Jennifer Walker says her daughter struggled academically and lacked motivation before enrolling at the Nashville public charter school Smithson Craighead Academy.¶
Dr. Ahmed White (Photo by the Rock Academy)¶
Under the leadership of Dr. Ahmed White at the time, Smithson Craighead offered families and students support beyond what they’d see at a traditional public school, including a character education program and a parenting academy. The school achieved Reward school status under Dr. White’s leadership and Walker says her daughter thrived.¶
“The leadership, care, and innovative teaching approaches provided her with a sense of RELEVANCE,” wrote Walker. “At SCA, I always knew that Dr. White and Ms. Sims were serious about my daughter’s success. They created an environment where students had a sense of belonging and relevance.”¶
Walker is among the more than a dozen parents and community leaders who wrote in support of Dr. White’s application to open a new public charter school that’s focused on a specific student population that Metro Nashville Public Schools is struggling to serve. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under a contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.¶
If approved by the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education, the Rock Academy would be Tennessee’s first opportunity charter school. These schools are designed for students who are at-risk because they’ve either dropped out, faced criminal charges, have been retained at least twice, or are more than a year behind academically.
