Volume 4 No. 4
 

Southfield, Michigan is home to Laurus Academy, a kindergarten through eighth grade school with the priority of growing minds and inspiring hearts via a curriculum that encourages and celebrates strong moral character in students. Through building a program around moral focus, academic excellence, personal responsibility, and parental partnerships, Laurus Academy sets their students up to succeed in high school, college, and in life.
 

Using moral focus as a steppingstone towards student achievement and as a pillar of the curriculum, students develop virtuous traits such as respect, integrity, perseverance and courage each school day. Keeping with their moral focused curriculum, students create a class contract where they agree on how to treat their teachers and fellow students. Each month, Laurus Academy celebrates a "virtue of the month" such as wisdom, respect and gratitude. Students are then recognized and celebrated for how they chose to live out that virtue during that month.

Laurus Academy models the way they structure their classrooms using the National Heritage Academy (NHA) Approach. The NHA approach incorporates a blend of one-on-one classroom instruction, small group instructions, and time for independent practice. This approach allows for success in students' various learning styles and allows teachers to invest time identifying student needs, setting goals and adjusting lessons accordingly. 

 
By encouraging students to take personal responsibility for their academic success, students build character and confidence that will help them prepare for their futures and be successful in life. Parental partnerships are a valuable resource at Laurus Academy. Through parent volunteers and regular updates with student progress reports, the parental partnership helps create a successful support system that is essential in both the classroom and at home.



Laurus Academy opened its doors in 2004 and is home to over 742 students ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade.
 
To learn more about Laurus Academy, visit their website at:
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.
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.