Hope Academy podcast is on iTunes

A new podcast has been created on iTunes called "Hope Academy."

The podcast will feature radio interviews and news about Hope Academies.

You can access the podcast two ways.

Link to iTunes podcast (iTunes must be installed on your computer)

Podcastpeople.com site

Fundraiser planned for family

A Massillon church will hold a fundraiser Sunday for the family of a Hope Academy of Canton student who died in a Canton house fire July 14.

Read story in The Independent

Vigil remembers Hope Academy student

Hope Academy in Canton held a vigil Friday night in memory of student Michael Crislip, 13, who died in a house fire on July 14.

Crislip just finished sixth grade at the school.

"This is not the last time we will do this," school principal Tony Townsend told a reporter. "He was a beautiful person. We love Mike. He was a wonderful kid. He will be truly missed."

The vigil was led by Chris Cicero, a seminarian at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Canton.

"I know I'm going to miss him terribly," said sixth-grade teacher Kelly Tucci.

"Mike was dedicated to his education," Townsend said. "It's unfortunate to lose a young life to such a tragic thing."

About 75 people attended the event.

Read story from The Repository

Here was coverage on Channel 3



Here was coverage on Channel 19

School to hold vigil for student killed in fire

WHAT: Hope Academy staff and students will hold a vigil in memory of Mke Crislip, 13, a student at the school who died July 14 in a Canton fire.

WHERE: Hope Academy, 1379 Garfield Ave S.W., Canton

WHEN: 5 p.m. Friday, July 20, 2007

Crislip just finished sixth grade at the school.

"We're a small school," Principal Tony Townsend said. "We're like a family over here."

Townsend said many students have signed an online remembrance book for Crislip.

"(Mike) was an ideal student," he said.

Goddard named to state council

Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy administrator Mary Ann Schneider and Hope Academies vice president Dr. Pearl Marie Goddard were named to the Ohio Coalition for Quality Education Advisory Council.

"Community schools only represent 3 ½ percent of the K-12 public students in Ohio and as such, we are rarely included or consulted in the development of new education policy," said Ohio Coalition for Quality Education President Ron Adler. "OCQE will present the Education Policy Advisory Council as an assembly of hands-on educational leaders. Each (council member), on a daily basis, are saving kids that have ‘fallen through the cracks’ or have simply been underserved by traditional institutions of public education.

"Our mission is to be available to counsel members of the House/Senate Education Committees….the Department of Education, members of the State Board of Education and…..even share best practices with traditional district schools."

Read Repository story here

In memory

Hope Academies across Ohio offer their condolences to the family of Mike Crislip, a 13-year-old Canton resident who was believed to have died in a fire Saturday.

Read story from July 15, 2007 edition of The Repository

HOPE Academies keeping busy

HOPE Academies have been busy during the spring and summer months.

Each building has held promotion ceremonies for sixth or eighth graders.

Many children have been accepted into impressive high school programs. For example, HOPE University has students who will be attending Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary High School and Akron Firestone High School's International Business program.

Each building has a summer offering of HELP (Hope's Extended Learning Program.

Families are attending schools daily to work on their studies. Our records indicate that children who attend summer HELP improve their test scores.
Lastly, our staff members are continuing with their own professional growth this summer by attending college/university courses.