According to Bob Biehl, author of Mentoring and Executive Mentor,
"Fourth grade is the single most shaping year of a human being's life. You learn values in the 4th grade by watching the adults in your world."
Academy 4 has worked with Title 1 schools for 11 years to provide a connection between the school and the community through mentoring relationships aimed at growing students' skills in leadership. Academy 4 is currently offered at 40 schools across Texas. To make the program successful, over 80 volunteers have been recruited to spend 90 minutes each month with their assigned mentor during Academy 4 Fridays.