Courtesy of The 74 Million
https://www.the74million.org/
Transcript
Jessica Nauiokas, the founding principal of Mott Haven Academy Charter School, discusses the school’s mission to serve children in the child welfare system. Two-thirds of the students are either in foster care or receiving prevention services. The school’s design emphasizes stability and support, with a predictable environment and comprehensive social and emotional care. Established in 2008 by the New York Foundling, the school became a charter to provide continuity for students across New York City. Charter status allowed for creative solutions like transportation, longer school days, and robust interventions. Nauiokas advises new charter leaders to focus on creating a nurturing environment to support academic success.
Action Items
- [ ] Continue to develop the academic program to ensure it meets the highest quality standards across the country.
- [ ] Maintain the commitment of the Mott Haven Academy board to achieving academic excellence.
- [ ] Ensure that the learning culture at Mott Haven Academy continues to nurture and support the students.
Outline
Founding and Purpose of Mott Haven Academy
- Jessica Nauiokas introduces themselves as the founding principal of Mott Haven Academy Charter School, which serves children in the child welfare system.
- The school was designed to provide a stable educational environment for children in foster care or receiving prevention services.
- The curriculum, social-emotional supports, and staffing plan are tailored to meet the unique needs of these children.
- Over eight years, the school has created a supportive environment where students feel comfortable and make healthy attachments.
Initial Idea and Support
- Mott Haven Academy was founded in 2008 by the executive director of the New York Foundling, Bill Baccalini, who recognized the underserved needs of children in the child welfare system.
- The founding team, including Speaker 1, developed the plans for the school with support from various child welfare agencies, particularly the New York Foundling.
- Becoming a charter school was essential to serve children across the five boroughs without disrupting their educational stability.
- The charter model allowed for flexibility in offering transportation, longer school days, and robust intervention programs.
Challenges and Solutions
- Charter schools can serve children in any borough, preventing the need for students to repeatedly enroll in new schools due to changes in their home address.
- The charter model enabled the school to provide a stable educational experience from early childhood to high school.
- The school offers creative staffing solutions, longer school days, and a robust set of interventions to support students.
- Jessica Nauiokas emphasizes the importance of creating a nurturing environment to unlock academic potential and overcome barriers to learning.
Future Goals and Advice
- Jessica Nauiokas acknowledges that while significant progress has been made, there is still work to be done to meet high academic standards.
- The school’s commitment to excellence is driven by the team and the Haven Academy board.
- Jessica Nauiokas advises new charter school leaders to focus on creating a supportive learning culture to fulfill academic promises.
- The goal is to ensure that every student at Haven Academy receives a high-quality education that supports their academic and emotional needs.
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