Dear Parents and Guardians,
We’re excited to join forces with local families to offer an extended educational opportunity. Franklin Learning Academy (FLA) now offers two tracks for children ages two-and-a-half through second grade. Toddlers through PreK kids enjoy programs aimed at school readiness and social-emotional development. Then, students from Early K through second grade attend our tuition-free charter school, complete with challenging academics, the arts, and physical education. Both tracks emphasize:
• Fostering an innovative, engaging education experience;
• Focusing on whole child development;
• Identifying and nurturing unique strengths and areas for improvement; and
• Instilling a love of learning so children can fulfill their greatest potential.
At FLA, students start with imaginative, hands-on opportunities for early learning, and then mature into a more rigorous curriculum designed to help them achieve academic success. Our highly qualified teachers work closely with each student to reveal their natural talents, differentiate instruction toward individualized learning, and prepare each accordingly for a lifetime of learning.
We believe education should be accessible to all—that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and have access to the resources they need to thrive. We also know that today’s families are busy but still in need of the community, communication, and support that a long-term learning option like FLA provides. We seek to partner with families over years—from tending to their toddlers to challenging their early elementary students. Especially convenient for families with multi-aged children and cost-effective for older students at our tuition-free school, FLA offers two tracks with one ultimate goal: success in learning. Let’s do this together!
Sincerely,
Franklin Learning Academy School Staff
Ashley Alexander-Robinson, Principal
Prior to becoming a principal, Mrs. Alexander-Robinson has had many leadership experiences including consulting teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal in Columbus, Ohio. Even with these amazing experiences, she will always be a teacher at heart and has 10 years of teaching experience. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from The University of Toledo and a Master’s of Education from Ohio Dominican University. Mrs. Alexander-Robinson intends to be an example to students and teachers that we should never stop learning, growing and achieving goals.
Wendy Copen, Regional Vice President
Mrs. Copen started her career in education as an Intervention Specialist teaching Grades 1-8. She received her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Akron in 1998 and her Master’s in Administration PreK-12 in 2011. After an Internship in 2012, Mrs. Copen became the principal of a K-4 school in Norton, Ohio. During this time, she also became a Certified Speaker through the UpsideDown Organization in Baltimore. She develops and delivers professional development programs on brain-based learning for educators and parents. In 2013 Mrs. Copen won “Teacher of the Year,” and in 2017 she earned the “Momentum Award” from the state of Ohio due to all of her scholars passing their state achievement tests and being the leader of her school. Mrs. Copen loves leading her school communities and she is very excited to see the growth of her students and staff.
Debbie Pack, Operations Manager
Debbie has worked in the early childhood education field for over 32 years. She began her career in a toddler classroom and later moved into management as a Center Director. She quickly became a Regional Manager overseeing six early learning centers in Cleveland, Ohio. Today, she helps support operations in Cleveland and Columbus. Debbie is excited to join the Franklin community and bring an educational early learning experience to the families in the area.
Erica Carpenter, Assistant Director
Prior to her current role as Assistant Director, Erica Carpenter was a preschool teacher for seven years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Ohio University and a Master of Education in Instruction and Curriculum with a focus in Literacy from American College of Education. Mrs. Carpenter just moved to Columbus and is settling in nicely with her husband and four cats. She is an active member of Kappa Delta Pi and will bring her desire to give back and serve others to the Franklin Early Learning Academy community.
Staff Directory
Founded in 2014, ACCEL Schools is a K-12 public charter school management organization (CMO) serving students across the United States in brick-and-mortar, virtual, and hybrid school settings. We focus on improving academic outcomes of students regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic factors. The leadership team at ACCEL Schools has a combined 1000+ years of experience as global school management operators with expertise in curriculum research and design, assessment, student support services, and education consulting. Our entire team fundamentally believes that all children deserve a great education and students should be supported as they pursue a wide variety of post-secondary options. Our robust technology increases engagement, access to resources, efficiencies, and academic results helping our students become productive global citizens.
