KEW LEARNING ACADEMY HISTORY
KEW LEARNING ACADEMY has been serving students in the 5th Ward community since 2008. Initially, the organization conducted various education enrichment programs at neighborhood schools and churches and honored outstanding educators and residents in the community yearly at the Profiles of Prominence Awards Banquet. The Profiles of Prominence Awards Banquet is one of KEW Learning Academy’s signature events and was held annually until 2017 when our venue was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Since that time, we have replaced our signature event with our Annual Kwanzaa Community Celebration.
During the second year of existence KEW Learning Academy developed a partnership with Phillis Wheatley High School and assisted with the computer-based Nova Net tutorial program for over aged students. KEW LEARNING ACAEMY worked with students who were having problems with computer-based instruction. The organization provided direct instruction which helped students master academic concepts, which allow students to successfully complete the computer-based instruction and graduate from high school.
During that year, the organization collaborated with a couple of Mathematics majors at TSU and guided them in the creation of STEM SCHOLARS. STEM SCHOLARS is a student tutorial mentoring program comprises of Mathematics majors at Texas Southern University. Additionally, KEW LEARNING ACADENY was strategic in developing a partnership with E.O. Smith Middle School to serve their over aged students. STEM SCHOLARS partnered with KEW LEARNING ACADEMY to provided tutorial service to these students. After enjoying the work that these collegiate students participated in, STEM SCHOLARS goal emerged as a student organization that provides tutoring and mentoring services in STEM areas to neighborhood schools.
During the summer of 2011 KEW Learning Academy secured a physical location at 4705 Lyons Avenue where educational activities could be housed. This allowed for the expansion of the organization programmatic thrust and the ability to develop partnerships with community organizations to offer services to underserved residents of all ages in the community. As KEW LEARNING ACADEMY scope of services expanded and the following tags were developed by the Board to help the public fully understand the focus of the organization. “Developing Lifelong Learners” and “The Future Begins Here; Together We Make the Difference Touching Lives Forever”.
The first partnership that emerged was with Touch of Keys Music Ministry, Inc. KEW LEARNING ACADEMY partnered with Touch of Keys Music Ministry, Inc. to offer a Summer Fine Arts and Sports Camp at the school for students ages 7 – 17. The program was successful and was the first of many partnerships that materialized over the years. The Touch of Keys Summer Fine Arts and Sports Camp was an annual event at the school’s Lyons Avenue location. Free music and tutorial classes were offered at the facility weekly because of this partnership.
To culminate the Touch of Keys Summer Fine Arts and Sports Camp an annual Community Bazaar was held on the Saturday after the camp concluded. The goal of the Community Bazaar was twofold: 1) as a recital so the students can perform their talents to the community and 2) as a family day full of fun music, games, exhibits food and fellowship.
KEW LEARNING ACADEMY became a member of the Sankofa Coalition for Social Wellness and Justice. This collation was created to impact the services that community residents would receive from affiliate members. This is when the partnership between Forever Families and KEW LEARNING ACADEMY grew in strength and service to the community.
KEW LEARNING ACADEMY in partnership with Forever Families conducted the PAK (Parents and Kids) Enrichment and Mentoring Programs at Phillis Wheatley. This program provides academic, social, and mentoring services to teen parent so they would have a support system needed to enable them to finish high school and prepare for post-secondary learning. Forever Families also used KEW LEARNING ACADEMY as a training facility and a location for the agency.
A variety of enrichment classes were offered at KEW LEAERNING ACADEMY, such as 4-H Club Activities, Robotics Classes, Tutorial Classes, Free Music Classes, Health Living Classes held in conjunction with the County Extension Office and Construction Classes. A more comprehensive after school tutorial program, and a Cup Cakes and Conversation program was implemented during the fall semester of the 2012-2013 school year. Additionally, GED, ESL, Adult Literacy Classes and Digital Intelligence Classes (technology classes) were offered in January 2013 for all residents.
Partnerships that were establish while at 4507 Lyons Avenue include, Conrad Johnson Youth Orchestra, Touch of Key Music Ministry, N.O.A.H., Building Houston (D. Samuels & Associates, LLC), Harris County Extension Program, Leap of Faith Organization, and Wheatley Metropolitan Alumni Association.
During the month of July Lakewood Mission Outreached called “Servolution” identified KEW LEARNING ACADEMY, location at 4705 Lyons Avenue, as a location to implement a school library. After assessing the building Lakewood Mission Outreach decided to transformed KEW LEARNING ACADEMY’S 2nd floor. The transformation included renovation all classrooms, installing new carpet and painting all classrooms and the hallway and designing a library and reading room. This transformation was highlighted with an ending celebration on July 28, 2012. The transformation lasted over a three-week period, consisted of over 200 volunteers, approximately 2200 volunteer hours of hard work and received over $32,000.00 in in-kind donations from community businesses.
On August 11, 2012 KEW LEARNING ACADEEMY partnered with Lakewood in a Community Back–To School Bazaar. The bazaar consisted of students attending two out of three mini seminars titled: Bullying, Dangers of Tobacco and Money Sense. Students enjoyed free haircuts, games, moonwalks, cartoon characters and food. The highlight of the bazaar was the distribution of over 300 back packs with supplies to neighborhood students. In December KEW continued its partnership with Lakewood and distributed over 300 toys to neighborhood children at the annual Christmas Party.
KEW LEARNING ACADEMY Board redirected the thrust to address the concerns that the public had regarding the words “LEARNING ACADEMY”. Therefore, KEW LEARNING ACADEMY was defined as “An educational service center addressing the needs of a variety of learners for 21st century workforce skills.”
At the 4705 location. KEW LEARNING ACADEMY successfully served over 5,524 residents over a two-year period and identified a new location which KEW LEARNING ACADEMY waned to purchase.
In December 2014, KEW LEARNNG ACADEMY transition to St. Mark Baptist Church using the education facility to continue to grow, provide services, and be a part of our community. During the summer months we continued our partnered with Touch of Keys and developed our Engineering Camp to be offered to youth in the community in conjunction with the Fine Arts Camp. WE qualified to hied student from the Pinecrest Presbyterian Youth employment program as youth workers as teachers aids.
During this time, we partnered with Each One Reach One and provided “Learning Coach” services to parents in the community who enrolled their children in the K12 Virtual School. This partnership lasted 3 years.
During the Summer of 2018, KEW was awarded a Summer Out2Learn Award in conjunction with the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program as the lead organization through United Way. The E.S.T.E.A.A.M. College and Career Preparatory Summer Program was a success. The program was enhanced and submitted as an after-school program for the Fall/Spring semesters of the 2018- 2019 school year. Again, we received the award offer 4th and 5th grade girls’ opportunities in nontraditional S.T.E.A.A.M. educational experiences at Atherton Elementary School four days a week from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Although we received the award again it was not at the level that we submitted, and we need additional funding to purchase materials/supplies and staffing needs for the spring semester and the after-school and tutoring programs. Historically, we, recognize outstanding citizens for their outstanding achievements during our Profiles of Prominence Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance which was our annual fundraiser. However, in 2018 we initiated our Kwanzaa Community Celebration as our annual fundraiser.
Target Audience
All learners in the community, especially, over aged students, underperforming students, students who are below grade level in reading, mathematics and other academic areas, and students who are disengaged in traditional schooling methods., Parents are also identified as our target audience. They have tremendous influence over their children attitude towards school and success. Therefore, parental enrichment activities were developed that support the whole family unit, such as Financial Literacy Seminars/Workshops, Diabetes Workshops, Workforce Certification classes as an extension of the learning environment. Parents are defined as any adult that cares for children (i.e. grandparent, cousin, neighbor and etc.)
Civic Literacy
We provide knowledge and educational experiences so the learner will know how to actively participate and initiate change in their community and the greater society. This is the foundation by which a democratic society functions: a means to create avenues for peaceful change.
Health Literacy
We provide knowledge and educational experiences so the learner will know they have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions
Environmental Literacy
We provide knowledge and educational experiences so the learner understands the environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it, particularly as it relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems.
Global Awareness
We provide and educational experiences so the learner is globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and learning and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, religion, and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and open communication. The learner will demonstrate their knowledge consistently as they work with diverse cultures.
Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy
We provide knowledge and educational experiences so the learner will know how to make appropriate personal economic choices; understand the role of the economy in society and use entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options.
“Developing Lifelong Learners”
Mission Statement
To improve the academic and career development opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agricultural, Arts and Mathematics and increase the economic potential of learners by providing engaging experiences through a variety of community, church, and educational networks.
Our Vision
The vision of the KEW Learning Academy is unique in that it maintains that all learners who have not had their needs met by traditional schooling can be academically successful at the postsecondary level and in the workforce. We provide a safe and stimulating environment where learners can envision their own potentials and translate that into future educational experiences and career choices while becoming productive citizens. This model also provides an educational environment that focuses on career and technical education so learning experiences are connected to real word experiences, thus affecting their attitude and concepts concerning education and its value in their lives.
We believe
- We believe that each learner can contribute to the future of our community
- We believe that each learner has individual strengths and abilities
- We believe that every learner wants to learn and excel
- We believe in educating the whole person
- We believe that there are differences in learning styles and processes
- We believe that those differences are a part of the meta-cognition process of the learner and serve as opportunities for facilitators/teachers/coachers to differentiate instruction
- We believe that maximizing the potential of each learner is the purpose of education
- We believe that when high expectations are set and maintained by the learning environment, every learner will rise to those expectations
- We believe that innovation is essential in the development of the educational process
- We believe that the learners are more effective learners when the environment is interactive and creates a sense of community in which the learner feels significant and respected.
- We believe that education, shared values, and common goals create the culture of the community.