Franklin K-8 Academy opened at the start of the school year in Cooper City, but the school celebrated its grand opening Tuesday with a visit from retired tennis legend Andre Agassi.
"Every day's an opportunity to make yourself a day better, a day smarter, a day more responsible," Agassi said.
Agassi has been involved in education since he left the pro tennis tour. On Tuesday, he spoke to classrooms full of students.
It's ironic, he admits, that someone who left formal school in 9th grade to play tennis full-time, is so involved with school issues. He helped start the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund, which has raised $500 million to build schools like Franklin Academy all over the country.
"So much of the research that's being done of late shows that boys learn very differently than girls," said Principal Daniel Sandberg, explaining why the classrooms at Franklin are either all boys, or all girls.
It's the single-gender education model. They also require every student here to learn chess. The theory is playing chess makes kids better thinkers. Franklin has another policy that students and parents love: no homework.
Agassi took a tour and loved what he saw and heard from the kids.
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"Watching these kids with hope in their eyes, watching their spirits, knowing they're being nurtured every day, that whole thing is a joy, it gives me more than I've given it," Agassi said.
To a group of kindergarten boys, the former U.S. Open champION reminded them to work hard in the classroom.
"The best thing you can give a child is a good education because with a good education if you work hard you can do whatever you want,"Agassi explained.
