TPS superintendent Dr. Romules Durant visits Escuela Smart Academy
TOLEDO – Holding a gigantic and oversized yellow pencil and with the Toledo Public Schools superintendent kneeling by his side, Dylan Marcelo, 5, scribbled his signature on a contract, becoming the newest student to sign with the Escuela Smart Academy.
The signing is an unofficial and fun way for students to feel welcomed to their bilingual school, which opened its doors on Monday to phased-in preschoolers and kindergarteners and grades 1-6. Dr. Romules Durant was on hand to witness several signings.
Durant also visited a first-grade classroom, where students became excited when their teacher, Jennifer Wagner, asked if they remembered his previous visit when he read Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat … dressed as its namesake.
Escuela Smart Academy was a charter school before TPS pulled it into the school system in 2019. Principal Natasha Allen said coming from a charter to public school provided a lot of opportunities and resources for students, families, staff and teachers.
Allen, who’s been the principal for nearly four years, said half of the 290 students are learning English as a second language, and 75 percent are Latino. Many of the faculty are bilingual, and if they are not they’re still familiar with the culture and know Spanish. There is also a dedicated Spanish teacher.
As the doors opened to the students and they walked in the building for the start of their first day, they were greeted with a community cheering section to celebrate their return to school.
“It’s just a wonderful school and environment and I’m excited to be here with our families and our Latino culture,” proclaimed Allen. “The families are amazing and the engagement at family events is wonderful.
“Our kids like coming to school and smile pretty much every day because it’s a really great place and they feel accepted,” she said.
Back-to-school dates for TPS students are scattered. Grades 1-9 reported Monday; Grade 10 reports on Tuesday; Grades 11-12 on Wednesday; and Wednesday, Aug. 28, is the first full day for all pre-school and kindergarteners.
