As a theater teacher, I believe in the power of self expression and have witnessed the profound effect performance can have both as an actor and as an audience member.

My name is Wayne Jackson, and I am the proud father of a scholar at SA Bronx 2.

I was born and raised in the Bronx and for most of my childhood and adolescence I attended failing schools. I, of course, didn’t know it at the time. I received good grades and passed all my classes. I sat in the front of the class because I loved learning. I thought I was a great student. Then I went to college and reality hit me. I didn’t know how to read to truly understand the deeper meaning of a book. Worse, I couldn’t properly write a paragraph – let alone an essay.