JB Celebrates First Graduate from Akron Campus

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Two years ago, Mitzi Davis learned about Julie Billiart Schools’ Akron campus while searching the internet for specialty schools. After visiting the school, she knew that her son, Jeffrie, would thrive with the individualized attention offered by JB Akron. Jeffrie began attending eighth grade in the fall of 2019. Now, he will be the very first eighth-grader to graduate from JB’s Akron campus.

Following JB’s expansion model, JB Akron opened in 2017 to grades kindergarten, first and second. The next year, it expanded to include third through fifth grades. Just this year, JB Akron welcomed sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Davis seized the opportunity.

“He needed more one-on-one attention with his education and I felt like JB was able to offer that to him,” said Davis.

Davis is confident that Julie Billiart Schools has made Jeffrie more self-aware and more independent. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in him,” she said. “He takes the initiative to do things on his own. JB has really helped him a lot.”

Davis believed in JB’s mission when she enrolled Jeffrie at Julie Billiart Schools for his eighth grade year. She trusted in the faculty and staff to prepare him for high school. Today, she couldn’t be more proud of her son and his accomplishments.

In the fall, Jeffrie will take the skills he has gained at Julie Billiart Schools with him to high school. He is excited to join the Fighting Irish at Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School in Akron. "Jeffrie would like to thank Mr. Wojnicz and teachers so much for believing in him and helping him get into his dream high school," said Davis.

"We are so proud of Jeffrie being our first graduate of JB Akron,” said JB Akron Principal Jason Wojnicz. “Jeffrie has made tremendous growth with being at JB for one full year. We are excited for him to take the tools and knowledge he has gained and apply it toward his education at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School. We are now excited to call him our alumni of JBA."

Jeffrie will join the graduates from the Lyndhurst campus on May 27 for a drive-in graduation ceremony at JB Lyndhurst. The ceremony will take place outside at the main entrance of the school and will adhere to all social distancing guidelines. Following the ceremony, the Mayor of Lyndhurst and a Lyndhurst police officer will escort the graduates’ cars on a parade through the Lyndhurst Park Estates.