My EA Story: Bourne Family

Emerald Academy family, John, Christal, Janae, and Jayla Bourne

For the Bourne family, they have been growing alongside Emerald Academy from the very beginning. It’s clear that parents Christal and John proudly acknowledge how Emerald Academy continues to shape their daughters, Janae and Jayla, and they are happy they’ve been here since Emerald Academy’s start. “We’ve seen the school change a lot,” John said, “and it just keeps getting better.”

The Bournes’ first learned about Emerald Academy through a brochure at Janae’s preschool. Christal was not familiar with public charter schools, but she was immediately intrigued by Emerald Academy’s high academic focus. “The academics are what drove us here and made us stay,” Christal said, and she has especially valued the testing and growth-tracking elements. She feels that tracking the growth of scholars throughout the year helps her as a parent see that what her children are learning sticks with them. She says it also helps them push themselves as scholars to do better each time, and she is proud of their progress.

Second grader Jayla chimes in that her favorite thing about coming to school is community circle, a regular celebration of academic and other successes. Janae, now a high school freshman, was part of the first class to have attended Emerald Academy from kindergarten through eighth grade, has an appreciation for the high school and college preparation she has received, even down to the very high expectations set for them as scholars. “It makes me feel like I can really go to my full potential because of the high standards. The encouragement coming from home and from school is really nice.”

Christal agrees that the college prep aspect of the school has been extremely beneficial, especially the college language that is used day-to-day in the school. She feels it gets scholars used to that environment, and in a mindset that they are on the same high level of achievement.

Janae has teachers who instruct in such a way that she “imagines a college professor would teach,” and she really likes that because it gives her an idea of how it will be when she gets there.

John and Christal agree the faculty and staff make them feel important – and heard – as parents when challenges arise, and they know their children are cared for daily.

John is certain his daughters wouldn’t be as successful as they are today without Emerald Academy. Reflecting on the first moment they learned about the school, Christal is glad they took a leap of faith to attend Emerald Academy and never looked back. Both parents agree that the changes they have seen in their daughters are for the better and they are grateful for school’s continued growth and success.