Richard Allen Leadership Academy

I have a 9 & 7 year old attending this school. Both started in kindergarten which shows that I am a happy parent with this school. I followed it to its 3rd location. The school has a handful of wonderful teachers that are very attentive and demonstrate genuine concern for the progress of the children. As with many schools it does have problems with offering all of the necessities for the children. This concerns me because it isn’t because of the staff but mainly due to the lack of parent support. This is an all-boys school (African-American) where more staffs are women and is need of a few male leaders. I say this because as an African American single mom I know many other households are made up of just that one female parent. Male figures are needed. If not at home at least at the school. This means that if the help from the school board was given much more in this department as well as many others this school could & would produce a few great leaders. Before I attempt to down rate this school for anything that it lacks or not providing for my children, I first would look at all of those that make up the school. Then I would ask the question. ”Who’s playing their roles”? I myself can do better as a parent at home and with the school. That’s me…but how about you? How about the school board? What about the children themselves? I give praise to the teachers and administrators. Managing a large amount of different characteristics throughout the day could be quite over-whelming, yet they do it. By the way, the principle is female. She has been the principle for 2 yrs now (school year 2014-present)and is trying to build it up to keep it up. Her two children attend the school as well which says a lot to me about her as well as the confidence she has in her school. I’m sure she wants what’s best for her kids as well as I do. I’m sure she had other options. I failed to mention that the school offers activities outside of the regular learnings. When it is available chess, stepping, and others are offered. There are many stay at home parents that can volunteer their time, there are parents who could be a part of ideas to better the school whether enhancing the look, donations, or making phone calls to list concerns, etc. The bottom line is….”What do we want our kids to be, be-like, or be doing and How do they get there”? I support this school and will copy and paste my review everywhere I can. I’ve said enough although I have more.
Parent Takeitha