The mission of the Educational Empowerment Group is to promote knowledge, wisdom and understanding to all stakeholders that empowers success in our global society.
Vision
The vision of the Educational Empowerment Group is to elevate the experience for students and stakeholders by positively changing the landscape of charter school education.
A Message from the CEO
We are quickly approaching the season of high stakes testing. The administration of the Ohio State Tests begins next month. I want to encourage you to unify as a team and continue to use the diagnostic, STAR and NWEA/MAP data to inform instruction. Ensure teachers have a keen focus on addressing specific academic deficiencies and work to champion a growth mindset among them. Every student we serve has the capacity for academic growth. We must continue to do the work by targeting performance gaps and planting motivational seeds which will flourish into successful outcomes. Here are some tips to consider in preparation for the upcoming assessments:
Continue to provide interventions through small group instruction, tutoring programs and one-on-one remediation.
Share goals with the students and parents.
Let students know you are cheering for them. Your motivation will speak volumes.
Continue to utilize the evidence-based strategies and programs implemented by our academic team.
Continue to cultivate a motivational culture at the schools by connecting achievement with the House Systems.
Encourage your teachers. They need your encouragement as much as your students.
Be relentless in the pursuit of your goals. Our students possess innate abilities to grow and succeed. We must continue to guide them on the path which leads to excellence. I believe in you!
– Wendy Rydarowicz
In the Spotlight
“A Blueprint for Success.”
Ohio Construction Academy gives its mantra life by guiding students on a positive trajectory to success. OCA fosters achievement through mentoring, career development, a positive school culture and staff who has a vested interest in the lives of the students. Let’s learn more about Principal Matt Demosky and Ohio Construction Academy.
What motivated you to become an educator?
I wanted to make a difference in the community. I wanted to positively impact, teach and develop the youth.
What is your personal educational experience?
I graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration, and I received a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.
What are some things you would like to share about yourself?
I am from Athens, OH. I have a soon-to-be 12 year old daughter, Summer. I have 2 Dachshunds, Buckeye and Carmen. My hobbies include spending time with friends, family and my dogs. I love working out and checking out new movies and television series.
What is unique about Ohio Construction Academy (OCA)? What sets the school apart from other DOP schools in the Columbus area?
We offer a unique opportunity for our students by delivering hands-on learning and implementing relevant and realistic learning outcomes that are pertinent to their success in the trades industry. We provide our students with a skillset that sets them up for success for the rest of their lives. We train and prepare students in the fields of carpentry, welding, and electrical. Our students earn industry credentials and certifications in these fields, and we assist them with job placement with our many construction employer community partners.
Explain the culture of OCA. How did you build it?
We are a family at OCA. We provide a caring, nurturing and family-like atmosphere. Students are celebrated and recognized for their successes on a daily basis. We built this culture by implementing effective PBIS strategies, creating family/parental buy-in, developing crucial community partnerships and by being heavily involved in important and necessary work in our community.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
Our current enrollment sits at 115. This is the highest enrollment we have had at OCA. We graduated 16 students last school year, which was the highest graduation rate to date. Additionally, we assisted with the placement of 14 out of 16 graduates into construction-related careers.
What are your goals this year?
We believe we will have the largest graduating class this year with the class of 2024 on pace to have 20 graduates. Our goal is to increase our number of students graduating with industry credentials and certifications; we believe this is attainable with the addition of our new welding program. Another goal for us is to conduct more construction work for our community. So far, we have built one house and one shed for families in need.
OCA SPIRIT
“At OCA, we are changing lives. We don’t provide students with jobs; we provide students with careers.” – Matt Demosky, Principal
Who’s in the News
High Performing Schools
We are always excited to laud our principals and schools who are surpassing the odds and making a positive difference in our communities. Recently, two of our schools were listed on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s list of High Performing Community Schools. Congratulations to Main Preparatory Academy and Liberty Preparatory School! Main Preparatory Academy received a 5-Star progress rating and is recognized for its achievement and progress. Liberty Preparatory School has an overall DOPR rating of Exceeds Standards on the State Report Card. We are extremely proud of these two outstanding schools!
Project Lead the Way Conference
We make it our mission to provide targeted, cutting-edge professional development to promote efficacy among educators. Recently, Maria Hejnal, EEG Director of Curriculum and Instruction and South Side teachers, Russell Brown and Alex Rollo-Smith attended the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Conference, entitled Sparking Curiosity, in St. Louis, MO. This professional development opportunity allowed Russell and Alex to take back valuable information to South Side Academy which has a budding STEAM program.
Sparking Curiosity included in-depth training sessions, demonstrations of the latest technology and resources regarding the STEAM curriculum from Project Lead the Way. The workshop also provided Maria, Russell and Alex with networking opportunities with people from across the United States who are currently implementing the same curriculum.
MVA Career Day
Miami Valley Academies (MVA) conducted Career Day and hosted Detective Kamryn Yauger from the Moraine Police Department. The students enjoyed learning about the job and duties of police officers. They also had fun trying on some of the equipment.
CSI at Innovation Academy West
The students at Innovation Academy West (IAW) thoroughly enjoyed learning about fingerprinting in their STEAM Crime Scene Investigation lab. The school has the capability of offering this interactive learning experience through the OSLN STEM Classroom Grant Program, funded by @Battelle. What an innovative way to introduce possible careers to the students and bring learning to life!
The Steel Academy
Congratulations to Principal Troy Powell and The Steel Academy for receiving the Leadership Award during National School Choice Week 2024! Thank you for your diligent efforts to inspire and motivate our students!
EEG Gear is Here!
We all LOVE to demonstrate our EEG spirit by sporting our EEG gear! We are excited to announce that you can now purchase various EEG items at any time. Check out the link!
How’s your heart? According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 33 seconds, someone dies of cardiovascular disease. This month’s issue of Live Well, Work Well offers life saving information on heart health. Click the link below for details.
Volume 21 | April 2024ELEVATE. EMPOWER. EMULATE. ENGAGE. We Elevate charter schools. We Empower students. We Emulate research-based practices. We Engage community stakeholders. EEG News & UpdatesMissionThe mission of the Educational Empowerment Group…
