Success Academy Middle School Historians Want to Change Your Mind — And They Just Might!
Success Academy – January 14, 2020
Debates are a regular part of the Success Academy Middle School history curriculum. Throughout the year, Ms. Joseph and other SA history teachers build debates about historical figures and events into their lessons.
Rising Success Academy Debate Star Wins Season Opener — Coached by Fellow Teammate
Success Academy – September 10, 2019
Over the summer, Chase had doubled down on honing his talent, earning two full-ride merit scholarships to top debate camps in New York and Texas. He’d returned to school more than ready to prove himself — but he needed someone older and more experienced in Lincoln-Douglas to help him through the most competitive tournaments. As team captain and as a friend, Tajaih wanted to step in.
Success Academy High School Debaters Storm Atlanta
Success Academy – February 20, 2019
Three of SA HSLA’s most promising debaters flew to Emory University in Atlanta recently to compete in the Barkley Forum. Extremely selective, the Barkley Forum admits only two or three competitors from schools with strong speech and debate programs each year. This year, juniors Tajaih Robinson and Bintou Cisse, as well as sophomore Silma Bathily, made their way down South to test their prowess against the nation’s top debaters.
Report from the Frontlines: SA Teams Competing Around the Region
Success Academy – February 5, 2019
Success Academy debaters and athletes competed in some major tournaments this January, marking several significant milestones for our programs. We’re excited to share the news about these incredible accomplishments!
What’s So Great About Middle School, Anyway?
Success Academy – January 24, 2019
We asked eighth graders from across our middle schools to tell us about what they loved in middle school. Not surprisingly, many recounted how much they loved their electives and team experiences. We’re excited to share with you the reflections of three eighth graders, from Success Academy Harlem North Central, SA Harlem West, and SA […]
What Does Success in Middle School Look Like? An Eighth Grader Shares
Rabiat Ahmed – October 12, 2018
Have you ever accomplished your greatest dream? Or achieved something so incredible you feel like you’ve conquered the world? If you have, it must feel fantastic knowing you worked through your challenges and ended up with a great ending. But getting to that great ending is like walking on a rocky hiking trail: it’s hard, […]
Success Academy Scholars Make History at the Tournament of Champions
Meagan Kowaleski – May 8, 2018
On the last weekend of April, two of our high school debaters, sophomore Tajaih Robinson and senior Aida Bathily, travelled to Kentucky to compete in the Tournament of Champions, the most competitive debate tournament in the country. Both of them reached the quarter finals of the Lincoln Douglas (LD) section, placing sixth and seventh respectively out of 88 top debaters from across the country.
In Victory and Defeat, Success Academy Debaters Learn Valuable Lessons at Harvard Debate Tournament
Corinne Adams – February 27, 2018
42 middle school scholars and 14 high schoolers from Success Academy competed in the 44th Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament, where they faced hundreds of top-ranked debaters from around the country in policy debate. The tournament concluded with 36 wins for SA’s 19 middle school teams at the high school tournament. Our high schoolers performed exceptionally well — with SA High School of the Liberal Arts senior Sekou Cisse winning the Lincoln-Douglas division and his peers senior Aida Bathily and sophomore Tajaih Robinson making it to the quarterfinals and earning a trip to the Tournament of Champions in April!
After Early-Season Losses, Success Academy Debaters Finish First in New Jersey Tournament!
Delaney Hellman – January 30, 2018
On Saturday, January 20, Success Academy Harlem North Central won first place in the Advanced Section at a tournament hosted by the Newark Debate Academy. Forty SA scholars from schools throughout the network traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to participate in the debate.
Success Academy Launches New Debate Program — and Starts Its Own League
Meagan Kowaleski – October 4, 2017
As the manager of Success Academy’s debate program, I am proud that we are introducing policy debate to our scholars this year — and just as proud to launch the Success Academy Debate League, which will bring students from across the city to rigorous, Success Academy-run tournaments.
Parent Perspective: My Family Loves a Good Argument!
Daniela Kempf – May 1, 2017
This school year, my husband and I have spent many weekends supporting our son Henry as he debates topics like the Cuban trade embargo and immigration at middle school debate tournaments around NYC.
All the World’s a Stage: A Q&A with SA Harlem East 8th Grader Samantha Perez on Debating at the U.S. Capitol
Samantha Perez – October 24, 2016
Last month, nine scholars at Success Academy Harlem East traveled to Washington D.C., where they met with members of Congress, toured the U.S. Capitol Building, and put on a debate showcase.
When High Schoolers Argue, Everybody Wins
Sekou Cisse – November 4, 2015
Success Academy tenth-grader Sekou Cisse loves a good argument. A seasoned member of the SA High School of the Liberal Arts debate team, Sekou joined debate as a seventh grader at Success Academy Harlem West.
November Monthly Round-Up
Success Academy – November 26, 2014
In case you missed it… we’ve rounded up some Success Academy November highlights!
Why Debate Matters for My Students
Maria Williams – November 19, 2014
In the fight for educational equality, Success Academy is doing something transformative…