Investing in Educators
SYF welcomed four new Simon Youth Academies in the 2021-2022 academic year. All four Academies involved new school district partnerships, bringing our total number of school district partners to 29. SYF also expanded into Illinois, which became the 16th state with an SYF Academy. The new Academies and school district partners for the academic 2021-2022 school year are:
- Simon Youth Hope Academy (Indianapolis, IN) – This public charter high school is a tuition-free, safe, sober, and academically challenging option for teens in recovery from substance use disorders. Hope Academy is the second recovery school to be adopted into our network. Hope Academy was created in 2011 and remains one of only seven schools nationwide that are accredited by the National Association of Recovery Schools, and the only recovery school in Indiana.
- Simon Youth Academy at Lawrence Township Schools (Indianapolis, IN) – The adoption of the Lawrence Advance Academy is the product of a new partnership with Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. The Academy is in the school district’s administrative building and serves students who have struggled in a traditional school environment.
- Simon Youth Academy at Richmond High School (Richmond, IN) – The adoption of Richmond’s Alternative High School Program is the product of a new partnership with Richmond Community School Corporation. The Academy is located within Richmond High School and features a service -learning component through its school-based food pantry that serves students as well as the community.
- Simon Youth Springfield Learning Academy (Springfield, IL) – The adoption of the Springfield Learning Academy is the product of a new partnership with Springfield School District 186. Illinois represents the 16th state where SYF has a presence.
The addition of the new Academies increased SYF’s network to 44 Academies, located in 16 states, in partnership with 29 public school districts.
As school leaders focused on the re-opening of schools and returning students to some normality after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to the many benefits of SYF’s partnership has been embraced more than ever before. Even as all philanthropic institutions saw a decline in corporate and individual giving, SYF has been able to maintain its commitments to its school district partners to support students graduating from high school.
SYF’s Annual Educator Conference was scheduled to be offered in-person in Orlando, Florida at Disney World. However, due to a spike in the number of COVID cases before the conference dates, the Conference moved to being offered virtually over the course of the academic year. SYF teachers and administrators were still able to participate in professional development through a number of sessions led by Academy educators and national experts.
In the second half of the academic year, the Foundation was able to return to offering Academy leaders and students with in-person benefits of the partnership. For educators, Academy teachers and administrators resumed participation in The SYF Bader Fellowship program. This program is the result of grant funding from The Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation, which promotes travel and sharing of best practices between Academies. Academy leaders were able to travel from Pennsylvania to visit six Indiana Academies. In turn, an Indiana Academy leader visited the three Academies in Seattle, WA.
For students, the Foundation was able to provide two experiential learning opportunities. The first opportunity was the return of Close-Up experience that is the result of a long established partnership with the Close Up Foundation. The program provides Academy students and teachers with a trip to Washington, D.C. to learn about how our government works, participate in civil discourse, and meet with Congressional representatives from their states.
A grant from the Indiana Department of Education allowed SYF to offer a second trip to our Indiana based Academies. The Civil Rights Journey allowed students and educators from five Indiana Academies to travel to Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, and Selma, AL to meet and talk with individuals who participated in the fight for civil rights throughout the 1960s and tour museums and places of significant importance. Our students were surprised to find that many students not only participated in the fight for Civil Rights but were leaders of the movement through the 60s and beyond.
2021 Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Blanchette
Simon Youth Academy on Cochran (Port Charlotte, FL)
Besides being a 28 year veteran teacher, Jenn has an infectious personality that sets her apart from other high performing teachers. Her nominator said that she is able to connect with our students in a manner that is special. She is the queen of multi-tasking and takes on many roles on our campus. She is a true team player and there is no job too large or small for her to complete if it means helping someone out. What is also special about her is her willingness to learn new things.
In Jenn’s own words:
“I work with some of the most amazing people in this district, so it’s hard to say what distinguishes me from my peers. The one thing that comes to mind that I would say I’ve observed over the past 8 years at the Academy is all of my peers seem to come to me for when they have educational “issues” as well as other things they may have gone on not related to the classroom. As corny as it sounds, I feel like the “mother wolf” for our wolfpack.”
2021 SYF Administrator of the Year: Jasmin Lee
Simon Youth Academy at The Mills at Jersey Gardens
(Elizabeth, NJ)
Jasmin is a passionate educator who cares deeply about the students at our academy. She goes above and beyond to demonstrate her commitment to each individual and fosters a school climate and culture of love and accountability. As assistant leader, she is unerring in the implementation of leadership vision and mission or directives and takes initiative to enhance and maintain our vision. She is committed to her own growth as a professional, and leads the academy with enthusiasm, energy and tough love. She is a pleasure to work with and openly embraces collegiality and team initiatives. Her ability to go above and beyond is unmatched, and undoubtedly makes students and families feel valued. Jasmin’s foundation is in building relationships with all members of the school’s community. She spends countless hours reaching out to students, families, non-profits, local community members, and maintaining the mall partnership in order to help keep students on track.
In Jasmin’s own words:
“The students. They are the reason why I love SYA. My relationship and rapport with students is close to perfect. I would not trade them for the world. Their differences, their struggles, their challenges, their talents, and capabilities are the reason why SYA is such a great school to attend. They make me a better administrator.”
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