Washington Business Journal Profiles Akin Gump/John Tyler Elementary School Partnership

Washington Business Journal has profiled the longstanding partnership between Akin Gump and the John Tyler Elementary School. For more than two decades, the firm has supported the school through its nonprofit Akin Gump School Partnership Project “with an effort to provide academic enrichment programs and boost test scores.”

The article reports on the success of the program, noting that test scores at the school rose last year—a change that Tyler’s principal attributes in part “to the tutoring support in reading and math provided by the law firm throughout the year.” The partnership also helps fund scholarships for summer activities, funds transportation for field trips and sponsors special events. In addition, Akin Gump volunteers have worked to improve the school’s facilities by funding a library renovation, building an outdoor classroom and providing sound equipment for the school’s yearly musicals.

Partner Charlie Johnson oversees the partnership with the school, while also coordinating with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee on its education-related efforts. According to the article, that includes using Tyler as a pilot site for the committee’s Parent Empowerment Program, encouraging parent participation in academic enrichment efforts.

For its work with the school, the Business Journal selected Akin Gump as a winner of its Corporate Philanthropy Award. (Click here to read more.)