CHARYL STOCKWELL ACADEMY Celebrating Innovation, Choice and Character Celebrating Innovation, Choice and Character Charyl Stockwell Academy District Celebrates its 20 th Anniversary Former three-term Michigan Governor John Engler to host CSA District s 20 th Anniversary Celebration at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy. Former Michigan Governor John Engler will appear as the keynote speaker and featured guest at the commemoration event of Charyl Stockwell Academy s 20 th anniversary celebration year. The academy event will be held at Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy on Thursday, April 27 at 1:00 PM. The Charyl Stockwell Academy is a great school for kids, Engler says. Teachers work closely with parents and guardians, stress academic performance, and they provide the support students need to succeed. As one of Michigan s pioneering charter schools, CSA is still leading the way
in education. I wish every child could have an education like the students at Charyl Stockwell Academy. Gov. Engler launched the public school academy or charter school movement when he served as our governor during the 1990s. This movement has flourished during the past two decades, including the addition of many high school level grades in charter schools such as CSPA. Gov. Engler is one of just two governors in Michigan to serve three terms, a significant achievement. He always believed in choice in education and paved the way for the establishment for what is now the K-12 Charyl Stockwell Academy District. This followed an already distinguished career in public service. He served 20 years in the Michigan Legislature, including seven years as state Senate Majority Leader. In 1970, Engler was the youngest person ever elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives. In 1990, he became the first sitting legislator elected Michigan governor in more than 100 years. Gov. Engler has been plenty busy, and equally effective, since leaving office in Michigan. Until February, 2017, he served as president of the Business Roundtable (BRT), an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. corporations that produce $7.4 trillion in annual revenues and employ more than 16 million people, according to BRT s website. This biography goes on to say that Engler assumed leadership of Business Roundtable in January 2011 after serving six years as president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. As BRT president, Engler brings CEO expertise and insights to bear on major challenges facing the United States, including global competitiveness, innovation, economic growth and job creation. BRT-member CEOs lead global companies that invest $158 billion annually in research and development equal to 62 percent of private U.S. R&D spending. We are delighted and grateful that Gov. Engler will lead our 20 th anniversary signature event. Gov. Engler will answer questions from the media after the close of the commemoration event. Included below are congratulatory comments from Michigan public officials; a CSA District Timeline; several photographs and a list of cutlines for them. For interviews with the Stockwells and other CSA District faculty and staff, or for any other information, please contact Betsy Krupansky, at 810-632-4778, or via email at bkrupansky@charterschoolpartners.com
Background: Throughout this 2016-2017 academic year, Charyl Stockwell Academy (CSA) District has been celebrating its 20 th anniversary as one of Michigan s original public academies. The culmination of these festivities will take place on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy, 1032 Karl Greimel Drive in Brighton, Michigan. With the special theme of Celebrating Innovation, Choice and Character, activities throughout the year took place for students, staff, families, stakeholders and special guests. The CSA District also is receiving a special legislative tribute this year, sponsored by Michigan Representatives Hank Vaupel and Lana Theis. We are proud to have Charyl Stockwell Academy in our district. It has proven to be an excellent educational option for the students and parents in our community, Vaupel said. Established in 1996 in Hartland, Michigan, Charyl Stockwell Academy has been a prototype for school choice. Since its founding, the school has grown into the K-12 Charyl Stockwell Academy District. The CSA District now includes its middle and high school, the Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy (CSPA), campus in Brighton. We are very proud of the support of our parents and teachers who are responsible for this significant accomplishment, this milestone, said Chuck Stockwell, Founder of CSA. Twenty years of dedicated CSA stakeholders have worked together to create and arrive at educational excellence, said Shelley Stockwell, who serves as CSA District Executive Director. I feel so privileged to have been a part of this wonderful journey, and I look forward to continued achievement and success. Public academies, often referred to as charter schools, debuted and flourished in Michigan during Gov. John Engler s administration in the 1990s. Today, 155,000 students are attending 300 public school academies in Michigan. Achievement thus far has been impressive. Some examples include: CSA was the recipient of multi-year, $1 million grant to develop a unique character education program and another multi-year grant to disseminate and research the program. CSPA High School has been certified as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. CSA District offers an Academically Gifted (AG) program. The District has a full array of sports teams and now is part of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Class D. CSA District offers a comprehensive performing arts program. The District has a high-performing, award winning FIRST Robotics team. CSPA graduates now attend Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Hope College, University of Notre Dame, Baylor, Lawrence Tech, Kettering Institute, California Polytech State University, Georgia Tech, the United States Military Academy at West Point among other schools and institutions.
But for all of its achievements, CSA District remains a family, says CSPA Principal Steven Beyer. That s why the celebration anniversary began with a family picnic in August. This picnic launching our 20 th anniversary celebration was a true family event, Beyer said. Our staff loves CSA because engrained in our culture is family. So it made sense that our first event celebrating our 20 years was to bring our staff and their families together. It has been a long, fruitful journey for what is now the CSA District. After receiving its Charter Contract from Central Michigan University, the school opened its doors to 296 elementary school students and 14 teachers for the first time on September 11, 1996. Today, it serves more than 1,075 K-12 students and employs 103 staff, including 50 teachers, on its two campuses. Originally named the Livingston Developmental Academy, the school in the fall of 2001 was renamed Charyl Stockwell Academy in honor of Stockwell s daughter who attended and graduated from the school shortly before losing a long battle with brain cancer. The Board of Directors recommended the name change because of Charyl s inspiration and enthusiastic advocacy for the academy. From the beginning, the school s curriculum has focused on the whole child, addressing character as well as education. CSA District s mission statement sums up this philosophy: The overall mission of Charyl Stockwell Academy is to provide a safe, enriching place for children to grow through adolescence, while providing those children with specific leaning activities that will allow each of them to meet and exceed the academic standards set by the state and federal governments. Yearly themes reflect this mission. A few examples are: Know Yourself, Like Yourself, Be Yourself; The Path To Happiness Is Getting Along With Others; Care Gives Us Courage; Love Lets Us Learn. CSA District looks forward to future anniversaries as it celebrates its 20 years.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERS Congratulations on 20 years of excellence in education. The Charyl Stockwell Academy is an outstanding example of the chartering idea -- formed as a partnership where educators, parents and a community work together to put students first. A public school like this was only a dream in 1996. You worked with parents, educators and civic leaders and you ve created one of Michigan s finest public schools Dan Quisenberry President, the Michigan Association of Public School Academies One of the more pleasurable aspects of my job is recognizing outstanding institutions in our community on their achievements. With that, I would like to congratulate Charyl Stockwell Academy District on its 20 th anniversary. You should be proud of this exciting milestone. For the last two decades, Charyl Stockwell Academy has stood as a shining example of an exceptional academic environment that puts the good of the students first and foremost. As the third oldest charter school in Michigan, it has established a reputation for providing a prestigious curriculum and facilitating an atmosphere that cultivates the character and imagination of its students. This school has provided a critically needed service to our community, and has accomplished this in a manner that demonstrates the academy s firm commitment to putting the family at the center of every child s education. U.S. Representative Michael D. Bishop A heartfelt congratulations to the Charyl Stockwell Academy District on celebrating its 20 th Anniversary. CSA has done so many great things for our community and has excelled in its education to our children. Congratulations again, and I wish it many more years of success. Michigan Senator Joe Hune Students come first at Charyl Stockwell Academy. From the teachers to administration, everyone involved is committed to providing students with the tools to excel in college, career and life. CSA s unique approach to education has been transformational for their community and their students. Central Michigan University is a proud partner of CSA and we would like to congratulate them on 20 years of excellence. Cindy Schumacher, Executive Director The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University
TIMELINE, CHARYL STOCKWELL ACADEMY DISTRICT Aug. 7, 1996: Charter Contract from Central Michigan University Awarded; charter has subsequently been awarded. Sept. 3, 1996: Livingston Developmental Academy Opens at 9758 E. Highland Road, Hartland, Michigan. 1997-1998 School Year: First annual Beluga Ball fundraiser; it has been held every year since. June 2001: Resolution passed to change the name of the school to Charyl Stockwell Academy 2001-2002 School Year: CSA designated a William Glasser Quality School 2003-2004 School Year: Academically Gifted Program begins; Middle School Building opens 2005-2006 School Year: Major renovation and Gymnasium added to CSA Building in Howell. 2006 2007 School Year: CSA Education Foundation is incorporated. Middle School boys and girls basketball teams and cheerleading begin. 2007-2008 School Year: CSA Parent Council is incorporated; Middle School boys junior and varsity basketball; middle school girls varsity basketball, middle school girls cheer and 5 th grade basketball begin. CSA District enters the Mid-Michigan Independent Athletic Association. 2008-2009 School Year: High School is established; 9 th grade is added; first CSA Education Foundation Golf Outing is held. High School cross country, boys varsity basketball and girls cheer are added. 2009-2010 School Year: 10 th grade added; Middle School cross country and soccer teams are added. S&S Athletic Boosters is incorporated. 2010-2011 School Year: The Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy (CSPA) opens at 1032 Karl Greimel Dr., Brighton, Mich. 11 th grade is added; National Honor Society begins; JV girls basketball begins. 2011-2012 School Year: 12 th grade is added. First class, with 23 students, graduates; CSA designated Michigan Department of Education Reward School. Junior National Honor Society begins in Middle school. Middle School golf and High School boys golf and JV baseball begin.
2012-2013: Second class of 22 students graduates; first prom is held; CSA/CSPA receive CMU School of Excellence and Michigan Department of Education Reward School. 2013-2014: Third class of 31 graduates. First musical, Music Man, is performed. 2014-2015: Fourth class of 24 graduates. CSA District enters the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Class D. 2015-2016: International Baccalaureate program application process commences at CSPA. 2016-2017: CSA District celebrates its 20 th anniversary. CSPA high school certified as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. CUTLINES FOR ATTACHED PHOTOS FROM PRESS PACKET FOR CSA 20 th ANNIVERSARY 1. Charyl Stockwell Academy Elementary School 2. Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy Secondary School 3. Class of 2012, first graduating class of CSPA High School 4. From left to right: Scott Goldman, Grammy Foundation Vice President; U.S. Representative Mike Bishop; legendary singer Smokey Robinson; CSPA student Landon Brien; CSPA Music Teacher Jessica Perry. 5. Cast photo from the CSPA 2014 production of Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. 6. In Spring, 2013, CMU designated CSA and CSPA as Schools of Excellence and awarded a grant of $60,000. 7a. CSPA Baseball 7b. CSPA Boys Basketball 7c. CSPA Girls Basketball 7d. CSPA Cross Country 7e. CSPA Varsity Girls Volleyball team 2 nd place win at the Webberville Spartan Volleyball Invitational, 2016. 8. Chuck and Shelley Stockwell