1. Celebrating the Success of the Eagle’s Nest Pre-K
The Board heard a fantastic update from Ashlee McDonald about the first year of our Pre-K program at JA Coal Creek Canyon. We launched this program to fill a long-standing need for early childhood education in the canyon, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Currently, 13 children are enrolled, and we are already seeing higher confirmed enrollment for the next school year as word of the program’s success spreads.
The academic and social results are just as encouraging; students are testing at or above average for their level and are building the confidence they need for a seamless transition into Kindergarten. We also want to recognize Ms. McDonald for securing a $1,000 grant from the Jeffco Schools Foundation, which has been instrumental in adding new interactive resources and motor-development tools to the classroom. It is clear that the Eagle’s Nest has become a "bright spot" for our youngest learners and their families.
2. Spotlighting District-Leading Academic Growth
The Board is thrilled to share that Jefferson Academy is celebrating exceptional academic growth across all of our campuses. Based on recent MAP assessment results, JA Coal Creek Canyon PK-8 was one of only six schools in the entire district to achieve high growth in both reading and math. Additionally, JA Elementary and JA Secondary were both named among the top nine schools in the district for high growth in mathematics. This means that one-third of all district schools achieving high growth in math are JA campuses—a truly incredible reflection of the strength of our K-12 program. These honors are a direct result of the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teachers who bring our mission of academic rigor to life every day.
3. SAC Survey Responses
Last month, the board reviewed the SAC Survey results. This month, principals across all five campuses built on that work by reiterating key findings, highlighting areas of opportunity, and outlining their plans for improvement. The Board, administration, and building principals take this input seriously and are committed to using it to strengthen our schools and better serve our students and families.
For example, the Elementary plans to infuse intermediate SEL into all specials, build an FAQ web page, enhance grade-level communication, and expand community gatherings. Secondary will focus on student self-advocacy, teacher accessibility, and classroom motivation. Coal Creek Canyon plans to host new curriculum + technology nights, better clarify enrichment, and utilize the new text and email alert system for more immediate communication. Finally, Summit Westminster plans to increase the number of community events, raise awareness of the board of directors, and polish the course catalog. Summit South is planning for a new location to expand programming and long-term sustainability.
4. Strategic Plan Update
Jefferson Academy Charter Schools is now in year two of its three-year strategic plan, grounded in four pillars: Successful Students, Talented Staff, Financial Fortitude, and a Connected Community. Executive Director Tim Matlick provided an update on year-two progress, noting specific achievements of goals in every category. This progress reflects a shared commitment across the organization and positions JACS well as it looks ahead to the final year of the plan. With 45 goals per year—135 total over three years—the current plan has proven ambitious and at times challenging to track. As the Board begins planning for the next strategic cycle, there is an opportunity to refine this approach by focusing on fewer high-impact, measurable goals to ensure clarity, alignment, and sustained progress.
5. Hiring for JA Secondary Principal
As announced previously, the board is thrilled to have hired Dr. Ann Schultz as our next great Executive Director for JACS. Given that she is currently serving as the Principal for our Secondary campus, we wanted to provide an update on the hiring process for her replacement. In keeping with our established practice, principal hiring is underway, and interviews will commence next week with a hiring committee consisting of administrators, teachers, Board members, and parents. Mr. Matlick and Dr. Shultz are heading up this process and will work as a team to ensure the best outcome and final decision. Backup plans have been discussed should the hiring process need to be pushed back to ensure prime candidates. As always, we sincerely appreciate the feedback we have received from our community and look forward to building on the strong foundation Dr. Shultz has set for our Secondary campus.