History is replete with pioneers, visionaries, and in the broad sense, people not conformed to systems regarded as rigid or inflexible. Protest or non-acceptance can take the most varied forms or attitudes. In the case of Augustus, a professor of mathematics and computer science in grades 5 to 9, his alternative route led him to create the Mentes Brilhantes academy, in São João da Madeira, at Rua Visconde, 2474, as a means of impelling academic support to other realities that were against what he considered to be the more correct teaching methods.

The academy was born in 2007 and in the first three years, developed two projects: training and school support. Through the evolution of the establishment, however, it would become obvious that the best use was ​​school support, in which they decided to focus, obtaining to date, great results. The area of ​​action of Mentes Brilhantes is, moreover, very broad: support is guaranteed from 5th year to college, with many students taking the total course accompanied by these teaching professionals. In fact, it is quite common for Mentes Brilhantes alumni to maintain some contact after school, thus ensuring precious feedback to possibly improve future aspects of the academy. When it comes to school support, it often refers mentally to situations of need or urgency, but in Mentes Brilhantes, a large number of young people are enrolled to ensure quality support that allows them to achieve remarkable results: only ‘survival’ results.
It is not uncommon to see averages of nineteen and eighteen. In order to recognize the effort and motivate the student, the school offers a discount on the monthly tuition, which is much appreciated by parents and even by the students themselves, who can not help but feel proud to see their goals achieved.

The scope of this second school is very impressive, however, it is perfectly capable of answering the many enrolled students: it has twenty classrooms, equipped according to the needs of each discipline and with an extremely professional staff of sixteen, that end up functioning as a small family. The building where this academy is located, former medical center, is fully occupied by floors dedicated to the various stages of student life: 1st cycle, 5th to 9th, secondary and university, with the largest volume of work on teaching basic and secondary. The first cycle, which was not part of the initial strategy of the establishment, was even requested by the parents, through the excellent results achieved in the other areas.

This academy is also developing a mobile application that allows parents to consult any academic aspect of their children: tests, attendance, calendar and others. A great technological advance, no doubt. Despite this, not all advances were accepted: the attempt to have tablets for students and teachers turned out to be impractical, not for financial reasons, but for ergonomic reasons and habit. According to Augustus, learning is simply not the same without the aspect of risk and scribble.

The results of the Mentes Brilhantes academy speak for themselves, but we can not avoid being impressed by the space and dedication of the staff. An unequivocal success story that began with three people and promises to accompany the people of São João da Madeira in the fullness of their academic career.