Parent takes the helm of academy named for her daughter

Friday, August 1, 2003  -  BY CASEY HANS  -  Ann Arbor News Staff Reporter

Shelley Stockwell of Brighton, a teacher and administrator with nearly 30 years of experience, has been named the new principal at the Charyl Stockwell Academy in Hartland Township.

The academy holds a special place for Stockwell. The school was inspired and created by her husband, Chuck, to honor their daughter, Charyl, a student at the school. Charyl was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died in July of 2001, one month after graduating from the academy. The school was renamed in her honor just two weeks before her death.

It was formerly called the Livingston Developmental Academy and serves students in traditional grades K-8.

I think that it is certainly special that it is tied to my daughter, she added. This gives me an extra-deep commitment.

Everything always comes full circle, even though we donīt always realize it.

She also developed a strong connection to the school after taking a three-year leave of absence to spend time volunteering at the academy as a parent.

Her first order of business for the public school academy is spending time with teachers.

In any new job, she said, I interview all the teachers. They give me a lot of insight as to strengths and weaknesses.

During her career, Stockwell has served as an administrator with the Livonia Public Schools and taught in the Wayne-Westland school district and was an supervisor in the Lincoln Consolidated Schools.

She said CSA already is a strong community with a focus on staff development, something Stockwell said she will continue. So much is in place, so much is so solid, she said. Iīll just advance that which is already the mission.

There are several physical changes taking place at the school. A new module has been added to house the middle school program separately and fresh landscaping, paint and carpet have been added over the summer months. School begins Aug. 25, following an open house for students and parents on the previous Friday.

In her new message to parents on the schoolīs Web site, Stockwell, said: Each year I look forward to making friends with the parents of our students. We have accomplished a lot in the few years we have been open and are eager to add a new generation of parents to our team each year.

The Howell academy is one of three schools administered by Smart Schools Management in Brighton. The other schools are the Livingston Technical Academy in Howell and the Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City. All three schools are launching a smart character choices program using a $1.6 million, four-year U.S. Department of Education grant. The program is designed to help students develop personal responsibility for their actions.

CSA is a state-funded charter school that is open to the public. It is accepting applications for early elementary grades, K-4, for the upcoming school year. It is located at 9758 E. Highland Road in Hartland Township. It has a Howell mailing address.

 Friday, August 1, 2003 - Criteria for a Quality School

There are 12 schools around the country that are designated as members of Dr. William Glassnerīs Quality School Consortium, including the Charyl Stockwell Academy. Following is the criteria given by Glassnerīs institute for this program:

 ·  Relationships are based upon trust and respect.