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Capital Campaign

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From the COO : Improvements and Move-Ins

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DSCF0062 copyWe are beginning a landmark year for the Maya Angelou family. This fall, the high school moved into its freshly renovated space with a brand new computer lab, media center, two fully provisioned science labs, dedicated classrooms for music and art, and much more. This month marks the completion of more than five years of work, with many of you as our partners, in renovating the Maya Angelou Learning Center.

One of the most exciting aspects of the renovation has been our students’ participation. They have been involved throughout the project, providing feedback on mockups and learning firsthand from our general contractor (Forrester Construction) in the classroom and on-site. During Phase II, Forrester took on four of our Young Adult Learning Center graduates as interns. The students proved their workforce skills as productive members of the time and several were extended beyond the internship to work with Forrester or subcontractors.

The 2014-15 school year and beyond will bring exciting opportunities for us. We have dramatically improved our information technology infrastructure, renovated our building, and sharpened our hiring and professional development practices. With your help, we are creating a renewed and re-energized network of schools to serve our students, their families, and our community well.

Chief Operating Officer


Chris Tessone is Chief Operating Officer of the See Forever Foundation and the Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools, where he directs day-to-day operations for the organization, develops and systematizes human resource policies, and has primary oversight in the areas of financial management, technology, security, and facilities. 

Summer 2014 Construction Update

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Screen Shot 2014-06-20 at 3.24.53 PM copy Thanks to the generous support of our Capital Campaign donors, we were able to move our Young Adult Learning Center into a beautifully renovated space last November. The new YALC includes a student lounge and library, a fully-featured computer lab, and a large space for our building-trades program run in cooperation with the Home Builders Institute. New windows on the west elevation bring natural light into the space, greatly improving the learning environment for teachers and students alike. We began Phase Two of our major renovation in April and are now several months into the process of transforming our High School space into a state-of-the-art learning facility. The new space will include upgraded network infrastructure, bright, new finishes, an expanded healthcare suite, and more space for individualized instruction and wrap-around services. Over the summer, the construction team will also be building two new science labs for the chemistry and biology classes. YALC exterior

When the project is completed this fall, the Maya Angelou Schools will benefit from a revitalized building ready to serve our families and the neighborhood for decades to come. Everything from computer networks and intercoms to parking and windows will be improved.

We are grateful to our supporters, partners, staff, students, and families for making this project possible. The entire organization is looking forward to spending the 2014-15 school year and beyond in a facility that was truly built for and supports the Maya Way. – Chris Tessone, Chief Operating Officer, See Forever Foundation