Phalen Leadership Academies
Your Partner in Creating Great Schools
- Phalen Leadership Academies
- About Us
About Us
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Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is a transformative leader in education. We work to create great district schools, innovation schools, and public charter schools. PLA provides customized support and tools to improve classroom instruction, maximize student learning, increase teacher retention, and achieve long-term academic improvement.
Quick Facts
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PLA is a nonprofit network of high-quality elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
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PLA serves nearly 10,000 scholars in 21 schools across the country.
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We raise achievement for students in historically underserved communities by providing rigorous, personalized, and well-rounded educational experiences to meet the unique needs of each scholar.
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PLA has transformed seven F-rated schools into A-rated schools.
- PLA is the largest black founded and led school turnaround operator in the country.
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Our schools and our families are supported through wrap-around services such as: free summer programming, free in-school tutoring, free job training programs and support in getting scholars to and through college.
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In our school management, school launch, and school improvement efforts, we partner with our communities and equip school leaders and educators with the tools they need to lead high-quality, high-performing schools.
Our History
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Phalen Leadership Academies was founded in 2013 in honor of George and Veronica Phalen. The organization is centered around the Phalen's core values of: Children First, Respect, Determination, Continuous Improvement, and Gratitude.
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Our Mission Our mission is to ensure that each of our scholars meet high academic and social standards, and thrive as leaders at home, in their communities, and in the world.
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Our Vision Our ultimate goal is that our scholars master key academic skills, and demonstrate strong character as exhibited by: honesty, service to others, a superior work ethic, and a strong vision for and belief in their futures.
Our Partners
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All children deserve a high-quality education, no matter the zip code. PLA partners with school districts, boards, and charter school authorizers to lead school transformation. Together, we make great schools. We have a deep, authentic commitment to many of the most pressing educational challenges. We also have a strong commitment to our students and to our school community. We believe in empowering teachers to lead and creating partnerships that involve all stakeholders.
Great public education is the foundation for social equity and economic resilience. It is our responsibility as leaders to nurture that foundation so that every child has the opportunity to fulfill their tremendous innate potential.
Our Programs
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Summer Advantage is a nationally recognized summer learning program designed to help scholars close the achievement gap and prevent summer learning loss. Summer Advantage, not to be confused with summer school, offers rigorous, research-based academic instruction and a wide variety of hands-on enrichment classes to improve student achievement and continue to transform learning throughout the summer. Participants receive two healthy meals a day, daily recreation, and an exciting environment where they can flourish academically and build confidence as leaders.
In addition, scholars participate in field trips, college campus visits, college prep, and scholar-led community service projects. Through innovative learning experiences, scholars gain confidence that supports their success when they return to school in the fall. This program is free for PLA schools and scholars across the country.
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With many of our children currently years below grade level, the Reading Advantage Program is one of the many key initiatives that will help our scholars realize their potential and be able to use education to change their futures. The goal of this program is to improve reading proficiency by at least 10 percent each year and ultimately beat the district and beat the state. Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Instruction is an evidence-based comprehensive, systematic design for high-quality literacy instruction and a standardized approach to providing tier 2 instruction. At the beginning of the year, every scholar will be assessed using the F&P Benchmark Assessment System (BAS). Scholars are then grouped based on their level. RIs travel throughout the day, working with two groups of scholars in every class they visit for thirty minutes per group.
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A free job training program exclusively for PLA family members age 18 years or older. Created in the wake of the murder of George Floyd to foster self-sufficiency and economic parity, PLA University is among the first career training institutions of its kind as it seeks to improve the outcomes of both PLA scholars and families. The program works to teach families life skills, provides certification training and job placement. Training pathways include: IT Support Professionals, Forklift Operators, Certified Nursing Assistants, Veterinary Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Medical Billers and Coders, or Medical Assistants.
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#WeArePLA
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A charter management organization, a catalyst for school improvement plans, champions for public charter schools & quality public schools, and champions for change.
