The Colen Family Charitable Trust celebrated the public charter school’s groundbreaking, Ina A. Colen Academy, on October 23 with community members and dignitaries.
Among the attendees were Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, Marion County School Board Member Beth McCall, Director of School Choice and Student Assignment Stephen Ayres, Ocala Chamber of Economic Commerce and Partnership Chair Angie Lewis with President and CEO Kevin Sheilley, District Safe Schools Director Dennis McFatten and Judge Steven Rogers. The Ina A. Colen Academy Governing Board Members Robert Colen, Dr. Harvey Taub, Dr. Mery Lossada, Kay Fleischaker, and Janet Behnke. The Construction Manager for the project, Ken Ausley and Dustin Magamoll, were in attendance, and Wannemacher Jensen Architects Jason Jensen and Lindsey Evans.
Ina A. Colen Academy will be a tuition-free public charter school open for enrollment to all Marion County students. The charter school application was approved earlier this year, stating the affiliation with the Marion County Public School System. Ina A. Colen Academy will offer Marion County students an opportunity through an educational program focused on project-based learning, emphasizing social-emotional learning.
At the event, guests participated in a social-emotional learning project by writing encouraging words on painted “kindness rocks” to be displayed outside of the academy.
Ina A. Colen Academy will open its doors to welcome students in August 2022.
For more information about Ina A. Colen Academy, visit IACAFL.org and follow the school on social media (@IACAFL).
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