The Lighthouse

Volume 2 / Issue 3

Grand Opening at Chesapeake Science Point Elementary School

Our CLF CEO, Mr. Yilmaz Ak and Dr. Mark Bedell, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent hosted a celebratory ribbon cutting for Anne Arundel County’s and The Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s newest charter school on September 18, 2023.

Principal Tabatha Camacho, her team and gifted scholars prepared an engaging program and school tour for the notable guests; Anne Arundel County School Board Members, Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation and Chesapeake Science Point Board Members, Anne Arundel County Council Member, Mr. Pete Smith, St. John Properties, Senator Pamela Beidle, Mr. Pat Crain, Director- Office of Educational Options and School Climate at Arundel County Public Schools, Hertz Furniture, and extremely proud parents and scholars.

The event boasted celebratory and congratulatory speeches, a school tour, reminders of the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s mission and vision and the Superintendent’s commitment to providing access to and for all learners.

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A CLF Welcome For School Year 2024

Mr. Yilmaz Ak, The CLF, CSP Boards, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel County School Boards and our seven school leadership teams, faculty and staff welcomed over 4,000 students this school year at their respective schools. The Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation opened its seventh school in Anne Arundel County, and proudly welcomed back faculty, staff, parents and students at each of its six other schools! Each of the seven proud principals were excited to start the school year, propelled by their past remarkable success.

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Prince George’s County Executive Office Honors CMIT South ES Educator

The Prince George’s County Executive Office of Community Relations Director and Deputy Directors visited Chesapeake Math and Instructional Technology South Elementary School on Friday, September 15, 2023. Mrs. Leah Jones, CMIT South ES Math Coach was being honored for supporting a PGCPS County Executive Community Relations Event this past summer.

Mrs. Jones received an envious bounty of school supplies, and swag. Both the Director and Deputy Director commended the educator for her participation at the community event and her support of the Prince George’s County Executive’s initiatives. Principal Miller gave a tour of the school and is elated to have the opportunity to continue a partnership with The Prince George’s County Office of the Executive and its valuable initiatives.

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CLF Prioritizes Professional Learning

At the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation, we are committed to developing the capacity of everyone that serves our scholars. This commitment will once again be realized in our third Professional Development Series. This school year, we are hosting cohorts of learners focused on Equity, Access and Inclusion, STEM Integration, Mathematics, and Using Data. CLF is committed to enhancing, equipping, and elevating the capacity of our faculty and staff toward educational excellence. The Professional Development Series is scheduled to be held on Tuesday evenings from October to March, 2024.

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Carnegie Learning Comes to CMIT Schools

Mr. Yilmaz Ak, CLF CEO, recognizing the value of high-dosage tutoring for our students, secured a partnership with Carnegie Learning to provide three times weekly thirty-minute math tutoring sessions to scholars in our CMIT Prince George’s County Schools. Carnegie Learning will partner with school principals to tailor a tutoring plan for each school. Six hundred and sixty-eight students will be able to benefit from week-day tutoring and 176 students are eligible to participate in weekend tutoring in grades K-12. Tutoring will begin in October and January and run for 10 weeks respectively.

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CEO, Mr. Ak, Featured Panelist

Mr. Ak, CLF CEO, was featured as a member of The Maryland Charters Panel at the National Charter Alliance Meeting on Thursday, September 28, 2023. The other featured panelist was Ms. McKenzie Allen, Executive Director, Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools. Mr. Ak fielded questions about his passion for charter schools, advocacy and charter school challenges. Mr. Jake Custer, Vice President of HR and Operations for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools was excited to learn about the great things happening in Maryland Charters from the panelists. As Maryland Charters are unique from other charter schools in the United States, the expertise and experience of both Executive Director Ms. Allen and CEO Mr. Ak fills a void in the national charter schools conversation.

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Teach With Us at CLF

We strongly believe that we have the very best students and staff at our CLF schools. To provide a financially feasible way forward for those interested in teaching, CLF is sponsoring a TEACH Service Grant for eligible CLF high school scholars and alumni.

The grant will provide up to $10,000 dollars for up to four future educators who are enrolled in higher education institutions. Grant recipients will agree to teach in any of our seven CLF schools upon completion of their degree. Applicants are encouraged to apply before the December 15, 2023 deadline.