ATLANTA — B.E.S.T. Academy stands for "Best, Engineering, Science and Technology," and students are asked to do just that - their best. The school serves primarily young Black men and focuses on getting them college and career-ready.
Behind a class of students is the teacher who inspires them to do more. Master Teacher Ruquanda Epps-Primas engages her students with probing questions, making them accountable for their learning and future. Epps-Primas doesn't merely see this as a classroom; it's her ministry.
"I was designed to pour into others," Epps-Primas said.
She often refers to students as "potential doctors and business owners," with one sixth grader, Alexander Ginn, adding he's "probably an engineer."
Her classroom transcends academics, with students tasked with addressing real-world issues, like food deserts and the associated problems of obesity and diabetes in their community.
They are a team dedicated to finding solutions.
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"It starts with the mindset," Epps-Primas said. "My mission is to instill in my students the unwavering belief in self-efficacy, the conviction that they can achieve anything they set their hearts and minds to."
In Epps-Primas' classroom, empathy, creativity, innovation, and fun are ingredients of the learning experience. The students eagerly embrace their roles as change-makers and problem-solvers, driven by their desire to make a tangible impact on their community.
But Epps-Primas is more than an educator; she is a mentor, a guide and a motherly figure to her students.
"She's like a mother to me. She reminds me of my mom because she helps me with stuff," Ethan Jones, an eighth grader, said.
For these young men, Epps-Primas is not just a teacher; she is a role model and a beacon of guidance.
"She's one of the best teachers I've ever had because she really focuses on me and other students," said Ansar Muhammed, an eighth grader.
And the administration notices.
"I'm so proud of her work. I'm so proud of her presence. I'm so proud of what she inspires in our young men every day," Principal Tim Jones of B.E.S.T. Academy said.
In Epps-Primas' classroom, she doesn't just mold students; she shapes future history-makers - one life lesson at a time.
The master teacher said her mission for her students is clear: "They are agents of change. And that's what I'm about: changing lives."
The school has increased in popularity over the years, with potential students filling up a waitlist to join.
11Alive invites you to embark on a journey of unapologetic stories that have shaped Atlanta's past, present and future this Black History Month. Check out our collection of stories: "DREAM x DISRUPT: Black Atlanta's Bold Movement" at 11alive.com/blackhistory