We are proud to celebrate a major milestone for two of our students at New Academy Charter School!
Congratulations to Ava R. and Lexus S., who have successfully completed their coursework and officially earned their diplomas. Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance were honored during a special graduation ceremony attended by fellow students, staff, and their families.
Moments like these are powerful. Seeing peers achieve their goals helps inspire others and reminds our students that anything is possible with commitment, determination, and hard work. We couldn’t be more proud of Ava and Lexus and are excited to see what the future holds for them! 
A huge thank-you to Rachel Hienz from the IBEW Local 5 for joining our students as part of our Speaker Series!
Rachel shared valuable insight into the electrical trade, explaining how becoming an electrician offers a high-demand, stable career doing essential work that can’t be outsourced. Students also learned how electricians help power the homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses that serve our communities.
She emphasized the benefits of the IBEW program, including earning while you learn through paid apprenticeships, avoiding college debt, and working toward strong earning potential. Rachel also highlighted the value of hands-on learning, teamwork, and building real-world skills students can use every day.
Most importantly, students learned about the clear career pathway the IBEW offers—from apprenticeship to journeyman, master electrician, and beyond.
Thank you, Rachel, for helping our students explore a career path that offers purpose, growth, and financial independence!
A huge thank-you to Patrice Bailey from Empire Beauty School for joining our students as part of our “Speaker Series”!
Patrice shared her inspiring perspective on the beauty industry—showing that success doesn’t mean fitting into one box, and that beauty careers are about creativity, confidence, and connecting with people. She emphasized that beauty school is more than just hair or makeup—it’s about building real-life skills like communication, time management, professional behavior, and self-confidence.
She also highlighted why beauty school can be a smart choice: shorter training times than many traditional colleges, hands-on skills you can use right away, and the opportunity to start working in a career you can be proud of sooner.
Thank you, Patrice, for empowering our students to embrace their creativity, build confidence, and explore careers that let them shine!
Chief Gilchrist shared her incredible journey—overcoming challenges, breaking barriers, and leading with courage in a field where women and African Americans have long been underrepresented. As the first woman and first African American to serve as EMS Chief, her message about finding your voice, pushing past limitations, and embracing your strengths truly resonated with our students.
She also spoke about moral courage, professionalism, resilience, and the importance of technique, endurance, and mental toughness. Her challenge to our students to be the “first,” change the narrative, and pursue careers that make an impact was truly inspiring.
Thank you, Chief Gilchrist, for your leadership, honesty, and commitment to empowering young people. You’ve shown our students what’s possible!
Yesterday’s annual Turkey Bowl was a great kick-off to the holiday weekend! So much for our students and faculty to be thankful for!!
New Academy Charter School students recently shared what kindness means to them. Among all of the thoughtful responses, Kady G. captured it perfectly.
Please call or email for additional information to Gina Samosky, Corporate Communications Coordinator