Leflore Legacy Academy, a charter school, still plans to open in late July or early August and has hired most of its faculty.
Dr. Tamala Boyd Shaw, the head of the school, said the academy is making sure to stay updated on proper procedures to ensure the safety of the 120 sixth graders enrolled. This will be the school’s inaugural year.
“Leflore Legacy Academy will open this fall, either physically, virtually or both,” Shaw said. “As we are continuing to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mississippi Board of Education and the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, we are using that structure as guidance for launching this fall.”
Charter schools, like public schools, receive tax money, but they are run by private nonprofit organizations outside the local school district and State Board of Education.
Leflore Legacy Academy is run by the nonprofit Mississippi Delta Academies and is located at 500 W. Washington St. in a building leased from First Baptist Church.
According to the school’s website, its mission is to “equip and empower middle school students with a rigorous and relevant college preparatory education personalized for success in high school, college and life.”
So far, the academy has hired 15 staff members. This includes teachers in language arts, math, social studies and science and an administrative team as well as educators in more specified subjects, such as a hands-on technology course.
“We have been able to hire our leadership team and hire our founding teachers,” Shaw said. “We are offering a project-based course called ‘Lead the Way,’ and it’s what the name implies. It’s about problem-based instruction, and the route we are going is called ‘Computer Science for Innovators and Makers.’ Our students will have an opportunity to dive into computer science and all it has to offer.”
The academy will hold a virtual parent meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday for those with children enrolled there.
• Contact Adam Bakst at 581-7233 or abakst@gwcommo9nwealth.com. Twitter: @AdamBakst_GWCW
