Students enrolled in the Success Academy are making the grade

By Mimi Vanderhaven

Research shows that when at-risk students engage in physical activity, they perform better academically.

Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools founded the Success Academy five years ago to provide an educational model to inspire learning for students in grades 7-10 who are not typically motivated in a traditional class setting.

Each year, 25 students go through the school-year-long program. They apply and interview to get into the academy. There’s currently a waiting list.

When Deanna D’Amore Elsing was told she’d be directing the Success Academy as part of the Northern Career Institute (NCI), she reached out to members of the community to see how they could help.

“We strive to make sure our students are prepared for a career upon graduating from high school, whether that’s college or vocational training,” says Deanna. “After going through our program and exposing them to our career tracks, students can continue with the Career Technical Education at NCI or take general high school courses.”

Deanna partnered with was The Bar Athletics in Willoughby.

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, vans transport the students from NCI to The Bar Athletics. Trainer and coach Heath Wenzel plans and runs the workouts.

“We start with talking about growth mindset pledge emotions, teamwork and building leadership skills before the physical workouts, which include 20-30 minutes of interval training, drills and game lessons,” he says.

According to Deanna, the academy has been a success. “Our data shows that students who have spent time at The Bar Athletics are more successful in academics and have gone up two grade points after starting,” she says. “We also have one case where a student went from missing 60 days of school during the year before he joined us to only six days after he came to us.”

The next project on tap for the students is a vertical garden at The Bar Athletics that they will design and build to grow vegetables and herbs and learn to harvest as well.

Says Chad Gourley, who owns The Bar Athletics and also helps with the program, “In the small percentage of time we get to spend with these kids, I feel it is our duty to have a positive impact on their lives.”

The Bar Athletics is located at 38016 Euclid Avenue in Willoughby. For more information on Success Academy, call Deanna Elsing at the Northern Career Institute, 440-602-5090.