CREATING OUR
OWN LIVES.

COOL ACADEMY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization rooted in the conviction that people deserve the knowledge, preparation and opportunity to shape their own futures.

Why the Academy exists

The distance between talent and readiness matters.

There is often a gap between learning a skill and being ready to use it professionally. People can become talented without understanding the rights, relationships, responsibilities and decisions that will shape their careers.

COOL ACADEMY connects education with professional practice. Its philosophy places craft alongside ownership, judgment and sustainable participation in the world. It also asks experienced people to return what they have learned so that others can begin with more.

Founded by Romar Bennett, Chairman.

Our philosophy

LEARN. PRACTICE. BUILD.
LAUNCH. RETURN.

Learn the foundations. Practice with guidance. Build complete work. Understand how to bring it into the world. Return knowledge and opportunity to the people who follow.

School of the Arts

The first active expression of the Academy.

The School of the Arts is the Academy’s first actively developing School. Its professional foundation is being shaped with the Founding Fellows, whose experience spans creative producing, composition, supervision, rights, songwriting, production, audio post, artist development and digital media.

The School is developing an approach to education that brings professional standards and real creative questions into learning.

Explore the School

Next School

In development

School of Health & Human Services

COOL ACADEMY is developing its next School. Public details will be introduced as the academic and operating model is ready to present.

View coming-soon page

Academy-wide Division

In development

Division of Education & Learning

COOL ACADEMY is developing an Academy-wide division focused on educational standards, curriculum, educator development and future learning models. Public details will be introduced as the structure is ready to present.

View coming-soon page

Founding principles

Whole-career formation.

Preparation before access. Professional readiness. Ownership and rights literacy. Fair treatment. Learning through supervised practice. Returning knowledge to future generations.

The Academy’s institutional work will expand as it develops the people, resources and structure to serve additional educational needs. Future Schools are identified as in development until their academic and operating models are ready to present.

Leadership

Leadership rooted in service.

COOL ACADEMY was founded on the belief that education should create meaningful pathways to knowledge, professional opportunity, and lasting independence. That vision is strengthened by leadership grounded in a deep understanding of individuals, families, and communities.

Institutional stewardship

Vice Chair
COOL ACADEMY

Rev. Sylvia L. Bennett

Ministry · Social Services · Community Leadership

An ordained minister with more than 20 years of experience in social services, Rev. Sylvia L. Bennett brings a longstanding commitment to personal development, community advocacy, and service to COOL ACADEMY.

Her professional background spans social work, training, and community-centered initiatives. She founded Project Female, a life-coaching initiative, and has authored children’s literature. In 2022, she was a candidate for the Georgia State Senate in District 32, extending her commitment to community service into civic leadership.

Her perspective helps ground COOL ACADEMY’s educational philosophy in a fundamental principle: preparing people for opportunity begins with understanding the whole person.