winner Zaid Hightower

Hazel Parker with the Dr. and Mrs. William C. Parker "Thinking Stone" Award winner, JaBrae Clarit

TeWayne McGee, winner of the Ted Ginn Jr. "Winning Against All Odds" Award, with Mrs. Jeanette Ginn

TeWayne was extremely happy to get the Ted Ginn Jr. award!

Dominique Okafor greeted by his mother after receiving the Laura and Edmond Leopold "Never Give Up" Award

Cyeve Ford and Frank Stretar with the "Leader Within" Award

Principal Nick Petty and his parents present the Julia Weekly-Jones and Millie Ann Petty Award to LaVaughn Young

Winners of the Ted Ginn, Sr. Award, Atony Henderson and Adam Lett

Class president Quan Robinson leads the Ginn Academy Class of 2014 in the school creed


Cleveland City Councilman, Michael Polensek, with Don'Ja Glass








And now, we proudly present the Ginn Academy Class of 2014:

Anderson, Davon -- The Ohio State University
Ash, Artrell -- College of DuPage
Beavers, Kevin -- University of Texas at Arlington
Claritt, Jabrae -- LaRoche College
Davis, Carltez -- University of Akron
Fields, Demik -- Hiram College
Ford, Cyeve -- Shawnee State University
Gaddis, Reuben -- Work Force
Ginyard, Ralphael -- Marine Corps
Glass, Don’ja -- Cleveland State University
Goss, Terrell -- College of DuPage
Henderson, Antony -- Marietta College
Henderson, Demarco -- Shawnee State University
Hickman, Darrien -- ASA College Brooklyn, NY
Hightower, Zaid -- The Ohio State University
Hutchinson, Xavier -- Shawnee State University
Ivey, Jimond -- University of Akron
Ivory, Aaron -- University of Findlay
Jackson, Falonte -- ASA College Brooklyn, NY
Jackson, Robert -- University of Akron
Jones, Marcelys -- The Ohio State University
Lattimore, Marshon -- The Ohio State University
Lett, Adam -- ASA College Brooklyn, NY
Lewis, Darius -- Notre Dame College
McFowler, Darion -- Marine Corps
McGee, Tawayne -- Hocking College
Merritt, Devon -- Shawnee State University
Miles, Darryl -- Shawnee State University
Okafor, Dominique -- Cuyahoga Community College
Redding, Devine -- University of Indiana
Reese, Lear -- ASA College Brooklyn, NY
Richardson, Terrell -- Vermilion Community College
Robinson, Quan -- Kent State University
Simpson, Erik -- Kent State University
Smith, Erick -- The Ohio State University
Smith, Herbert -- Shawnee State University
Spencer, Christian -- ASA College Brooklyn, NY
Williams, Gary -- Lakeland Community College
Young, LaVaughn -- University of Iowa

We wish these young men the best that life has to offer. They'll be in our hearts always.

With kindest regards...

Friday, August 8, 2014

Ginn Academy Loves the Cleveland Browns!!


Cleveland Browns safety and former Glenville Tarblooder, Donte Whitner, with Ginn Academy students

Our school is lucky beyond belief to be one of the recipients of the efforts of the very generous Cleveland Browns Foundation. When the team's owners, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, took over in 2012, they immediately began to identify how they wanted to engage with their new community and learned about us from one of our supporters. We are just one of the many groups supported by the Browns Foundation and we are certainly thrilled to be part of their team.


Cleveland Browns safety and former Glenville Tarblooder, Donte Whitner, with Ginn Academy students


Cleveland Browns linebacker, Jabaal Sheard; Ginn Academy security guard, Officer Albert; Houston Texans linebacker, Quentin Groves; and Browns safety, Donte Whitner

A few months ago, three of the players visited Ginn Academy to talk to our students about the importance of following your dream, no matter how bumpy the journey. They also talked with their rapt audience about integrity, character, and leadership, using many engaging examples from their own lives.

Sixteen men serve as Life Coaches to the Ginn students. The Life Coaches are the link between home and school; part of the glue that holds everything together. Each Life Coach is responsible for supporting a cohort of 25 students in the areas of attendance, academics, and social behavior. On call 24/7, 365 days per year, they serve as advocates and mentors for the boys.


Ginn Academy staff with Cleveland Browns players

Quentin Groves, Jabaal Sheard, and Donte Whitner enter Ginn Academy's gymnasium to speak with students

Browns safety Donte Whitner takes a photo with Ginn Academy students

Browns players meet with Coach Ted Ginn, Sr. and Ginn Academy life coaches before meeting with students

Cleveland Browns linebackers, Quentin Groves (currently with the Houston Texans), and Jabaal Sheard preparing to talk with Ginn Academy students

Cleveland Browns safety, Donte Whitner, talks with Ginn Academy students

 Our new and current staff members got acquainted at one of the Browns' training camps in Berea this month. What a great way to kick off the school year in Cleveland!


Ginn Academy staff at the Browns Training  Camp in Berea
Browns safety, Donte Whitner, and his lovely grandmother, Stella, who came to training camp to see him
Browns safety, Donte Whitner, signs autographs with his grandmother, Stella at Browns training camp

Cleveland Browns safety, Donte Whitner, with Coach Ted Ginn, Sr.

Cleveland Browns safety, Donte Whitner, with a group of generous and awesome Ginn Academy supporters

King James is a Browns fan!

Principal Nick Petty, the amazing Dee Haslam, Coach Ted Ginn, Sr., and Assistant to the Director, Hazel Parker
The Ginn Academy sincerely thanks the Cleveland Browns Foundation and the Cleveland Browns for their continued support of the Life Coaches and our students. We could not make it happen without their amazing support.

And thank you to all of you who read our blog and cheer us on!

Here's to a school year full of hard work, teamwork, progress, and of course -- scholarship, leadership, and service.

Kind regards from everyone at Ginn Academy...