In the spring of 2012, Joy Schwartz said “yes” to an invitation that would shape her life for years to come. She was asked to lead a Cooking Club at Daggett Elementary in Fort Worth, part of a new program taking shape between St. Paul Lutheran Church and the school. For a former teacher who enjoyed being in the kitchen, it felt like a natural fit. “I loved it from the very beginning,” Joy recalls.

That new program was Academy 4. Building on St. Paul’s experience mentoring students at Daggett through Kids Hope USA, church members worked alongside Daggett teachers and administrators to develop a model centered on fourth graders—a pivotal age in a child’s development—with a more manageable commitment for volunteers. The goal was simple: connect every student with a caring adult mentor and a positive, consistent relationship.

As Academy 4 began to grow, so did Joy’s involvement. In 2013, she became St. Paul’s Site Coordinator at Daggett, a role she serves in again today.

“We didn’t know then what we know now, which is that the Lord had big plans for impacting thousands of lives through Academy 4,” Joy said.

Those plans would reach far beyond Daggett. Today, Academy 4 serves fourth graders in more than 60 economically disadvantaged elementary schools across Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Wichita Falls and Memphis, Tennessee.

The Power of 90 Minutes

While much has changed since those early days at Daggett, the ministry’s mission remains the same: Changing lives through relationships.

That mission takes shape in just 90 minutes. Mentors meet with a fourth grader one Friday each month during the school year. Academy 4 provides the curriculum, training and activities so volunteers can focus on what matters most—being present, encouraging a child and building a relationship.

This year, approximately 95 fourth graders at Daggett need mentors, with St. Paul members historically filling about half of those roles. “It’s amazing what you can do once a month,” Joy said. “Those 90 minutes are so intentional, and the kids look forward to it.”

The impact can extend far beyond fourth grade. “Witnessing our Academy 4 students return as juniors and seniors to mentor at their former schools—and even seeing some now return as college students and young adults—has been incredibly moving,” Joy said.

For St. Paul, these relationships are an expression of one of our core values: Authentic Community —we reflect God’s image when we engage in life with one another. Through Academy 4, mentors live out that value as they love their neighbors and serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the community.

“Academy 4 has taught me about the incredible power of relationships, for which we know God created us—to love Him by serving and loving one another,” Joy said.

Joy sees that connection come to life with each new group of students. “My very favorite moment every year is watching every student walk in and look for their name and meet their mentor for the very first time,” she said. “There are so many layers of relationships that are born and nurtured through Academy 4, and it is beautiful.”

Looking back on that first “yes,” Joy is grateful for where it has led. “Being a part of Academy 4 has been one of the most cherished blessings of my life.”

A Partnership That Reaches Beyond Fourth Grade

Academy 4 is just one part of St. Paul’s broader partnership with Daggett Elementary. Members also serve students and families through Third-Grade Reading Buddies, 4Families, Moms & Mugs and All Pro Dads. Together, these ministries allow St. Paul to walk alongside the Daggett community in a variety of ways, building connections that extend beyond any one program or event.

Ready to be part of it? Click the button below to get involved.