As seen on InMaricopa.com
By Joyce Hollis
February 25, 2010
Chairman of the board and founder of Leading Edge Academy, Delmer Geesey, told parents they could expect “a safe, wholesome environment” for their children during the new charter school’s information meeting Monday evening at The Duke.
About 50 parents, children and interested community members turned out to hear about Leading Edge Academy, which will share facilities with Community of Hope Church at 19302 N. Porter Rd. when it opens this fall. The school buildings will be set in the ground, totally remodeled and landscaped with a fenced playground. Both the Glennwilde subdivision and neighboring developers have approved the site plans.
Leading Edge has other locations in Queen Creek, Mesa and Gilbert, including one high school in Gilbert. The Maricopa school will initially be for K-6 students, but, according to district schools’ director Ron Body, seventh and eighth grades could be added if “interest is high enough.”
Body called the school “the best of both worlds,” privately managed and publicly funded.
“We can determine what our school wants to be,” he said. Explaining what makes Leading Edge Academy different, Body talked about advanced academics and a success culture. “We believe every child can be successful. We want students who try their hardest, and we’ll do our best for them.”
He added, “We want a school of like-minded values, a school with people looking for what we’re ready to offer.”
The six pillars of character, which include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, will be the basis for the traditional values of the school, applying to both students and teachers.
Leading Edge classes and campuses are small; 235 students make up the largest campus, and classes average 18-19 students district wide. Students wear uniforms, and parental involvement is both encouraged and expected.
Free, full-day kindergarten is offered, as well as early kindergarten enrollment for students who turn five before Dec. 31.
Reading will be the foundation for all class work; other subjects in the research-based curriculum include math, language arts, social studies, science, spelling and art. On Fridays for one hour students can receive religious instruction with parental permission, which will be provided by several local pastors. Student progress is consistently monitored, and those needing intervention or extra help will receive it on a daily basis.
Maricopa resident Mat Reese, who has more than 36 years in education as a teacher, athletic director and administrator, will be the principal at the Maricopa school. Reese has spent the last six years working with charter schools, and is currently at Leading Edge’s Queen Creek academy, where he has been designated a Reading First principal.
For further information on enrollment or teaching positions, contact Jim Rives at Jim@JimRives.com or by phone at 520-568-6442. Information on all Leading Edge schools is available at www.leadingedgeacademy.com, and enrollment can be done online.
