NEW SCHOOL FOR GIRLS LAUNCHED

Educator Veriner James recently launched the first middle grade STEAM school in Chicago entitled Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls. Recruitment for female students entering sixth grade will begin during Spring 2018. Photo Credit: Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls
Educator Veriner James recently launched the first middle grade STEAM school in Chicago entitled Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls. Recruitment for female students entering sixth grade will begin during Spring 2018. Photo Credit: Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls

NEW SCHOOL FOR GIRLS LAUNCHED

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

Educator Veriner James, who was inspired by the movie “Hidden Figures,” has launched the first middle grade Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) school in Chicago called, “Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls.” The school is located in the Ashburn area.

James explained that she wanted the school to be different from any other school in the city of Chicago. After researching the opening of the new school, James said she found that Chicago currently has public and private single-gender high schools, but not a single gender middle school.

“This is an age where children are still trying to find themselves and identify who they are,” James said. “So, it would be in our best interest to try to cultivate children at the 10 through 12 age range so we can produce world changers.”

While James acknowledges the disadvantages AfricanAmerican female students face, she said,

the new school will welcome girls from all backgrounds.

“Research shows that in single-gender environments, students, particularly young ladies, thrive better because they’re not being distracted by boys or are concerned about how they look. There is a greater focus on academics,” she said.

The Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls will provide an integrated educational system of high standards to engage all female students in academically rigorous project based curricula, promoting in the areas of sciences, technology, engineering, arts and math relevant to real world context, according to www.elag.online.

The Academy also plans to build and develop student character, health, and community assets to prepare them for future academic endeavors.

“We want to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and those who will find cures

for cancer,” James said. “So, we want to make sure that we’re providing our students with the

tools and skills that they need to function in society.” Recruitment for female students entering

sixth grade will begin during Spring 2018 to prepare for the upcoming 2018-2019 school

year. For more updates, you can visit Exousia Leadership Academy for Girls website at

https://www.elag.online/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ ELAG2018/

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