James & Leanther Summerville Academy

Restoring Hope. Rebuilding Confidence. Preparing Young People for Success.

The James & Leanther Summerville Academy is an alternative education and youth-development program created to support students who need additional structure, academic assistance, mentoring, guidance, and encouragement.

Through education, restorative practices, life-skills development, workforce preparation, and family support, the Academy helps young people overcome barriers and move toward productive, purpose-filled futures.

Learn About Enrollment | Partner With the Academy | Support Our Reopening

About the Academy

The James & Leanther Summerville Academy began serving young people in 2001 and became a program of Tall One Outreach Ministries following the organization’s establishment in 2003.

The Academy was founded by longtime educator and administrator Dr. Mildred Summerville, who recognized that students facing suspension, academic difficulties, behavioral challenges, or personal hardships needed more than punishment. They needed instruction, accountability, encouragement, mentoring, and another opportunity to succeed.

During its earlier operation, the Academy served approximately 15 to 25 students each day. It provided a structured educational setting for students who otherwise might have fallen further behind while removed from their regular schools.

The Academy is now preparing for reopening and expansion so it can once again provide meaningful educational and developmental services to young people and families.

Honoring James and Leanther Summerville

The Academy is named in honor of Rev. James and Leanther Summerville, the parents of Dr. Mildred Summerville.

Their faith, sacrifice, strength, discipline, and dedication to family provided the foundation for Dr. Summerville’s lifelong commitment to education and service.

The Academy carries their legacy forward by helping young people develop the character, knowledge, confidence, and determination needed to build successful lives.

Our Purpose

The purpose of the James & Leanther Summerville Academy is to provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment where young people can continue learning, address the challenges affecting their progress, and develop the skills needed to return to school, enter the workforce, or pursue further education.

The Academy seeks to prevent temporary setbacks from becoming permanent barriers.

Our Mission

Our mission is to educate, mentor, redirect, and empower young people through individualized academic support, restorative practices, life-skills development, counseling, family engagement, and workforce preparation.

We are committed to helping every student recognize that past choices or difficult circumstances do not have to determine their future.

Our Vision

Our vision is to become a leading community-based alternative education and youth-development program that helps students remain connected to learning, reduce repeated disciplinary involvement, graduate from high school or earn an equivalency credential, enter meaningful employment, and become responsible community members.

We envision an Academy where every young person is seen, supported, challenged, and given a genuine opportunity to begin again.

Our Core Values

Education

We believe every student deserves access to meaningful instruction and an opportunity to continue learning.

Accountability

We help students understand their choices, accept responsibility, and make better decisions.

Restoration

We focus on repairing harm, rebuilding relationships, and restoring students to productive paths.

Respect

Every student is treated with dignity while being held to clear expectations.

Mentoring

Positive and consistent adult guidance can change the direction of a young person’s life.

Opportunity

A setback should not permanently prevent a student from achieving success.

Family

Students make stronger progress when families and caregivers are informed, supported, and involved.

Service

We encourage young people to recognize their responsibility to contribute positively to their communities.

Who the Academy Will Serve

The Academy is being developed to serve students in grades 6 through 12 and young adults who need additional educational or developmental support.

Participants may include:

• Students assigned to short-term suspension

• Students at risk of long-term suspension or school withdrawal

• Students experiencing academic difficulties

• Students with chronic absenteeism

• Students who have disengaged from traditional school settings

• High school dropouts seeking a pathway forward

• Young adults preparing for a high school equivalency credential

• First-time court-involved youth

• Young people who need mentoring and positive adult support

• Youth preparing to enter the workforce

• Families seeking educational guidance and advocacy

Enrollment and eligibility will depend upon the specific program, available capacity, referral requirements, and current operating status.

Academy Programs and Services

Short-Term Suspension Support

Students assigned to short-term suspension often lose valuable instructional time and return to school further behind.

The Academy’s planned suspension-support program will provide a structured setting where students can:

• Complete assignments from their home schools

• Receive academic assistance

• Maintain a daily learning schedule

• Examine the circumstances leading to suspension

• Develop better decision-making skills

• Prepare for a successful return to school

The goal is to keep students connected to education while reducing the likelihood of repeated disciplinary incidents.

Academic Support

Students will receive assistance designed to strengthen academic performance and increase confidence.

Services may include:

• Individualized learning plans

• Tutoring and homework assistance

• Reading and literacy support

• Mathematics support

• Study and organizational skills

• Credit-recovery coordination

• Test preparation

• Technology assistance

• Progress monitoring

• Communication with families and referring schools

Restorative Practices

Restorative practices help students understand the impact of their actions, repair damaged relationships, and develop healthier ways to respond to conflict.

Activities may include:

• Restorative conversations

• Conflict resolution

• Reflection and accountability

• Communication exercises

• Relationship building

• Anger-management strategies

• Problem-solving

• School reentry planning

• Community restoration projects

The goal is not merely to punish inappropriate behavior, but to help students learn, grow, and make meaningful changes.

Mentoring

Students will be connected with caring adults who can provide encouragement, accountability, guidance, and consistent support.

Mentoring topics may include:

• Goal setting

• Self-confidence

• Character development

• Decision-making

• Peer relationships

• Leadership

• Personal responsibility

• Faith and purpose

• Career exploration

• Preparing for adulthood

Social and Emotional Development

The Academy will help young people develop the emotional and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in school, work, family life, and the community.

Topics may include:

• Self-awareness

• Emotional regulation

• Stress management

• Healthy communication

• Conflict resolution

• Resilience

• Empathy

• Responsible decision-making

• Building positive relationships

• Responding to disappointment and change

Life-Skills Education

Students need practical preparation for the responsibilities of adulthood.

Life-skills instruction may include:

• Financial literacy

• Budgeting and banking

• Time management

• Personal hygiene and wellness

• Appropriate dress and presentation

• Communication skills

• Household responsibilities

• Healthy relationships

• Community responsibility

• Personal safety

• Basic cooking and nutrition

• Transportation planning

Workforce Readiness

The Academy’s workforce-preparation program will help youth and young adults develop the skills employers expect.

Services may include:

• Career-interest assessments

• Résumé development

• Job applications

• Interview preparation

• Workplace communication

• Professional conduct

• Digital literacy

• Financial education

• Career exploration

• Job-shadowing opportunities

• Industry-recognized credentials

• Internships and work-based learning

• Employment referrals

• Follow-up support after placement

High School Equivalency Support

Young people who have left traditional school may need a structured pathway to continue their education.

The Academy plans to connect eligible participants with:

• High school equivalency preparation

• Academic assessments

• Individualized study plans

• Tutoring

• Testing information

• Career counseling

• Postsecondary education options

• Workforce training

• Employment preparation

First-Time Court-Involved Youth

The Academy plans to work with families, community organizations, and referral partners to support eligible first-time court-involved youth.

Programming may include:

• Academic support

• Mentoring

• Restorative practices

• Character development

• Community service

• Conflict resolution

• Family engagement

• Career exploration

• Personal goal setting

• Reentry and success planning

Participation in the Academy will not replace any court-ordered requirement unless formally authorized by the appropriate agency.

Parent and Family Support

Families are essential partners in a young person’s success.

The Academy plans to provide:

• Parent consultations

• Educational guidance

• School communication support

• Progress updates

• Family conferences

• Behavior-support strategies

• Resource referrals

• Workshops

• Reentry planning

• Assistance understanding school processes

Music, Choir, and the Arts

Music and the arts can help young people develop discipline, confidence, creativity, teamwork, and a positive sense of belonging.

Future Academy programming may include:

• Youth choir

• Vocal instruction

• Performing arts

• Music appreciation

• Public performances

• Creative writing

• Theater activities

• Artist mentoring

• Community cultural events

The Academy’s long-term vision includes developing a choir of up to 100 young people.

Our Reopening Vision

The Academy is working toward reopening with the capacity to serve approximately 40 to 50 students per day through a combination of educational, restorative, mentoring, and workforce-development programs.

The reopening initiative includes:

• Renovating and preparing the Academy facility

• Developing school and community partnerships

• Recruiting qualified educators, mentors, counselors, and volunteers

• Establishing referral and enrollment procedures

• Securing technology and instructional materials

• Expanding workforce-development partnerships

• Developing transportation assistance

• Strengthening family-support services

• Securing sustainable public and private funding

Services will be introduced according to available funding, staffing, facility readiness, partnerships, and community need.

Our Goals

Once fully operational, the Academy intends to:

• Serve approximately 300 to 500 young people annually

• Maintain academic continuity during short-term suspensions

• Reduce repeated disciplinary incidents

• Improve school attendance and engagement

• Strengthen students’ academic skills

• Help disconnected youth pursue high school equivalency credentials

• Provide workforce preparation to 75 to 100 participants annually

• Help eligible participants earn industry-recognized credentials

• Connect participants with employment, training, or continued education

• Increase parent and caregiver involvement

• Strengthen partnerships among schools, families, courts, employers, and community organizations

These are program goals and may be adjusted according to funding, enrollment, partnerships, and operating capacity.

Referrals and Enrollment

When enrollment opens, referrals may be accepted from:

• Parents and caregivers

• Public, private, and charter schools

• School administrators and counselors

• Juvenile justice professionals

• Courts and law-enforcement diversion programs

• Churches and faith organizations

• Community agencies

• Social-service organizations

• Youth-serving nonprofits

• Workforce-development partners

Each participant will be considered according to program eligibility, available services, referral information, and the student’s individual needs.

Request Enrollment Information | Make a Referral

Partner With the Academy

The Academy welcomes partnerships with:

• School districts

• Colleges and universities

• Churches and ministries

• Employers and businesses

• Workforce-development agencies

• Juvenile justice and diversion programs

• Mental-health providers

• Community organizations

• Arts organizations

• Skilled-trades programs

• Foundations and grantmakers

• Individual volunteers and mentors

Partners may assist by providing funding, referrals, instruction, mentoring, internships, employment opportunities, equipment, facility improvements, transportation, meals, technology, or professional services.

Become a Community Partner

Volunteer and Mentor

Dedicated volunteers and mentors can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people.

Opportunities may include:

• Academic tutoring

• Mentoring

• Career presentations

• Résumé and interview assistance

• Life-skills instruction

• Music and arts support

• Facility improvement

• Administrative assistance

• Meal support

• Transportation assistance

• Community outreach

• Special events

All volunteers working directly with students will be required to follow the Academy’s screening, training, safety, and confidentiality requirements.

Become a Volunteer or Mentor

Support the Reopening

The Academy’s reopening requires the support of people and organizations that believe young people deserve another opportunity.

Contributions may support:

• Building repairs and renovations

• Classroom furniture

• Computers and technology

• Instructional materials

• Student transportation

• Meals and basic necessities

• Academic programming

• Workforce credentials

• Counseling and mentoring

• Music and arts programming

• Staff and instructor costs

• Scholarships and emergency assistance

Donate to the Academy | Sponsor a Student Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Academy currently enrolling students?

The Academy is preparing for reopening and expansion. Enrollment dates and program availability will be announced when the facility, staffing, funding, and referral systems are ready.

What grades will the Academy serve?

The Academy plans to serve students in grades 6 through 12, along with selected young adults participating in high school equivalency or workforce-development programs.

Is the Academy a replacement for a student’s regular school?

The Academy’s short-term suspension program is intended to provide temporary educational support and does not replace the student’s regular school enrollment. Other programs may have different eligibility requirements.

Will the Academy serve only students who have been suspended?

No. Planned services also include mentoring, academic assistance, dropout-reengagement support, high school equivalency preparation, life skills, workforce readiness, family support, and programming for eligible first-time court-involved youth.

Will transportation be provided?

Transportation assistance is part of the Academy’s long-term plan and will depend upon funding, service area, scheduling, and available vehicles.

Can parents refer their children?

Yes. Parent and caregiver referrals are expected to be accepted for selected programs once enrollment opens.

Can businesses provide internships or employment opportunities?

Yes. Employers are encouraged to partner with the Academy by providing career presentations, workplace tours, job-shadowing, internships, training, and employment opportunities.

Can I donate supplies or professional services?

Yes. The Academy welcomes appropriate in-kind contributions, equipment, instructional materials, facility services, technology, and professional expertise.

A Message From the Founder

“During my years as an educator and administrator, I learned that a child’s most difficult moment should not become the final chapter of that child’s life. Young people need accountability, but they also need instruction, encouragement, guidance, and another opportunity. The James & Leanther Summerville Academy was created to provide that opportunity and to help every student understand that a setback does not have to determine the future.”

— Dr. Mildred Summerville, Founder and CEO

Help Us Reopen the Doors

Together, we can restore a place where young people are educated, encouraged, redirected, and prepared for success.

Support the Reopening | Become a Partner | Volunteer or Mentor | Request Information

James & Leanther Summerville Academy
A Program of Tall One Outreach Ministries

Restoring Hope. Rebuilding Confidence. Preparing Young People for Success.