Households in Southern Florida now have a brand new academic possibility. DOTT Academy is likely one of the few competency-based faculties within the state. The constitution college serves kids ages 5 to 14. College students transfer to the subsequent degree by demonstrating mastery of abilities relatively than progressing based mostly on age or grade.
Situated in Greenacres, Florida, the constitution college was established by Dr. Kisha Bellande-Francis. She brings greater than 20 years of expertise in schooling as a instructor, advisor, and private improvement skilled throughout 15 states. She additionally acts as the college’s principal.
“DOTT Academy empowers college students by means of personalised, competency-based studying the place they progress based mostly on mastery, not seat time,” Dr. Bellande-Francis mentioned in a press launch.
“College students advance at their very own tempo, collaborate with multi-age friends, and work towards clear, significant studying targets. The result’s stronger abilities, deeper confidence, and real-world readiness — the last word aim of each mother or father,” Bellande-Francis mentioned.
The educator famous that college students be taught abilities resembling constructing sustainable gardens and planning group occasions, which higher put together them for real-world conditions.
“We give attention to depth over tempo, private progress over comparability, and actual readiness over rote efficiency.”
The academy teams college students into 5 multi-aged “pods”: Foundations (Okay–1), Explorers (1–3), Innovators (3–5), Students (5–6), and Leaders (6–8). These pods are designed to assist lecturers give attention to every little one’s abilities, making certain college students be taught in ways in which work greatest for them as an alternative of being held again or shifting forward too shortly.
When college students full the Leaders Pod, they graduate with a mastery portfolio that showcases their achievements and prepares them for a number of the best excessive faculties within the area.
The academy not too long ago held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on the North Palm Seashore Chamber of Commerce workplace. On the Oct 27 ceremony, Bellande-Francis expressed gratitude to supporters in an Instagram submit.
“That is just the start. Thanks for supporting my dream, for supporting DOTT, and for serving to us create a brand new future in schooling,” Bellande-Francis wrote.
RELATED CONTENT: Black Girls Superintendents Lead 2 Largest Oklahoma Faculty Districts
