Atlanta Public Schools

  Black History Facts

The Gurian Institute has been awarded a contract to help Atlanta Public Schools facilitate the conversion of a traditional co-ed middle school (Benjamin S. Carson) into two single-gender academies:

    The Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy 
    The BEST (Business, Engineering, Science and Technology) Academy for Boys

The two academies will open for the 2007-2008 school year, beginning with 6th grade and adding one grade each year until both schools serve students in 6th through 12th grades. The district selected the pilot area based on the challenging demographics of the community and the need to improve student performance.


Melody Morgan, Principal

Girls Academy Principal Melody Morgan has 29 years of teaching and administrative experience in New York City where she was a middle school administrator for the past 19 years. She is a graduate of Hunter College and has two master's degrees from Hunter in early childhood/elementary education and administration/supervision.


Curt Green, Principal

Boys Academy Principal Curt Green has 10 years of middle and high school teaching and administrative experience. Most recently he was principal at the Capitol Pre-College Academy for Boys in East Baton Rouge, La. As principal, he partnered with Southern University and Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund/Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to convert a high school into two college preparatory gender-based academies. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and has two master's degrees from the University of Alaska in teaching secondary social studies and public school administration.

The executive director of the Gurian Institute, Kathy Stevens, attended a community kick-off event on May 10th, at the site of the existing middle school. Then, in June, the Gurian Institute implemented professional development for the faculty, staff and administration.  


Lynn Ritvo, Project Director

Kathy Stevens will administer the grant. Project Director Lynn Ritvo will coordinate the training teams and provide on-site support to both schools. Dr. Frances Speilhagen (Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY) will oversee the formal evaluation of the project.

Certified trainers of the Gurian Institute will provide the training. Steve Hadaway will be Lead Trainer for the boys’ school project and will be joined by Shameka McPherson.  Karen Boyk will be Lead Trainer for the girls’ school project, joined by Dr. Yvette Keel.

The Gurian Institute is excited to work with the Atlanta Public Schools as they pilot these two programs to improve the quality of instruction and student achievement. Watch for more information about this exciting project as the year progresses!


Single-gender classes a growing trend
Article by Bridget Gutierrez, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 1, 2007
Please note: this article is no longer available online

"Sixth-grader Calvin Johnson — marker in hand — balanced atop a chair by the front board to put his final touches on a diagram of the universe.

"In another science classroom, the teacher might worry that Calvin, 12, would fall from his precarious perch. But not here at The B.E.S.T. Academy at Benjamin S. Carson, a new, all-boys Atlanta public school where students are encouraged to shout answers to questions, get up from their desks during class and, yes, stand on chairs when needed...."

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For more information about single-sex schools and classrooms, click here.