Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports

2008-09 Partner Site Profile

Number of Pairs: 123

Length of Matches: 2 years

iMentor Partner Since: 2008

Location: South Bronx

iMentor Program Coordinator: Jessica Mowles (11th grade), Kassim Howell (12th grade)

UA for Careers in Sports Teacher: Robert Rosario (11th grade), Sharon Aiuvalasit (12th grade)

About the iMentor Partnership

iMentor began our partnership with Careers in Sports in spring 2008, where the program was so successful that we expanded to include a full 11th and 12th grade cohort, matching all students for two years, through high school graduation. iMentor’s success at Careers in Sports is a direct result of sincere administrative support from Principal Felice Lepore, whose enthusiasm has propelled the program into a core school activity. After the first Kick-Off Event, Principal Lepore wrote to share his excitement: “When I walked into the cafeteria the night my 11th grade students got to meet their mentors, I was shocked and amazed at the sight of 40+ students and mentors sitting across from each other talking about anything and everything. The following morning I was told that the conversations went on for an entire 2 hours. It was by far the highlight of this academic school year for me!”

iMentor sessions at Careers in Sports are known for being full of life and energy. In the 11th and 12th grades, iMentor sessions occur once a week in three different class periods. In the 11th grade, iMentor sessions occur in a Business class and provide students insight into their future careers through conversations about their mentors’ careers. In 12th grade, iMentor sessions occur during an English class, where mentees practice their strong reading and writing skills to craft thoughtful, well-written emails. In these ways, the iMentor program complements the school’s curriculum by providing real-life practice and experience interacting with adults.

iMentor also supplements the comprehensive college preparation program at Careers in Sports. Students benefit from the college guidance office and Project Discovery, an after-school program focusing on college prep for low-income and first-generation college students. Emailing and speaking with mentors about college preparation and mentors’ college experiences through iMentor helps students to put the pieces together. With iMentor, students have an adult who has “been there, done that” who encourages them along the way!

Travel Directions

Address: 701 Saint Ann's Avenue Bronx, NY 10455 Subway Directions: Take the No. 2 or the No. 5 Train to Jackson Avenue. Walk south on Westchester Avenue, passing Cauldwell Avenue and Eagle Avenue. Take a right onto St. Ann’s Avenue, continue walking until seeing Careers in Sports High School on the left side of the street.  Enter through second set of double doors.
Bus Directions: Take the No. 4 bus to Saint Ann's Avenue or take the No. 19 bus to 149 and Saint Ann's Avenue.   For a map and directions, click HERE!

About Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports

Although its name suggests a curriculum built around athletics, The Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports also provides a strong general education, with classes taught by gifted teachers adept at keeping kids' attention. The result is that some 82 percent of the school's graduates go on to four-year colleges, including a number with strong programs in sports marketing or sports medicine: Kentucky State University, Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, and New York's own St. John's University. Since the school opened in fall 2002, there has not been one drop-out, according to Principal Felice Lepore. The school is heavily male; 85 percent of the students are boys.

The sports theme is brought into all subjects. To expose students to the professional possibilities in athletics, the school requires 9th and 11th graders to take classes where they learn about various sports careers. Seniors are expected to complete internships, which include working as a bat boy for the Yankees, or assisting a Bronx City Council member.

Careers in Sports Fun Facts

• In their 2008 football season, the South Bronx Phoenix (Careers in Sports’ football team) were 10-1
• Several Careers in Sports seniors were chosen to join workers in transferring dirt from the old Yankee stadium to the new stadium, and were featured on local news channels!
• Almost 90% of Careers in Sports juniors attended the 2008 iMentor kick off event!
• Since the school opened in fall 2002, there has not been one drop-out!
• The school offers a summer program called "We Had Mad Fun" summer program that sends 10 students, free of charge, to Utah for 9 days of hiking and white-water rafting.
• Students must perform 50 hours of community service by graduation
• Each month, top students or those who have improved greatly are rewarded with a $25 gift certificate!

View a complete listing of all

iMentor's 2008-09 Partner Sites