THE MAYA ANGELOU ACADEMY
The Maya Academy Focus
Without intervention, only one in 10 students who have been adjudicated delinquent will go on to get a high school diploma. The Maya Angelou Academy (MAA) works every day to change this statistic, and encourages students to not only graduate, but to go on to post-secondary education options and careers.
Located in the New Beginnings Youth Development Center (formerly Oak Hill Detention Center), MAA’s goal is to provide a safe, nurturing, and mutually respectful environment that motivates and prepares incarcerated young men to fulfill their academic or career potential. Throughout their time at New Beginnings, these scholars participate in therapeutic, level-based programming, designed to help them prepare to return to the community.
Our Results
Each year, several of our scholars graduate with either their high school diploma or GED. Many go on to college or enter the workforce. The class of 2019 boasted 10 scholars – the largest MAA graduating class in the school’s history.
Our School Leadership Team
- Felecia Hayward, Principal
- Karen Remington, Dean of Academics
- Tinell Slade-Clarke, Special Education Coordinator
- Kym Jasper, Business Operations Manager
OUR PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
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MAA currently educates two groups of youth: Program Scholars, who will eventually transition back to school and career in the community, and Title XVI Scholars, who will eventually transition to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
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Residents at New Beginnings are referred to as scholars, setting a tone of respect and high expectations when they first enter the facility.
Our school offers two academic programs: our high school diploma track and our GED preparation track. Our scholars benefit from small class sizes, personalized academic intervention via online applications, and one-on-one support from our Academic Support Specialists. We also offer several elective classes including art, music, and career and technical education courses.
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With the support of a wide circle of caring adults, our scholars develop the skills they need to make sound decisions and lead rewarding lives. Scholars develop their social-emotional skills via R2IS2E (Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Self-Determination, Safety, and Empathy) – a structured course that we embed into our weekly school schedule. Scholars also participate in our weekly Harambee and monthly award ceremonies, which help foster a sense of community and mutual support amongst our students and staff.
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We offer life skills and career preparation courses for all of our scholars, including multiple Mock Interview panels several times each school year. We also host guest speakers to help expose our scholars to various career fields, as well as an annual College Fair on campus. We also believe in helping our scholars develop their public speaking skills via our annual Debate Contest.
MAYA SCHOLARS
IN THE NEWS
(ACADEMY)
Founder, David Domenici, and Maya Angelou Academy Featured In Ozy
It’s a cold March morning in the nation’s capital. My fingers are stiff, and in the end, useless as I fumble to open the door to David Domenici’s battered 1992 Honda Civic. But with a sturdy shove and then a yank, the wiry 50-year-old reassures me that it’s not me. We’re headed less than a […]
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