Dear Parents and Students:

Welcome and thank you for visiting St. HOPE Leadership Academy's Website.

On January 15th, 2008, on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, the New York State Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve the charter school application for St. HOPE Leadership Academy.

The school, which will open with 150 students in grades 5, 6, and 7, is scheduled to be located in the central Harlem community of New York City. The school's approval officially signals St. HOPE's expansion of its educational model to New York City!

Almost two years ago, a group of approximately 300 parents asked St. HOPE to bring its educational model to the Harlem community. After spending a year studying the feasability of replicating its educational model, St. HOPE staff worked for 8 months writing a detailed charter school application, which was subsequently approved by the New York State Department of Education and the New York State Education Department.

As the founding principal, I am now charged with ensuring that the key components are in place for the first day of school - August 13th, 2008. This includes refining the curriculum and assessment systems, hiring a talented and committed staff, and enrolling students to fill the school's 150 seats. The following months will be busy, but I am fueled by my passion for, and commitment to, providing a high quality educational option for the children of Harlem.

Should you require any information about the school, please feel free to contact me at the information included below.

Thank you,

Ventura Rodriguez
Founding Principal
vrodriguez@sthope.org
916-275-9601