Rap star Pitbull is in the education business, and Betsy DeVos, United States Secretary of Education, visited his SLAM Charter School in Miami. Armando Christian Perez, “Pitbull,” is also known as “Mr. Worldwide.” He founded SLAM in 2013 hoping to create a more engaging education for students in grades 6 through 12 by highlighting careers in sports leadership and management. The school highlights many options in terms of sports-related careers, including, for instance, law, psychology, media, and finance. Even music is affiliated with sports, as Pitbull proved when he, along with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte performed the official theme of the 2014 FIFA World Cup “We Are One (Ole Ola).”
In 2003 his song “Oye” was included on the soundtrack to “2 Fast 2 Furious,” in the wildly successful film franchise. Ten years later another film, “Men in Black 3,” used Pitbull’s “Back in Time” during its end credits. (Director Barry Sonnenfeld allegedly heard his 19-year-old daughter listening to Pitbull’s music and was turned on to it.)
SLAM’S Sports Leadership and Management School has sent students on field trips to the Palm Beach International Film Festival and the local television station WPLG, while members of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins have visited students at the school. The facility boasts a penthouse gym overlooking the Marlin’s dynamic ballpark and downtown Miami, but is located in one of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods – Little Havana – where Pitbull grew up. He is a local product of South Miami Senior High School and Miami Coral Park High School.
SLAM has been featured on television on NBC’s “Today Show” and “Tonight Show,” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”
Pitbull has been criticized for writing and performing lyrics in his hit songs that are considered to be misogynist and harmful to women. Described, in some cases, as pornographic, they songs include the types of themes one might not expect to be tolerated in schools teeming with impressionable young people. His chart-topping song “Timber,” for instance, includes phrases about “bras,” “thongs,” “shaking it,” “booty,” “b------,” and body parts. Nevertheless, SLAM received more than 3,000 applications in its’ very fist year with capacity for 1,000 students.
Pitbull’s appearance with Secretary DeVos is not unprecedented in that he has also described his relationships with United States Senator Marco Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as “priceless.” Rubio and Bush are Miami residents and both ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush, is a charter school advocate who cites the implementation of the model as allowing Florida to improve its education system.
DeVos, a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party, is also a proponent of charter schools.
Pitbull acts as SLAM’s “brand ambassador.”
Rap star Pitbull recently welcomed United States Secretary of Education Betsy Devos to his charter school in Miami, Florida. His SLAM Charter School introduces students to unique career opportunities in the sports industry.
Rap star Pitbull is in the education business and Betsy DeVos United States Secretary of Education visited his SLAM Charter School in Miami Armando Christian Perez Pitbull is also known as Mr. Worldwide He founded SLAM in 2013 hoping to create a more engaging education for students in grades 6 through 12 by highlighting careers in sports leadership and management The school highlights many options in terms of sports-related careers including for instance law psychology media and finance Even music is affiliated with sports as Pitbull proved when he along with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte performed the official theme of the 2014 FIFA World Cup We Are One Ole Ola In 2003 his song Oye was included on the soundtrack to 2 Fast 2 Furious in the wildly successful film franchise Ten years later another film Men in Black 3 used Pitbull’s Back in Time during its end credits Director Barry Sonnenfeld allegedly heard his 19-year-old daughter listening to Pitbull’s music and was turned on to it SLAM’S Sports Leadership and Management School has sent students on field trips to the Palm Beach International Film Festival and the local television station WPLG while members of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins have visited students at the school The facility boasts a penthouse gym overlooking the Marlin’s dynamic ballpark and downtown Miami but is located in one of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods Little Havana where Pitbull grew up He is a local product of South Miami Senior High School and Miami Coral Park High School SLAM has been featured on television on NBC’s Today Show and Tonight Show and ABC’s Good Morning America and Nightline Pitbull has been criticized for writing and performing lyrics in his hit songs that are considered to be misogynist and harmful to women Described in some cases as pornographic they songs include the types of themes one might not expect to be tolerated in schools teeming with impressionable young people His chart-topping song Timber for instance includes phrases about bras thongs shaking it booty b and body parts Nevertheless SLAM received more than 3,000 applications in its’ very fist year with capacity for 1,000 students Pitbull’s appearance with Secretary DeVos is not unprecedented in that he has also described his relationships with United States Senator Marco Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as priceless Rubio and Bush are Miami residents and both ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 Bush the son of former President George H.W. Bush is a charter school advocate who cites the implementation of the model as allowing Florida to improve its education system DeVos a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party is also a proponent of charter schools Pitbull acts as SLAM’s brand ambassador