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Dear Maya Family: Letter from CEO

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December 2014

Dear Maya Family,

There are days that try our patience, our stamina, our resiliency and our resolve. However, amidst the discipline problems, construction noise, and other stress-inducing challenges, our staff and colleagues have persevered.  As our namesake Maya Angelou would say, “Try to be the rainbow in someone’s cloud,” and the teachers and staff of Maya Angelou Schools do so every day. It is not an easy job, but together, we can be a mighty force of change.  We can change the lives of the students we seek to serve.

Just a few weeks ago, the high school staff moved to the upper-level floors of the newly renovated Maya Angelou Learning Center. These sun-drenched classrooms will serve as the home base for our wonderful team of teachers and administrators. There is no doubt that the construction has been a period of endurance for us all, but we anticipate great transformations this year.

Even amid the renovation and transitions, Maya students continue to surprise and behold me. In this issue of See Forever, read about Omar Mobley, one of the four Young Adult Learning Center graduates who was chosen to intern with Forrester Construction on our renovation project. Also included in the newsletter is the essay of Shakira Hawkins, a senior at the high school who won a prestigious opportunity to study at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia through OSSE’s Summer Scholar program. And finally, our scholars at the Academy competed at yet another spectacular Speech Competition with incredibly moving and impassioned deliverances on the topic of power. You can read the top two speeches here.

We hope to make this a year of transformation and collaboration, not only with our partners, but also with our supporters and parents. Please come by and see the new space we will call home, meet our administration and teachers and experience the Maya Way.

We wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to celebrating the last month of 2014 with you!

Warm Regards,

Heather Wathington

 

Alumni Spotlight: Romelle Simpson

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Romelle Simpson1
Photo by Louis Forget

 

Romelle is a 2009 graduate of the Maya Angelou High School—Evans Campus, member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, New Futures Scholar, and a freelance make-up artist. She is currently enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia Community College in Paralegal Studies and works full time at Baker Hostetler LLP as a Trademark Formalities Specialist.

Although Romelle has accomplished a great deal, her life hasn’t been a proverbial crystal stair. In 2007, her mother passed away, changing Romelle’s life forever.

Romelle remembers, “I was thrust into independence. I was a high school student at Maya Angelou. Ironically, at the time of her death, most of my classes were teaching us about the importance of setting goals and holding ourselves accountable. I applied those lessons to almost every area of my life. I had to. I struggled to support myself financially, but I made it work. I would make plans, hold myself accountable, and see the plan through.”

Now, Romelle plans to become an accredited patent attorney and she is well on her way. With her New Futures Scholarship of $6,400, Romelle hopes to obtain an Associate in Applied Science degree as a Legal Assistant in the next couple of years. From there, she plans to earn a Bachelor’s Degree, graduate Law School, and take the Patent Bar Exam.

Romelle believes, “If I didn’t have it so hard, I wouldn’t be so great. I am motivated, determined, and focused. I am grateful to have the Office of Alumni Support in my corner and looking forward to expanding my support system.”

We are so proud of Romelle’s spirit of industriousness, her grit, and her volition to persevere. Shout out to you, Romelle! Stay motivated, determined, and focused.The Maya Family is looking forward to having a barred patent attorney as part of the alumni family!

Romelle Simpson-New Futures Scholars crop
Photo by Louis Forget

Maya Angelou School Community Mourns the Death of Their Namesake, Dr. Maya Angelou

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For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2014 — We at Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools and the See Forever Foundation are saddened by the passing of our namesake, Dr. Maya Angelou this morning.

Dr. Angelou was not just a cultural icon and our namesake; she was unquestionably the strongest advocate and supporter of our school and the youth we serve. Her unwavering commitment and dedication to our students was nothing short of astonishing. She cheerfully gave of her time and talents whenever we called upon her and encouraged her circle of friends to do so as well. Dr. Angelou attended every annual fundraiser that has been held at the school until this year and even then, she made sure she joined us from her living room via satellite. The commitment she demonstrated to ensure the school’s success was unmatched.

Dr. Angelou has truly been an inspiration to our students and staff alike. Her influence and wisdom were far-reaching. She wasn’t just a citizen of North Carolina or even the United States, she was truly a citizen of the world.  Her message of tolerance, peace and love touched all of our hearts. The world is immeasurably better because of all that she gave, said Dr. Heather Wathington, Chief Executive Officer of the See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Schools. “We must continue to help our students realize the hope that lies within them — the hope that Dr. Angelou believed in for each of them.

When the Maya Angelou Schools opened its doors 17 years ago, a naming contest was held in which students were asked to write an essay about what the name of the school should be and why.  The opening line of the winner’s essay stated that the school name should represent the power and importance of education.  The author went on to explain the many hardships and challenges that Dr. Angelou faced in her early life, but not unlike Maya scholars, she used hard work and education to create a new future for herself.

We offer our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Dr. Angelou’s family, colleagues and friends. The world mourns her loss today, commented David Domenici, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board.

A restricted fund will be set up in response to the many inquiries and outpouring of support given to the schools. For more information about Maya Angelou Schools and the See Forever Foundation and to make a contribution, visit the website at: www.seeforever.org

 

Contact: Leah Lamb
Chief Development Officer
See Forever Foundation
202-797-8250, ext. 1005
llamb@seeforever.org