Just yesterday, we were joined by officials from Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and the Opry Mills shopping destination, along with Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, to ceremoniously cut the ribbon and re-open the Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills. This homecoming has been a longtime
in the making after floods in May 2010 devastated Nashville, Tenn., to the tune of $2 billion. Many of the Music City’s homes and businesses were—at worst—destroyed or—at least—waterlogged, and countless structures including the Academy at Opry Mills were officially closed pending major renovations.
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| SYF at the ribbon with students, Mayor Karl Dean, and our friends at MNPS and Opry Mills | August 2012 |
While Tenn.-based Retail Builders and local contractors began the painstaking rebuild and renovation of the Academy at Opry Mills, students formerly in attendance there began attending Simon Youth Academy at Old Cockrill. Thanks to this arrangement, these students continued learning through the Simon Youth Academy alternative education model, which likely provided some much-needed normalcy following the floods.
Today, students return to the Academy at Opry Mills having not missed a beat with regard to their educations. We welcome new students to the Academy, where we will continue to Ignite Hope for a brighter tomorrow in Nashville.
out rate, and they do a wonderful thing for this community.”
