September 2002 (Newstream) -- The Derrick Thomas Academy Charter Board announced today that it has planned a full schedule of events, featuring civic and community leaders and NFL football players for opening day at Derrick Thomas Academy, a 501-c-3, not-for-profit organization, on Tuesday, September 3, 2002. The school is located at 201 E. Armour, Kansas City, MO 64111.

Derrick Thomas Academy (DTA) is a tuition-free, public charter school that offers families a new choice in public education. Staff and curriculum are provided by Edison Schools, a charter-school corporation. The academy's mission is to offer a world-class education to all its students. It was created in partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC); the Kansas City Chiefs; and the Third and Long Foundation (Derrick Thomas's award-winning literacy program).

The school will open its doors to about 600 kindergarten through fifth-grade students. It will expand to include the sixth through the eighth grades during the next three years.

Beginning at 7:45 AM, Kansas City Chiefs players and other professionals from throughout the US, will greet the first DTA students, on behalf of Derrick Thomas, who died in 2000 of complications from an automobile accident.

Schedule of Events
7:45 am - 8:15 am
Kansas City Chiefs and other NFL players, from throughout the US, will greet students on the first day of school.

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Players will speak to the students in their homerooms. Athletes will tell inspirational stories about Derrick Thomas and speak on the importance of education.

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Special school dedication ceremony-SPECIAL GUEST
Keynote speakers include, Dr. Edward Beasley, nationally recognized Black Historian, from Kansas City.

1:00 - 2:00 pm
VIP luncheon for DTA Board members, state, local and community leaders, NFL players, and school administrators

Diane Cox, Derrick Thomas Academy Board President and director of professional development for the Lee's Summit R-VII School District, said, "We are thrilled to be opening the Derrick Thomas Academy to honor the memory of Derrick Thomas and to offer the children and families of Kansas City a new educational opportunity." She added, "With the participation of inspirational sports figures from across the country, opening day promises to be an exciting one. We have put together a special team on a special mission."

About Derrick Thomas

The Derrick Thomas Academy is named in memory of the late Kansas City Chiefs all-pro linebacker, who was nationally recognized for his community activism and charitable contributions. In 1993, Derrick Thomas was named "NFL Man of the Year," an award recognizing the player who best combines on-field achievement with civic action. President Bush also named him as a "Point of Light," in 1992. He was the only athlete to receive this honor.

About Edison Schools

Edison Schools manages 150 public schools with a total enrollment of approximately 84,000 students. Through contracts with local school districts and public charter school boards, Edison generally assumes educational and operational responsibility for individual schools in return for funding that is comparable to that spent on other public schools in the area. Over the course of three years of intensive research, Edison's team of leading educators and scholars developed an innovative, research-based curriculum and school design. Edison opened its first four schools in August 1995, and has grown rapidly in every subsequent year. For more information, please visit www.edisonschools.com.

Note to the press: Numerous photo opportunities; one-on-one interviews with NFL players, DTA staff and board members, and students, at your request.