National Heritage Academies Recognized for Progressive Human Resource Practices

Public Charter School Network One of Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation®

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 14, 2020 — Emphasizing the importance of taking care of their employees led National Heritage Academies (NHA), a Michigan-based public charter school network, to be recognized as one of 540 winning companies out of 5,000 nominations across the country as a 2019 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation® Award.
 
This national program, presented throughout the U.S. by the National Association for Business Resources, celebrates companies that are making better business, creating richer lives, and building a stronger community as a whole.
 
To be selected to receive the award, companies are evaluated by an independent research firm based on key measures in categories including compensation, benefits, and employee solutions; employee enrichment, engagement, and retention; and employee education and development, among other categories.
 
“Our people are our most valuable resource. Staying true to our core values and taking care of our employees is paramount to our success as a company,” said Thea Reigler, NHA chief people officer. “It’s an honor to be recognized nationally for what we do at NHA to make this a great place to work, and I look forward to all that our team members will continue to accomplish.”
 
NHA was recognized for its recruitment and onboarding practices, recognition of employee achievements, and the education and development of its team members – each aspect highlighting the intentionality behind NHA’s focus on creating an engaged workforce.
 
“At NHA, we care about our staff, and we want to empower them to live healthy and productive lives and to be successful at work and home,” said Courtney Samuels, director of people services.
 
This award not only honors organizations as Best and Brightest Companies to Work For but also celebrates achievement and success in empowering employees’ lives through rich heritage and culture.
 
One of the many things that sets NHA apart is the focus on offering employees flexible scheduling. Achieving the perfect blend of work and home life is often challenging, so NHA has created a multitude of initiatives and benefits that make flexibility a reality for staff.
 
“We work hard every day to empower our staff to make NHA a great place to work,” shared David Wiltjer, director of talent solutions at NHA. “We provide our staff with the technology they need to have remote possibilities and flexible schedules, and it is options like these that add to the many ways that NHA strives to be a great place to work.”
 
Feedback is another key focus at NHA. All NHA schools utilize a distributed leadership model, referred to as the dean model, which reduces the number of teachers reporting to each instructional leader. The focus of our dean role aims to strengthen academic performance through individualized coaching and development.
 
At the Service Center (SC), NHA’s corporate headquarters, there are several departments dedicated to the development of school leaders, teachers, special education staff, and SC leaders and staff. The goal is to provide the right learning opportunities to the right staff audience at the right time in their career journey.
   
About National Heritage Academies:
National Heritage Academies is a network of 89 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 60,000 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
 
About the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®:
A national program that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase best practices, and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This program celebrates companies that are making better business, creating richer lives, and building a stronger community.