🎒 The Countdown to Forest City Academy Is On

A few weeks ago, a mother enrolled her daughter at Forest City Academy. Although her daughter was old enough, she didn’t enroll her in kindergarten last year. It wasn’t from a desire to homeschool- she shared she wasn’t actually homeschooling-  but rather a conviction that keeping her daughter at home was better than sending her to their neighborhood school. Her story isn’t unique. In just over 60 days, students will walk into Forest City Academy for the first time. We’re in sprint mode to ensure we provide an experience worthy of the families who are counting on it. 

Enrollment is growing, the building is being transformed, our team is ready. Here’s where things stand—and how you can help.

The Founding Team

Hiring for a startup school is interesting. You’re looking for people who among other things:

• Are excellent at instruction

• Possess deep knowledge - both of subject matter and of how to foster a classroom environment that is “no nonsense nurturing”

• Are deeply bought into the vision

• Embrace change, uncertainty, and ambiguity

• Have a deep sense of ownership (despite a 0% chance of an IPO).

As a parent of a 4-year-old who will attend the school next year, they must also pass my would I want them to be my daughter’s teacher? test.  

At times, it felt like unicorn hunting, but I am thrilled to share we have our founding team in place (we’ll be publicly announcing them soon). They are phenomenal and who you’d want if you were building a new model of education from the ground up. 3 of them have children enrolled in the school this fall, making their investment in the mission both personal and professional. Our community will be better because of them.

The Latest on the Facility 

Work is about to begin to upgrade the building’s fire alarm system and emergency lighting to bring everything up to code. Between permits, architectural drawings, city inspections, and the actual construction, the timeline is tight, but we are on track for an August 13 first day of school.

While that’s the biggest project, we’re preparing to furnish classrooms, spruce up the space, and dream about how to make the most of the 4+ acre campus. Between the full-size gym and expansive outdoor space, we intend to become the healthiest elementary school in the state.

Learning from the Best

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Greater Dayton School (GDS)—huge thanks to the visionary school leader AJ Stich for hosting and modeling leadership so well and a shoutout to The Connor Group for backing such a bold, student-centered model. GDS sets the standard and we look forward to shamelessly borrowing from them in many ways, two areas in particular where we see incredible potential to elevate the student experience at Forest City Academy:

1. The moment students enter the building, inspired by The Power of Moments by the Heath Brothers, and
   

2. The culture around lunch, echoing Reagan’s line that “all great change in America begins at the dinner table,” backed by powerful evidence on the benefits of shared meals.

At GDS, each student is greeted with what they call an “ESPN” welcome—Eye contact, Smile, Physical touch (like a fist bump), and Name—making each student feel seen, known, and experience a deep sense of belonging from the moment they arrive. Their family-style lunches are equally powerful: a moment of gratitude before eating, mixed-age seating, and adults eating with students modeling presence, conversation, and professionalism

These practices will look different at FCA in year one, but the principles cost nothing and they have the power to transform the way children experience school.

How You Can Help

Fuel the work: A mother believed her daughter was better off staying home than attending the school down the street. Now she’s trusting us with her future. Your support helps us build a place worthy of that trust. Support the mission.

Spread the Word and Pound the Pavement: If you’d like a yard sign or one-pagers to leave at your favorite coffee shop, barber shop, etc, let me know. You can also get your steps in joining as we drop off postcards throughout our focus neighborhoods. 

Watch the news! In general, you probably want to avoid the news, but we are expecting a feature on the school in the coming weeks. When that comes out, I’ll send it over. Check it out and pass it along to a friend!

Save the Date: August 13 🚀First Day of School at FCA

Forest City Academy is not just a school; it’s a promise to our city’s children and families that their future matters and that a joyful, rigorous, and deeply human education is within reach. Thanks to the early support of key anchor funders, we’re off to a strong start, and the uncertainty that often surrounds new ventures is already shrinking. But building something bold, different, and urgently needed takes all of us. I invite you to consider how you can be a part of this story. To see the space for yourself or learn more, grab some time here.

With gratitude,

Ben