Students and parents continue to be the focal point as Aspire Public Schools opensits first school outside of California in Memphis on Monday, August 5, 2103. Students will receive the star treatment as they enter Hanley Elementary School on a red carpet flanked with balloon arches as they start the school year.
The official start of school is Monday, however, parents may still register their students for school. All students who register at Hanley will receive a free uniform shirt.
“This is our inaugural school year in Memphis,” said James Willcox, Chief Executive Officer, Aspire Public Schools. “Our team has been planning for this day for over a year and is excited about bringing our educational model to the students here in Memphis.”
Hanley Elementary is the first school assigned to the national charter management organization as a part of the Achievement School District. “What is unique about Aspire is our co-principal structure that allows our teachers to receive more support from the principal,” said Allison Leslie, Executive Director Memphis, Aspire Public Schools. The principals are Nikita Reed from Memphis and Barbara Harris, from Aspire Public Schools in Los Angeles.
Each principal will be responsible for leading their team of kindergarten through 5th grade classes. The students will begin every day with a motivating morning assembly led by the principals.
“Our focus is preparing students for college,” said Harris. “We will determine our students’ greatest needs and tailor the curriculum to ensure they receive a quality education that will result in their success.”
As a native Memphian and former assistant principal at Hanley, Reed is optimistic about the new school year and what opportunities are ahead for the students. “I decided to work for Aspire because it gave me a chance to return to Orange Mound and serve the students and families here,” said Reed. “Being able to return as a principal and enhance the students’ education played a big role in my decision to join Aspire. I anticipate greatness this school year.”
In addition to serving students in grades K-5, the Hanley campus will also house two Pre-K classrooms under the leadership of Porter-Leath.
About Aspire Public Schools
Aspire Public Schools is a national nonprofit organization that currently operates 37 high-performing, public charter schools serving 13,000 students in underserved communities across California and in Tennessee. Aspire is one of the highest-performing public school systems in California, delivering a rigorous ‘College for Certain’ education to students in grades K-12. An unrelenting focus on college preparedness led to 100 percent of graduating Aspire seniors being accepted to four year colleges or universities in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Aspire offers a high-quality education in six cities throughout California: Los Angeles, Oakland, Stockton, Sacramento, Modesto and East Palo Alto and one school in Memphis, Tennessee. Visit Aspire Public Schools at www.aspirepublicschools.org.