Today we’d like to introduce you to Akeem Brown.
Hi Akeem, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Essence Preparatory Public School is a tuition-free public school on the Eastside of San Antonio, opening in August 2022. Essence Prep will scale to kindergarten-8th grade and was created to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of black and brown children.
While there are a handful of charter schools on the Eastside of San Antonio, some of the highest performings have children who do not reside in the community. There is a need for a high-performing school with a proven track record of success with students who live and will ultimately improve the community.
All students deserve a transformative, high-quality school in the neighborhood in which they live.
Essence Preparatory Public School, through rigorous academics, intentional character development, and cultivating student knowledge of self, prepares all kindergarten through eighth-grade students for high school, college, and beyond as leading agents of change in their communities.
● Responsibility: We hold ourselves accountable and to the highest standards of performance in pursuit of success.
● Intellectual Investment: We create a culture of intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and achievement, by celebrating academics and learning.
● Service: We embrace the spirit of selfless service.
● Excellence: Exemplary attention to detail is not optional; it is a requirement for everything we do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Mr. Akeem Brown, our Founding superintendent, submitted the application to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for final approval in January 2021; we were caught in an ongoing debate surrounding CRT. After being caught in the controversial CRT debate, Brown says what kept him and his team motivated were the 360 students and their parents who are relying on Essence Preparatory to open.
“Regardless of this HB3979, we still believe the core pieces of our model will remain true. We want to create a space where Black and brown students will not only be stable but can thrive,” Brown said.
As you know, we’re big fans of Essence Preparatory Public School. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Essence Preparatory Public School, through rigorous academics, intentional character development, and cultivating student knowledge of self, prepares all kindergarten through eighth-grade students for high school, college, and beyond as leading agents of change in their communities.
What separates Essence Prep from other schools is its willingness to “meet students where they are” by embracing their cultures and listening to their needs. That also means providing rigorous academics that challenge students and expecting them to meet those high expectations. Additionally, the school prioritizes relationships with parents and family members because they are partners in students’ education.
Essence Prep students engage in project-based learning, which means they propose solutions for real-world Eastside problems, such as gentrification and the water treatment cycle. Brown said this type of education is important because these students will be the people addressing these problems in the future.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Essence Prep is a belonging space that provides students with the resources, support, and care for students to see themselves as visionaries who solve problems, work hard and create the future. Our student services include free tuition, free transportation, free meals, and a school-based health clinic. These resources are available because of community partnerships and gifts from our amazing supporters.
We welcome community partners to reach out to us to see how they help move this vision forward by emailing us at info@essenceprepsa.org or calling us at 210-997-5636.
Donations are also welcomed here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=Y9EDQ7KMRBNF8
Contact Info:
- Website: essenceprepsa.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EssencePreparatory
Image Credits
Bria Woods Photography
