Change Our Classroom, Change Our Community

Hello, I am Robert Aitken and I am the founder and superintendent of SMART Academy.  We are a non profit (501)(c)(3) K-3 school focused on literacy.  We want to utilize education and community involvement  to foster confidence and create the building blocks for success for our students.  

We are raising money for the students of SMART Academy.  We are in a high need district where 100% of our kids qualify for free lunch.  This neighborhood in Cleveland was chosen because of low test scores, high needs of the neighborhood, and based on a needs' analysis report. To view that report, click the link and go to page 62 of the report: View Page 62 . In just a few short months, SMART Academy has data showing that our behavior model and academic model is driving our students' success well above their peers in neighboring schools. Each month, our school board is provided with reports outlining those successes.

Our kids are so anxious to learn and grow academically, we just need some help in creating an environment that supports them more holistically than the traditional education system. Education is a GREAT opportunity to do whatever you want in life. The foundation starts in Kindergarten for a life long learner. I want every child that comes to SMART Academy to realize we are here to help them become anything they want in life, and school isn't just a place to learn, but a place to grow and be supported.

"If you change a classroom, you can change a community and if you change enough communities, you can change the world."
 
​Our mission is to provide our students with a quality literacy education, but also to provide our families and the community with resources to assist them in their daily lives. We are succeeding in our mission through a number of ways but we need help in continuing to build upon our foundation through the following initiatives: 

Program 1: Literacy Rich Library

We have a large open finished space for our school library. Although this beautiful space is set up, we need books, magazines, seating, and other literature to to create a high tech and fully functional library! The cost to furnish this library is estimated around $22,000. The list is as follows:

a. Furniture to include; $10,000
Bean Bags
Sensory chairs
Book Shelves
Tables
Book Dividers

b. 25 computers: $6,000

c. 1000 books: $6,000


Program 2: Back Pack Program

We currently give our kids a bag on Fridays and over long breaks that include, food, clothing and personal hygiene items. We want to create a sustainable program that provides our students during these breaks with a supply of nutritious food, hygiene items, and clothing during the harsh winter. We know that when students are at school with us, we can provide them with the items needed to be focused and healthy. Once they leave, we know many families struggle to provide the basic needs and we want our families to know that we want to assist them and their children to ensure they basic needs are being met. Here is the cost to initiate this program and to keep it sustainable for 3 months.

Perishable Food Items: $5,000
Clothing and Hygiene Products: $7,500

Program 3: Increased Family & Community Involvement

Our final program that we want to promote within our school is to have increased family and community involvement. To do so, we are looking to create an evening program that will allow SMART Academy to provide families with the opportunity to attend seminars on healthy living, life skills preparation, parenting classes, and GED classes. We feel the largest part of our students' success will be when their parents are equally involved in promoting education beyond the classroom. We have created a handful of programs which are outlined below that explain how the cost will help us execute those programs. We are asking for donors to assist us in the cost of $15,000.

a. Healthy Living/Nutritious Classes
b. Technology Classes (ability to apply for jobs online, use of programs like Microsoft Word and Excel, basic computer skills) This will help families who want to seek new or better employment
c. Parenting Classes
d. GED preparation

We have many great things that our families are saying about us along with the community organizations that we have connected with. We are seeking people to help us with our mission to serve this struggling neighborhood and the families living in it. If you'd like to find out more about our school, visit our website listed below. 

www.smartacademycle.org

I appreciate any donation to help our students and our school.  Remember this is tax deductible.  (501)(3)(c)