eStem Public Charter Schools recently received approval from the State Board of Education to establish the eStem High School Freshman Academy, which will relocate ninth grade from the eStem Junior High to the high school program. Following this approval, Dr. Tiffany Gibson has been appointed executive administrator for the Freshman Academy, set to be housed at the former East Village Junior High campus.
“Ninth grade is a pivotal year in a student’s story as it marks the beginning of their high school career,” said Mark Milhollen, interim CEO of eStem PCS. “This will allow us to implement innovative opportunities and provide early exposure to college, career and CTE pathways for these students as they prepare for high school.”
The restructuring will result in several changes to student locations:
- Both elementary schools will remain as they are.
- Grades 10-12 will stay at the High School at UA-Little Rock.
- The Downtown Junior High campus will serve all seventh and eighth graders.
- East Village Junior High (grades 7-8) will move to the downtown location.
- The Freshman Academy will open at the former East Village Junior High location.
Dr. Gibson, who started her career as a high school English teacher and progressed to a Literacy Interventionist/Coach and Assistant Principal at eStem High School, will lead the new academy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a master’s degree in Reading from Arkansas State University, and an Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
“I am honored to lead this important initiative,” said Dr. Gibson. “I am certain that this new alignment of schools will allow eStem to focus on the unique needs of its students at critical points in their lives and improve academic achievement and student success.”
For more information on eStem Public Charter Schools, click here.
Feature Photo: Dr. Tiffany Gibson
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