The Idea: A Partnership That Started It All

The foundation of Leading the Way started when Spencer, our MiSTER program administrator, introduced the idea of building a partner/mentor school. He recommended Blue Ridge Elementary as a place where intentional support and mentorship could make a real impact.

That conversation turned into action.

Instead of just planning from a distance, the idea quickly grew into something hands-on. A small group of MiSTERs visited the school before summer break ended, getting an early look at the students, the environment, and the real needs within the building.

Building the Bridge to Blue Ridge

To better understand the community we hoped to serve, Caleb and I spent the summer working at the Oconee Summer Reading Camp. This experience helped us become more familiar with Blue Ridge students, their academic needs, and the type of support that would actually make a difference.

During that time, we began forming a clearer vision:
not just tutoring or programming—but consistent mentorship and leadership development.

The Team Comes Together

As the idea grew, so did the team.

We officially gathered a group of dedicated student leaders:

• Ari Hall
• Caleb Blackston
• Davez Winters
• Ji’rah Ellerbe
• Angel Roberson

Over the summer, we held multiple Zoom meetings and planning conversations, while also visiting the school on two separate occasions to meet with administration and better align on expectations and needs.

Those early discussions helped shape what the program would actually become—structured, intentional, and rooted in real partnership with the school.

Launching at Blue Ridge

After Labor Day, we officially launched.

We started with 48 students signed up in our very first cycle. What began as an idea quickly became a living program inside the school community.

As the year progressed, the team expanded as well, bringing in additional leaders including Zion, Coleman, and William to support growing needs and strengthen program delivery.

Each person played a role in shaping the culture, consistency, and energy of the program as it developed.

Growth Into Something Bigger

As the program grew, so did the responsibility behind it.

Coleman took a leading role in helping formalize what we were building—guiding the transition from a school-based initiative into the structured nonprofit model that Leading the Way Academy is today.

That shift mattered. It turned a passionate idea into a sustainable system designed for long-term impact, accountability, and expansion.

What It Became

What started as a mentor-school concept evolved into a structured leadership and academic support program rooted in purpose.

Guided by our mission to empower students through mentorship, academic support, and leadership development, Leading the Way continues to grow with the same foundation it started with:

Students don’t just need access to content—they need guidance, structure, and people who believe in them.

The Heart of the Story

At its core, this founding story isn’t just about how the program started—it’s about why it started.

It began with students and future educators who saw potential in every child they worked with and decided not to wait for change, but to build it.

And that’s what Leading the Way continues to be:
a commitment to showing up, building systems of support, and developing students into confident leaders who can carry that same impact forward.