About Us
Our Mission
In a dichotomous sense, there are two types of people—those who are focused, and those who are not. Our organization is a conversion unit. We are about change. Our mission is to go into socio-economically compromised neighborhoods and reset the agenda. WE WANT EDUCATION TO BE THE SALIENT FEATURE. We want to make being educated “cool” again. We want to start a neo-movement for education.
We are, in large part, an education advocacy group. We are lifestyle coaches who promote the idea of individuals working diligently to achieve goals. It is important to counter the messages of pop-culture by getting to children and their families early in the child’s cognitive development. Education changes lives for generations.
What makes us different is that we are adopting the entire family into our program, not just the child or the young adult. Literacy is a team sport.
Purpose
Children don’t get to pick their parents. Unfortunately, we live in a society where far too many parents, for a myriad of reasons, find it difficult to provide the emotional, educational, and attitudinal guidance/support that children need. Also, many young adults did not attain an education when the opportunity was presented and now believe that it is too late. Many student athletes forget that “student” comes first.
The overall purpose of our organization is to fill those voids. We will do this by providing services to and developing partnerships with a number of social institutions. We will market to children the importance of education and will provide services that will equip them with the necessary tools for academic success, including a home environment that is conducive for achievement. We will provide GED prep if needed or avenues to community colleges or technical schools for young adults who desire to improve their potential to earn and learn. We will teach athletes that “going pro” means having a profession if professional sports prove not to be an option.
Our Team
Dr. Murray Fortner has been an award-winning college professor for over 30 years. He created and conducted F.O.C.U.S as a limited college partnership for over a decade. The intent now is corporate partnership in order to expand the reach and to impact the lives of thousands of scholars.
Dean of Instruction Cindy Baw has been with the program since its inception. She, too, has been a college professor for over 30 years. She has received rave reviews for her innovative approaches to teaching. She will lead our teacher training academy for those who will be conducting our enrichment sessions.
Murray Fortner II and Amber Fortner are graduates of the University of Texas System; both, during their youth, were participants in the F.O.C.U.S Program. They will serve as Community and School District Coordinators, working with schools and community organizations to help select participates for our program.
Sr. Data Analyst Joan Johnson, also an award winning college professor, has a high level of expertise in creating programs that track student progress, as well as program proficiency.