SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Kavod Elementary Charter School, San Diego’s first and only Hebrew language charter school, will open this September in Clairemont (92111) with veteran charter school leader Cinda Doughty at its helm. Kavod Elementary was approved by the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education in late March.
Kavod, the Hebrew word for honor and respect, joins the Hebrew Language Academy in Brooklyn, New York and Hatikvah International Academy in East Brunswick, New Jersey, as the third school to open as part of the Hebrew Charter School Center network. Another member of the HCSC network recently received their charter approval inWashington D.C.and there are planning groups in Minneapolis and Harlem, NY working to create rigorous, Hebrew immersion charter schools under the same model.
“The Hebrew Charter School Center is thrilled to see another school of excellence using this model come to fruition, both for the parents of San Diego and the growth of our movement,” said HCSC Executive Director Aaron Listhaus.
Cinda Doughty, the newly hired director of Kavod Elementary, has been an educator for nearly thirty years and from 2002-2011 was director and co-director of Darnall Charter School in San Diego where she led eight consecutive years of academic improvement. Doughty holds a Masters of Science inReading and who received National Board Certification has earned numerous awards including Teacher of the Year from the Mountain Empire Unified School District and the Charter School Excellence Award from ExEd. She stated, “I am honored to have been selected for this position. It is exciting to be opening a new dual language charter school because developing literacy in two languages is a very enriching experience for students.”
Kavod Elementary will be located at 3520 Mt Acadia Blvd where it is leasing space from the Potter’s House, a Christian Fellowship Church. Kavod sought a school in the 92111 zip code in order to create a culturally rich and socio-economically diverse student population. With four of the six neighborhood schools in Program Improvement, Kavod will offer an alternative school of excellence to families looking for a better option. Kavod will open with grades K-2 and ultimately will grow to serve grades K-5.
“The Board members and Founders of Kavod Elementary Charter School have been dedicated and passionate about making the dream of a Hebrew language charter school in San Diego a reality,” Board President and Lead Petitioner Tamar Caspi Shnall said. “We look forward to serving the children of San Diego, offering them an educational alternative and the opportunity to learn Hebrew. We are thankful to HCSC for their support and guidance. Kol HaKavod (All the honor and respect) to everyone involved in this accomplishment.”
For more information visit www.kavodelementary.org.