ABC/ESPN Analyst and NBA Star Jalen Rose’s Leadership Academy teams up with Phalen Leadership Academies to blaze a bright trail for students and families in metro-Detroit (Detroit, Michigan)

– Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) and the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA) are excited to announce that JRLA will join forces with other schools across the country by becoming a part of the PLA school network. JRLA is Detroit’s premier, open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter high school whose mission is to empower all scholars to develop the strength of character, skills, and knowledge needed to matriculate, be great in, and graduate from college or a post-secondary program so that they have opportunities to be successful in the competitive world and take care of themselves and the people that they love. JRLA is unique in that they are a small school with a safe and nurturing environment that provides hands-on support and targeted direction. Focused on a 9-16 model, JRLA’s Post-Secondary Success Team works ceaselessly with over 400 current scholars and nearly 700 alumni to provide college counseling and support to not only make sure they graduate from high school, but college as well – outcomes that are real game changers in urban education.

Established in 2011, Jalen Rose and Co-Founder Michael Carter, assembled a team of educational experts and community leaders to create an educational experience at JRLA that prepares scholars to be successful in school and beyond. The goal has always been to provide a private school education in a public school setting.

"After eleven years of operations, JRLA is excited to partner with Phalen Leadership Academies to collectively influence the scholars we serve. As a Detroit native, it has always been important for me to give back to my community and I can’t think of a better way than working to improve the educational landscape. We work to inspire our youth to achieve their dreams and we believe PLA works to do the same. PLA is one of the most diverse and impactful transformative leaders in education and we look forward to their team further enhancing our efforts,” said Jalen Rose.

A graduate of Detroit Southwestern High School, Mr. Rose attended the University of Michigan where he was one of five freshman basketball players known as the “Fab Five.” As a college graduate, he is eager to help Detroit youth achieve the same goal. Mr. Rose was instrumental on the planning team and serves as the President of the JRLA Board of Directors. He is also spearheading a $8.5 million capital campaign to expand the existing facility so the scholars and staff have the accommodations they need to be successful.

The partnership with PLA is an incredible opportunity for JRLA and its scholars in that it will provide them with access to more resources that enhance sustainability and growth, and affords scholars and staff greater opportunities for learning, support, and development.

“At PLA, we invest in our scholars, our families, and in our communities,” said PLA Founder & CEO, Earl Martin Phalen. “Our goal is to serve more children and to uplift more communities. We are excited to welcome the families of JRLA to the PLA network. Our teams will work together diligently to create more positive outcomes for not just the families at JRLA but for all our scholars. They deserve the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. This partnership provides us with the opportunity to accomplish that goal.”

PLA is a transformative charter-school operator, focused on providing exceptional education options to families who otherwise might not have access to them. They raise achievement for scholars in historically underserved communities by providing rigorous, personalized, and well-rounded educational experiences to meet the unique needs of each scholar.

JRLA is looking forward to working with - Trix Academy, a tuition-free charter school also within the PLA network. Trix, located minutes from JRLA, works to fuel K-8 students’ dreams with data driven instruction, brand new state-of-the art technology, and exceptional teachers who truly care about their success.

As perfectly situated partners in such close proximity, this new partnership between JRLA and Trix will help prepare scholars for success from the start of their primary education and support them as they begin their college education and careers. Scholars can build their foundations at Trix and then create their legacies at JRLA. Future plans include a daily school bus route for students from Trix to JRLA.

JRLA is excited to partner with Phalen Leadership Academies, a network that puts scholars first and emphasizes our core values of Family, Excellence, Respect, and Determination. Every scholar deserves a world class education and we aim to provide that along with the other PLA institutions,” said JRLA Principal Wendie Lewis.

JRLA now has an even more significant investment in fostering collaborative and trusted partnerships and rapport with families and the Detroit community. PLA, JRLA and Trix are eager to work together to ensure that their schools deliver on the promise of scholars entering as learners and exiting as leaders.

The merger of these institutions aims to blaze a brighter trail for scholars and families in and around the Detroit area by creating strong and collaborative academic programming for students, continuing expansion of wrap-around services for Detroit families and community members, and becoming one of the most multifaceted and transformative school networks in the area.

“The staff and scholars of Trix Academy are delighted about our new and exciting partnership with JRLA. What this means for the families of Trix Academy is a true assurance that we are putting their scholars in excellent hands at JRLA. We can now guarantee parents that their scholars will receive the same quality education, be able to foster the same core values, and be surrounded by educators and staff who will love and put them in position to win,” said Trix Academy Principal Luvenia Perkins.

Prospective students and their families are invited to meet the leadership team and staff of both JRLA and Trix at an Ice Cream Social on Thursday, July 28th from 5:30pm - 7:00pm at JRLA’s campus (15000 Trojan Street). This event provides incoming 9-12th graders the opportunity to enroll at JRLA for the 2022-23 school year. Attendees will enjoy:

● Live music and free ice cream treats

● A word fromJRLA’sr enrichment sponsors and Principal Wendie Lewis

● An opportunity to enroll on the spot and tour the school building

For more information, please visit jrladetroit.com or call 313-397-3333!

About Phalen Leadership Academies: Phalen Leadership Academies is a nonprofit school management organization with over 25 schools across the country in Indiana, Ohio, Texas, Alabama, Michigan and Washington D.C.

For more information about Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) and its dedication to shaping scholars everywhere, please visit https://www.phalenacademies.org/or to donate in support of Phalen’s efforts, visit DonatePLA.org