From Groundwork to Growth: FBB’s 2025 Update

Too many students were taught to memorize words instead of truly understanding them. When that happens, school, confidence, and the path to good work all get harder. Family Biz Builder exists to change that. In 2025 we focused on the basics that make lasting impact: building strong structure, systems, and staff capacity.

What We Built in 2025

• Cohort launched: We formed our first 11th-grade cohort at Clarksdale High School to create steady schedules, shared goals, and regular mentor contact.

• Data to guide support: All students were onboarded to Winward Academy and completed ACT diagnostics. Now we know each student’s starting point and can set clear goals.

• Performance Metrics System: We began tracking ACT bands, attendance, participation, and growth so progress is visible and actionable for staff, mentors, and families.

• Stronger mentoring: We trained mentors to use Winward Academy well and to build personalized study plans with students.

• More staff time: General support increased hours for our Program Director, Manager, and mentors, improving communication, scheduling, and student engagement.

• Wider reach: Through social media, website updates, and outreach to schools in Tunica, Coahoma, and DeSoto counties, more families now know how to join.

Made possible with support from the USTA Foundation.

Why This Matters

• Cohorts build consistency and confidence.

• Diagnostics replace guesswork with targeted practice.

• A performance system turns progress into facts everyone can see.

• Well-trained mentors keep coaching aligned and effective.

• Added staff time prevents small problems from stalling the program.

• Outreach makes opportunity accessible across the region.

In short: 2025 was about building the right things so we can do the important things well for years.

What Students and Families Experienced

Students entered a clear routine: a cohort schedule, a starting assessment, a personal plan at the right level, and a mentor who knows the tools. Families met with staff to learn how Winward Academy works and why stronger reading and math now open doors after graduation.

Ready to Scale

We now have:

• A cohort model we can replicate

• A data backbone to set goals and track growth

• A trained mentor team with expanded capacity

• An outreach pipeline across three counties

What’s Next

We will use the cohort model, ACT baselines, and our metrics system to drive steady skill gains. We’ll keep building mentor skills, deepen family alignment, and grow participation where interest is strongest. The aim is simple: more students reading with understanding, confident in math, and graduating with a plan that fits their strengths.

How Donors and Sponsors Can Help

• Expand cohorts: fund additional grade levels and partner sites.

• Fuel data & tools: cover platform licenses and diagnostics.

• Sustain mentors: support increased hours and ongoing training.

• Engage families: sponsor meetings and simple take-home resources.

• Grow outreach: amplify recruitment across Tunica, Coahoma, and DeSoto.

Thank You & Invitation

Thank you to the USTA Foundation for investing in the systems that make strong outcomes possible. If you believe every student deserves to read with understanding, grow with confidence, and see real paths to college, career, or entrepreneurship, now is the time to lean in. Sponsor a cohort. Fund diagnostics. Invest in mentors. Help us turn groundwork into graduation stories — and graduation into lifelong opportunity.