Volume 3 No. 10

Vista Meadows Academy, a high school in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, teaches around 200 ninth to twelfth grade students. The staff at Vista Meadows strives to ensure every student leaving their doors is college ready, prepared to enter the real world with the right skills, and be a productive member of society. To achieve this, the school aims to have small class sizes to allow a more one-on-one interaction with educators so they can meet each student's specific needs. Additionally, the school offers a large, beautiful campus for students to enjoy, great out-of-the-classroom events, free credit recoveries to make sure students are graduating on time, and college readiness assessments.

Vista Meadows Academy in Dearborn Heights 

In their student handbook, Vista Meadows lays out a four-year plan to prepare their students for college. Their freshman year is a planning stage with students picking seven different schools they have an interest in attending and then planning their courses to match the prerequisites for attending. Sophomore year is intended to narrow down those schools to five but also pick five different potential career choices. In their junior year, students are advised to dwindle their school choices down to three and tour those schools to see how they feel about them, while also narrowing career interests to two. In their senior, the student picks the college they wish to attend.
 
This college-preparedness plan sets Vista Meadows students up for success for the future. Beginning to think about college during their freshman year allows students to get honed into a college mindset early on in high school and develop ambitions towards attending their dream school. Having such ambitions and foresight will be the fuel for their success in high school, college, and beyond!
Additionally, Vista Meadows recognizes students' desires to get out of the classroom sometimes to see the world, and there are many events which give students a great education in a non-traditional classroom setting. One of the most recent experiences included attending the Broadway play, Hamilton. 

Vista Meadows students enjoying Hamilton

Hamilton is about the Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and details his life through raps and songs, in ways a traditional classroom setting simply cannot. In April, a few Vista Meadows students were able to see the play as a part of the Hamilton Education Program, and after watching the performance made their own raps, songs, poems, and other creative methods to share their knowledge on the time period. 

Great times at Comerica Park! 

A few Vista Meadows students also had the opportunity to attend a Detroit Tigers' baseball game. The students, who are apart of Dr. Harrison's Math Group, hit all their NWEA Winter targets and helped turn around the Tigers' luck by cheering them on to a win over the Chicago White Sox.

A few of Dr. Harrison's students enjoying the Tigers' baseball game in April

Keep up the great work, Vista Meadows!

Learn more about Vista Meadows Academy by visiting their website: 
Interested in gaining educational experience? Or are you looking to add to your resume? Consider becoming a charter school board member for a public school academy authorized by Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office!
 
At Bay Mills Community College, we support a quality education to urban, minority and/or poor children.
 
Bay Mills will provide all of our academy boards with pertinent training so that they are able to make choices that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies .
 
Our public school academies are always looking for new members that bring a range of skills, experiences and desire to help the Academy students to excel academically, as well as having the goal of advancing the mission of Bay Mills.
 
Some requirements of the position:
  • Engagement with the goals of the Academy
  • Enthusiasm to be an ambassador for the Academy
  • Willingness to fulfill the obligation of a board member, as well as continue to uphold the standards of being a board member
           
Board Member Qualifications:
  • Citizen of the United States
  • Resident of the State of Michigan
  • Submit materials requested by the College Charter Schools Office such as:
    • Public School Academy Board Member Appointment Questionnaire
      • Must include authorization to process a background check of the nominee
      • Submit annual disclosure of conflicts of interest
Members of the Board of Directors shall include:
  • At least one parent or guardian of a child attending the school
  • One professional educator; preferably a person with school administrative experience
Members of the Board of Directors shall NOT include:
  • Any member appointed or controlled by another profit or non-profit corporation
  • Academy employees or independent contractors performing services for the Academy
  • Any current or former director, officer, or employee of a management company that contracts with the academy
  • College officials or employees 
All Academy Board members shall serve in their individual capacity, and not as a designee of any other person or entity. If it is found that a person is serving as a representative or designee of another person or entity, they shall be deemed ineligible to serve as a Director of the Academy Board. They shall be removed from office in accordance with provisions found in the Resolution or Schedule 2: Bylaws.
 
Note that a Director serves at the pleasure of the College Board, and may be removed with or without cause by the College Board at any time.
           
Working with an Academy is the perfect opportunity to advance your career interests, expand your knowledge on education and help children receive a quality education that will last a lifetime. Apply to become a board member today!

For more information or to receive an application, please contact Megan Ringuette, Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office Compliance Coordinator at 906-248-8419 or mringuette@bmcc.edu.
August 5, 2019 at 6PM: Bay Mills Board Member Training at the Sheraton in Novi, MI 
About Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools
Bay Mills Community College began authorizing charter schools in the year 2000 and now authorizes 46 schools serving approximately 22,000 students. Fall 2015: 22,729 and Spring 2016: 22,257
 
Our Mission: To ensure a quality education for urban, minority, and/or poor children by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. To provide academy boards with the necessary support and training so that they may make educated decisions that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies.