Mentorship Academy to hold grand opening

The Mentorship Academy will hold a grand opening Thursday celebrating the debut of its two charter schools in Baton Rouge. The Mentorship Academy of Science and Technology and the Mentorship Academy of Digital Media and Art will begin classes for 300 ninth-grade students Monday. There will 15 teachers between the two schools with 25 students in each classroom in the old Regions Bank building at the corner of Florida and North Fourth streets. The building's history makes its renovation into a school unique. The school is turning the old vault into a recording studio where students will have the opportunity to create multimedia projects. There is also a green screen for students to utilize in their digital media projects. The school's three key innovations—project-based learning, technology integration and mentoring relationships—will prepare students for their future careers, says executive director Brian Dixon. One of the school's goals is to educate Louisiana students for Louisiana industries, namely petrochemical and digital media. "These two high schools are results of years of community discussion to provide parents and students high-quality and affordable educational options," says Bryan Jones, board president for the Mentorship Academy. —Emma James

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