Have you met Valerie Groth? She is a committed Chicago educator and community leader whose work is making a meaningful difference for young people across the city. As a teacher and Chicago resident myself, Valerie’s initiative resonates deeply. Chicago is a vibrant, culturally rich city, but persistent community violence has created urgent challenges for families and schools. Protecting our most precious stakeholders—our children—requires bold, practical solutions that address both safety and access to high-quality education.
The statistics are stark: one in five people murdered in Chicago is 18 or younger, and a child is murdered approximately every four days. A child in Chicago is shot about every 17 hours. In 2010 alone, nearly 700 children were shot and 66 of them were killed. These painful realities underscore the obstacles educators face when trying to foster long-term academic success in urban classrooms. Valerie Groth, a Chicago-based speaker, workshop facilitator, podcast host, and former Chicago Public Schools social worker, has dedicated herself to changing that trajectory.
Valerie’s vision is the Ryan Banks Academy (RBA), a public, college-preparatory boarding middle and high school designed to provide students a safe, structured, residential learning environment. While education is not a cure-all for complex social problems, it is a powerful, transformative force when delivered with intention. The Ryan Banks Academy’s residential curriculum aims to give students the academic rigor, social-emotional support, and consistent mentorship they need to thrive in school, in their neighborhoods, and beyond.
Opening a boarding public school in Chicago is an ambitious undertaking and requires steady progress through many stages. A recent milestone brought the project closer to reality: on July 12, 2015, Valerie accepted a $20,000 grant from the WDS Foundation. The grant is part of the foundation’s “Scholarships for Real Life” awards that place resources in the hands of people advancing community, adventure, and service. This funding will support essential next steps for RBA by enabling future fundraising work, encouraging volunteer engagement, and aiding the production of an upcoming Kickstarter campaign. The WDS Foundation also provides mentoring and program support over the year-long grant period.
Although this grant is a significant step forward, Valerie recognizes it as one of many small victories needed to bring the school to full operation. She is committed to leveraging this momentum to raise awareness, build partnerships, and secure the funding required to open RBA’s doors. The academy’s long-term goal is to create a sustainable model that addresses both academic and nonacademic barriers to success for students in Chicago’s most affected communities.
The name Ryan Banks Academy carries a personal and poignant story. Niazi “Ryan” Banks was a happy, curious 12-year-old who loved to laugh and dreamed of a better life despite facing difficult circumstances. On May 19, 2012, Ryan was killed by gunfire. Before his death, Ryan created a vision board and chose hopeful words to guide his life: “to be the world’s greatest, it starts with a single step.” Ryan’s loss reflects the tragic reality many Chicago families confront each year. Beyond the children who are killed or injured by violence, thousands more fall through system gaps—students who lack consistent academic supports, live in unsafe neighborhoods, or carry trauma from unstable home environments. Ryan Banks Academy is designed to serve those young people by offering a strengths-based, whole-child approach to learning and development.
I hope you will share the story of Ryan Banks Academy and follow updates about the Kickstarter campaign and other ways to support this vital work.
ABOUT RYAN BANKS ACADEMY: Founded as a coeducational boarding school in 2014, Ryan Banks Academy aims to impact students’ lives through rigorous college- and career-preparatory academics, a supportive residential program, and intentional personal development. The academy emphasizes a whole-child approach: alongside academics, students receive guidance in social-emotional learning, relationship building, goal setting, and leadership. Educators at RBA encourage students to discover and cultivate their strengths, passions, and interests so they can pursue purpose-filled lives. The curriculum focuses on critical thinking and expanding students’ sense of possibility by challenging comfort zones and presenting real-world opportunities. By taking a strengths-based approach to learning, Ryan Banks Academy seeks to build confidence and nurture the potential in every student to create a meaningful legacy.
ABOUT VALERIE GROTH – MSW, MA, CV ACC: Valerie Groth holds advanced degrees in social work, psychology, and educational leadership. For many years she worked as a school social worker within Chicago Public Schools, collaborating closely with students, families, and community partners. Her professional experience gives her deep insight into the social, emotional, and academic challenges facing Chicago’s youth. With a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Valerie is qualified to serve as a school administrator in Illinois. In addition to leading the Ryan Banks Academy initiative, she maintains a life coaching practice serving clients nationally and internationally, speaks at events, facilitates workshops, and hosts the “Inspiration With Val” podcast. Her combined experience in social work, coaching, and school leadership informs a compassionate, practical approach to building an inclusive, effective boarding school model for urban students.