Fortitude Leadership Academy

06/03/2026

Join Dronie Drone on an exciting composting adventure!

In this special episode, we meet Drone-Drone, Dronie Drone's little brother! He's determined to follow in his big brother's flight path and earn his own flight miles by learning, exploring, and helping others. While he may still have some growing to do, Drone-Drone is already discovering that every great flyer starts with curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Together, Dronie Drone and Drone-Drone explore the amazing world of composting and discover how old leaves, grass clippings, and fruit peels can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost that helps gardens grow bigger, healthier, and stronger.

Learn:
✅ What compost is
✅ What materials go into compost
✅ How earthworms and microbes help
✅ Why compost is great for plants
✅ How healthy soil creates healthy gardens

Perfect for young gardeners, future scientists, homeschool families, classrooms, and anyone who loves learning about nature!

🌻 Do you think Drone-Drone can earn enough flight miles to catch up with his big brother? Tell us in the comments!

👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe to follow more adventures with Dronie Drone and Drone-Drone!

Remember: Every great explorer starts by asking questions, and every great pilot starts with their very first flight mile.

🚁 The sky is just the beginning!

Join Dronie Drone on an exciting composting adventure!In this spe...

06/02/2026

Join Dronie on his very first STEM adventure as he teaches young explorers how drones help gardeners and farmers take care of plants! 🌻🍅💧
In this fun and educational episode, kids will learn:
✅ How to spot plants that need water
✅ How drones help gardens and farms
✅ Why sunshine, water, and care help plants grow
✅ How scientists use observation to solve problems
Dronie makes learning about technology, nature, and agriculture exciting for curious young minds!
💙 If you enjoyed this adventure:
👍 LIKE this video
🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more Dronie adventures
📢 SHARE with friends and family
💬 Tell us: What's your favorite plant?
🚁 Remember: The sky is just the beginning!

Click the link below:

Join Dronie on his very first STEM adventure as he teaches young explorers how drones help gardeners and farmers take care of plants! 🌻🍅💧In this fun and e...

05/13/2026

What a day!
Yesterday, I had the honor of serving as the guest speaker for the Catoma Cardinals’ 5th Grade Transition Program. I encouraged those amazing students to “Stay in the Lab”, to keep learning, growing, building, believing, and trying because their futures are still under construction. Watching those young leaders prepare for middle school reminded me that greatness is developed one lesson, one challenge, and one step at a time.

After leaving there, I had a hunger I couldn’t quite explain, so I made a stop at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Jaguars’ “Reading Restaurant,” and what an experience it was!

First stop: Table #1, where Chef Paisley served up an incredible appetizer titled “What Do I Need.” I got so caught up in her awesome job of reading; I forgot to leave a tip!

Then I moved on to Table #7 where Chef Erin brought out the main course, “A Pan of Jam.” These 1st grade chefs are the real deal! Their reading and confidence were amazing. I had to leave Chef Erin a big hug as a tip!

By this point, I was ready for dessert and Chef Gabriella did not disappoint, serving up an old favorite, “The Three Bears.” The entire restaurant experience was filled with smiles, laughter, learning, and joy. Huge shoutout to the students, teachers, and staff who made it all come alive.

I left the MLK Reading Restaurant full, smiling, and honestly ready for a nap, but then I heard the LEAD Academy - Montgomery raised beds calling my name. And you already know, when the garden calls, I answer!
So off to the raised beds I went, continuing the work of teaching, planting, building, and growing, not just gardens, but futures.

Days like that remind me why this work matters. From classrooms to gardens, from books to leadership lessons, our children are full of potential. We must keep encouraging them.

And today, I will do it all again.

04/23/2026

The Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Jaguars celebrated Earth Day in a very special way, by planting a tree together!
The Jaguars got their hands a little dirty, felt the soil, and truly enjoyed being a part of the process. This experience was meaningful because it met them right where they are allowing them to learn by touching, seeing, and doing.

This Earth Day experience taught the scholars:
• That soil is where plants live and grow
• That helping the earth can be as simple as planting and caring for something
• That working together makes a big job easier and more fun
• That they can play an important role in taking care of our environment

This hands-on moment introduced scholars to the basics of soil and conservation in a way that was engaging, simple, and impactful, helping them understand that the earth needs care, just like we do.
Thank you Ms. Churchwell and the entire MLK team for trusting The Fort with your scholars. It was a joy to learn, grow, and celebrate Earth Day together.


Montgomery Alabama Public Schools - Official Site

04/16/2026

On Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15, something powerful happened at LEAD Academy. Mrs. Miller’s and Dr. Tyson-Bey’s 4th grade LEADers stepped outside the classroom and into the garden, getting their hands in the soil and their minds engaged in real-world learning.

Students planted yellow squash, zucchini squash, okra, tomatoes, and even took a bold step in trying something new with sugar cane. This wasn’t just planting, it was a full learning experience.

Through this hands-on activity, students:

•Learned soil health and preparation, understanding how good soil leads to strong growth

•Explored plant life cycles, from seed to harvest

•Practiced measurement, spacing, and planning, connecting math to real-life application

•Gained exposure to agriculture careers and sustainability practices

•Built teamwork, responsibility, and patience as they cared for their plants

And the reward? They were also able to harvest fresh romaine lettuce, seeing the results of their work come full circle, from planting to plate.

This is what education looks like when it’s active, engaging, and preparing students for the future. LEAD Academy - Montgomery paving the way!

If your school is looking to bring this level of hands-on, impactful learning to your students, connect with Fortitude Leadership Academy to learn more about our Junior Innovators School-Based Agriculture Program.

We’re not just teaching students, we’re growing future leaders.

03/25/2026

Dr. Tyson-Bey’s 4th grade class at LEAD Academy - Montgomery didn’t just get their hands dirty, they became junior soil scientists!

Filled with excitement and energy, the scholars were ready to “shake, shake, shake!” as they jumped into hands-on soil testing!

Using real soil testing kits, they explored what’s happening inside the soil by testing for:

pH Level – Is the soil happy or struggling?
Nitrogen – Helps plants grow big and green
Phosphorus – Helps roots grow strong
Potash (Potassium) – Keeps plants healthy and strong

The students watched the colors change and couldn’t believe their eyes as they learned what each result meant. It was like solving a mystery right in their hands!

They kept the energy going with our chant:
👉🏾 “A+ soil means A+ plants!” 👈🏾
They understand, when you take care of the soil, the plants will take care of you!

We are so proud of these scholars for diving in, getting messy, and learning in a BIG way. The future of agriculture is looking BRIGHT!

03/24/2026

Shoutout to Our 4th Grade LEADers!

Mrs. Miller’s 4th grade class at LEAD Academy - Montgomery had an AMAZING time getting their hands a little dirty and their minds growing BIG!
These young scholars jumped into a fun lesson all about soil, and let’s just say, they now KNOW soil is way more than just dirt! Each scholar received their own soil test kits.

They watched how soil is full of life, explored what’s inside it, and even got to check out real soil samples to spot things like roots, tiny rocks, and more.
But the BEST part?

They turned learning into a whole vibe with their chant:

“A+ soil means A+ plants!”

Yes!! They treated soil like it gets a grade, and they already understand that when the soil is right, everything grows better!
We are so proud of these future leaders for their energy, curiosity, and excitement to learn. The future of agriculture (and the world) is in GOOD hands!

03/17/2026

Jackson Hospital offers scholarship assistance to qualified seniors at area high schools who wish to pursue careers in the medical field.

03/12/2026

Learning Through Soil, Color, and Community

This week, our 4th grade LEADers began exploring an important lesson about sustainability, conservation, and the power of community gardens.

On Tuesday, the students in Mrs. Miller’s 4th grade class participated in a classroom learning session focused on soil health and how healthy soil supports plants, food production, and the environment. After learning about how soil helps sustain life, the students took part in a coloring activity that represents conservation and working together in a community garden.

On Wednesday, the students in Dr. Tyson-Bey’s 4th grade class joined the experience and participated in the same learning session and coloring activity.

The coloring page represents something bigger than art. It reflects how communities can come together to care for the land, grow healthy food, and protect natural resources for future generations. Through activities like this, students begin to understand that sustainability is not just about the environment, it is about people working together to build stronger and healthier communities.

Today’s activity served as a practice round for the students as they prepared for a friendly competition. Each of the four 4th grade classes will participate in the coloring contest, where there will be an individual prize for the best coloring design and a class prize awarded to the overall winning classroom.

We are excited to see the creativity of our young LEADers as they connect learning, conservation, and teamwork through this fun and meaningful activity!

03/10/2026

A free online learning experience introducing students and educators to soil health, soil testing, agricultural careers, and the USDA 1890 Scholars Program. Click the link to join: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/6rmtwzv