The school improved its academic outcomes and earned a B rating from the Louisiana Department of Education, has been recognized for parent satisfaction, safety, and student attendance in the National Heritage Academies (NHA) Eagle Awards, and earned Comeback Campus recognition with students performing at higher levels in reading and math than before the pandemic.
Continuity among the staff has been a point of pride for Jones, she said, adding, there has been a noticeable investment by the community. Jones is an NHA mainstay, starting with her time at Pinnacle Academy in Ohio as a paraprofessional and kindergarten teacher. She also taught first grade at Milwaukee Scholars in Wisconsin before a leadership opportunity as a dean at Willow Charter Academy brought her to Louisiana.
Her favorite part of the day is interacting with students. If the school is closed or on a holiday break, Jones said she hears about it from students who lament any time they are away from their “happy place.” It’s a testament to the family atmosphere cultivated at Advantage.
“This is their safe place for a lot of them,” she said. “I really like to come and be engaged with the students every day.”
Making that impression on students takes time, as Jones knows well. By stressing Moral Focus virtues such as respect and compassion, she and the staff at Advantage have ingrained the importance of making good decisions and doing the right thing in students’ mindset.
“We’ve got a pretty good group,” she said. “Our staff members, they come to work and they know their purpose, they know why they’re here, and they know what we need to do. We always put the students first. We’re here for the students.”
Quick Facts:
- She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron, a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University, and a master’s degree in educational administration from Ursuline College.
- She enjoys attending basketball games and supporting the cheerleaders at Advantage.
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About Advantage Charter Academy
Advantage Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school located in Baker, Louisiana, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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