Beginning the 2013-2014 School Year at Ginn Academy

Classes have been underway for a few weeks already at Ginn Academy and things are going great! The boys' ties are straight, shirts are pressed, and shoes are shined. We have our largest Freshman class ever -- 111 young men from points on every side of Cleveland! Our leadership has been bolstered by the addition of a Dean of Students, Mr. Darrell Bolden, who will bridge the gap between students and staff and foster a climate conducive to sage, fair, and enjoyable education. Our Freshmen will begin their four years at Ginn with a new Freshman Seminar class, based on the leadership and organization curriculum of Stedman Graham, who spent a day working with our staff and faculty shortly before summer ended.

 

Ginn Academy's staff of twelve life coaches has increased by 100% this year, up from six last year. This means that our student body is now covered 24/7 at a ratio of 1:25 by men who act as role models, advisers, and counselors. They are the boys' links between home and school, with a focus on attendance, academics, and positive behavior. These twelve men are crucial to our mission of guiding our students to reach their full potential.

Anthony Riggs, new to our staff of life coaches this year, was one of Coach Ginn's track athletes at Glenville in the 1990s, and has had two sons graduate from Ginn Academy

Bryon Ottrix, one of Ginn Academy's original life coaches, has known Coach Ginn since 1993 when he became friends with Ted Ginn, Jr., still one of his best friends

Sitting quietly, behind the scenes, Ted Ginn, Sr. spins the soundtrack of morning session as Principal Petty and Dean of Students Bolden, along with students, run the gathering each day

 

Dean of Students, Darrell Bolden, with two seniors who were rewarded for their on-time arrival and attendance

The seniors are clapped in and out of morning session by the rest of the school each day. This small bit of recognition for these young men, who are very close to reaching graduation day, was instituted this year as one more way to unify and inspire at Ginn Academy.

English teacher, Mrs Bollar, discusses classwork with a junior

These students are all in tenth grade, as you can tell by their red ties

We'll leave you with best wishes for the coming month until we meet again, and a quote from Mr. Ginn, who would like to remind us that "the end of one race is only the beginning of the next".

Thank you for your interest in our school.

Kind regards from The Ginn Academy

The Glenville HS Football Team Visits the Cleveland Browns Training Camp

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson signs the hats provided for our boys

Just before school started, many of our students had a wonderful afternoon watching the Cleveland Browns training camp and meeting a few of the players. The entire Glenville HS football team, including our JV squad, rode buses to Berea for this special day provided by the Browns organization. Ted Ginn, Sr. has been the Glenville Tarblooders' head coach since 1997 and played for the team himself in the 1970s.

Coach Ginn meets Browns owner, Jimmy Haslam

According to the rules of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, athletes may attend any school that they choose, but must play sports for the school that they would attend based on their residence. About 85% of the Glenville football team attends Ginn Academy. We also have students who play for JFK, John Marshall, and for Collinwood.

Cleveland Browns president Alec Scheiner and Ted Ginn, Sr.

Ted Ginn, Sr., Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, Ginn Academy Principal Nick Petty, and Ginn Academy's Asst to the Director, Hazel Parker

Many autograph seekers were excited to see Coach Ginn at the camp

The players were very kind to take time after a rigorous practice to talk with our boys and sign autographs

There were so many happy faces that day!

We'd like to thank everyone at the Cleveland Browns organization who made this exciting day possible for all of our young men. The Browns also provided tickets to the opening game of this season for our students who have exemplified scholarship, leadership, and service. They attended with their life coaches which made for a nice day of bonding to start off the school year.

Thank you, Cleveland Browns, for your generous hospitality and kindness. We are very lucky!

Go Ville! Go Browns!!

Cultivating the Dream and Vision of The Ginn Academy, The Class of 2013

Welcome to the last post of the 2012-13 school year! Our love and congratulations go to every one of the 57 young men who recently graduated from Ginn Academy, which boasts the highest graduation rate for African American males in the state of Ohio -- and possibly beyond. We are so very proud to share some statistics about this Class of 2013:

90% graduation rate (95% average in the past four years)
$2.1 million in scholarships
56% graduating with high honors
21 full scholarships
98% attending 2-year/4-year colleges or the military

Look at these boys -- their faces, their eyes, their smiles. Here are 57 young men who are about to enter the world and start their lives. We have given them every bit of support possible, and they are ready to take it from here. Good luck to each and every one of you, Ginn Men! May your scholarship, leadership, and service be always with you.

This first group of photos is from Senior Honor Day, held a week before graduation. The second group is from graduation rehearsal, a week later. I was very unhappy about being out of town and missing a GA graduation for the first time ever, and I apologize for not having graduation ceremony photos to share with all of you. Instead, here are the boys in their festive and solemn last days of high school.

 

The indispensible Ms. T (Thornton) with two of our graduating seniors:

Curtis Henry, GA senior, talking with Mr. Nicholas Petty, our principal while Coach Ginn (second from right) and Coach Matt Chinchar, college advisor, discuss upcoming events:

These students and three more, took classes through Operator Training Committee of Ohio in the spring and received certificates of GPS Utility Mapping along with three college credits, which will take them forward into careers in water and waste water environmental science. They are pictured here with OCTO instructor, Ann Giha:

Seven of the Ginn Academy class of 2013 Top 10:

One of our top 10 students, Banji, was in the hospital at the time of Senior Honor Day, so his mother proudly accepted many awards for him:

Mrs. Jeanette Ginn, with Andre Gaddis, winner of the Ted Ginn, Jr. Winning Against All Odds award:

Youth support staff member of the year, Mr. Eley, talking about seeing the struggles that our young men face and how badly he wants to see them make it:

Four of our seniors with art teacher, Judy Rickel:

Here begin the photos of our graduation rehearsal, held at Tri-C Metro campus downtown.

The Class of 2013 Salutatorian, Curtis Henry, with his speech:

Darrell Benjamin, Ginn Academy's 2013 Valedictorian, above left and part of his graduation speech, below:

 

 

As Principal Petty said at graduation, in addition to all of the Class of 2013's excellent stats, all of these young men are ready to compete, collaborate, persuade, and innovate at the highest level for years to come.

Let's see what you can do, Class of 2013!

Love from everyone at GA...