Where it all began

Southside Academy started out as just an idea adopted by the founders and creators of Peacemakers of Rocky Mount, a Christian community development organization serving the South Rocky Mount community. Over the course of 4 years, the idea of starting their own school came about after several years of successfully leading education programs for the area such as their Summer Freedom School Program, Day Program and After School Program. The idea was to provide another resource to families to have access to quality education at little cost.

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Why the Titans?

"Herman the Titan" is based on the famous hit movie "Remember the Titans" which honors a Rocky Mount native, Coach Herman Boone, and his journey of bringing a team of both white and black football players together during the height of integration. The work that he did to bring about social justice and change for his team at the time, was a huge honor and similar mission to what Peacemakers, and now Southside Academy, wishes to do in a world that is quickly becoming more socially corrupt.

Coach Herman Boone was born in 1935 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he studied at the ‘Abraham Lincoln Elementary School’ and thereafter at the ‘Booker T. Washington High School’. He later received his B.S. and M.A. from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Beginning in 1958, Boone coached football in Nottoway, Va., and moved in 1961 to become head football and basketball coach, biology and physical education teacher, and janitor at E.J. Hayes High School in Williamston, N.C. He led his teams to 13 state championships. This winning record made him a nationally known figure.