March 3 Board of Education Instructional Policy and Student Achievement Committee meeting
Covered by Documenter Meagan Rodgers (see her notes here)
A pat on the back is nice, but Akron fifth grader M’Kenzie Young knows that a strong handshake can open doors. Young emerged as the winner of The Amazing Shake competition, a pilot program by Akron Public Schools designed to teach students essential professional skills, including courtesy, respect and confidence.
Modeled after the annual global event at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, The Amazing Shake is a multi-round competition that emphasizes professional etiquette. Students practice skills such as making eye contact, offering a firm handshake, smiling, introducing themselves and engaging in conversation.
Earlier this year, College and Career Academies of Akron (CCAA) introduced the pilot program as part of APS’ initiative to incorporate career-readiness instruction into elementary education. According to CCAA Director Marcie Ebright, interest was immediate, with six schools filling all open slots within minutes of the program’s announcement.
165 students do The Amazing Shake
The competition included 165 fifth graders from Barber, Crouse, I Promise School, Portage Path, Sam Salem, and Voris Community Learning Centers. Over four rounds, students participated in various professional interactions, including one-on-one conversations, teamwork challenges, presentations, business lunches, networking and interviews.
Community volunteers from CCAA partners — including FirstEnergy, the GAR Foundation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Signet Jewelers, United Way of Summit & Medina, and the University of Akron — joined APS staff to engage students in brief discussions. Topics ranged from personal introductions to fun activities for the kids.
“The pilot went extremely well, and we learned a great deal that will help us expand the competition district-wide,” Ebright said about the program’s success.
Program may expand to all fifth graders
Sam Salem Counselor Rashawn McCraney Sr. said the program “definitely lifted the morale amongst our fifth graders, injected them with pride and confidence, and gave everyone in our school a sense of excitement as we helped prepare our scholars for the competition.”
With positive feedback from educators, students and volunteers, CCAA aims to expand The Amazing Shake to all APS fifth graders for the 2025-2026 school year, pending budget approval.
Elizabeth Winter, CCAA’s coordinator of partner engagement, emphasized the program’s collaborative nature.
“The Amazing Shake brings together teachers, administrators and families to provide scholars with instruction, community connections and real-world career exploration,” she said.