The following news release was distributed by PRWeb on January 18, 2018.
Washington, D.C. (January 18, 2018) – Blyth-Templeton Academy, a college-preparatory micro school located in the heart of Capitol Hill, announced today Temp Keller will serve as President. With an average class size of eight students, Blyth-Templeton Academy provides a highly personalized, experiential-based learning environment with academically rigorous teaching and learning driven by student interest and agency.
“Blyth-Templeton Academy provides a unique, interactive, and exploratory-based educational experience unlike no other high school in Washington, DC,” said Lee Palmer, Founding Head of School, who joined Blyth-Templeton after serving as Upper School Principal at Sidwell Friends School from 2010-2014, and previously held leadership positions at Trinity School in New York City and The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland. “Our goal is to foster the independence, curiosity, and creativity necessary for students to understand, explore, and solve any challenge that they may face. Temp’s commitment to the students and families that we serve and success as a social impact entrepreneur brings both deep experience and genuine enthusiasm to bear on our team and mission.”
Located at the Hill Center at the renovated Old Naval Hospital on Capitol Hill, Blyth-Templeton Academy’s unique approach to experiential learning builds on the extensive cultural and educational resources that Washington D.C. offers to provide students with the opportunity to learn by doing, whether it be visiting the U.S. Capitol as part of a history lesson, exploring science at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, or cultivating a community garden in the local neighborhood.
“Being a part of a school where students’ needs, interests, and ambitions are at the heart of everything we do provides an opportunity to transform the way we traditionally think about education to foster a love of learning that will serve students for years to come,” said Keller. “I’m humbled by the enthusiasm among Washington’s parents and students for our approach to learning, and excited to be a part of a school community that is living its mission by creating an environment where problem-solving, communication, self-advocacy and empathy not only thrive but transcend beyond the four walls of a classroom.”
In the past few years, micro schools are on the rise in places including Austin, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Silicon Valley. These schools, which serve no more than 150 students, provide a highly personalized educational experience driven by student interest and offer an innovative approach to the traditional private and public education sectors.
“At Blyth-Templeton Academy, each student is empowered to be the driver of their own learning, and teachers serve as partners to help facilitate that learning,” said Mittie Rooney, founding parent of a Blyth-Templeton Academy graduate. “By exploring academic subjects in a way that aligns to each students’ interests and passion, they actually gain a deeper understanding of the material while also having a collegiate experience during high school. This is all done with the support of a close-knit community of peers and teachers.”
Temp began his career in education by teaching fifth grade at East Palo Alto Charter School in East Palo Alto, California. Troubled by the rising number of effective educators leaving the profession, he went on to found Resources for Indispensable Schools and Educators (RISE), a national non-profit working to recognize and retain effective teachers in public schools serving low-income communities, which helped improve teacher retention and learning for over 50,000 students at more than 130 partner schools nationwide. He also served as the Managing Director for Innovations for Learning, a Chicago-based nonprofit aimed to bring innovative technology to improve early elementary education and was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Acton Academy, a micro school in Austin, Texas. Temp serves on the boards of the Loomis Chaffee School, Austin Achieve Public Schools, and the African Leadership Academy. He received his B.A. from Princeton and M.B.A. from The University of Chicago.
Blyth-Templeton Academy is a joint venture with Blyth Education Group, a Toronto-based organization that has built the largest system of private schools in Canada.
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About Blyth-Templeton Academy: Blyth-Templeton Academy is an experiential micro school located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. It offers an academically rigorous 9-12 grade high school curriculum designed to foster intellectual curiosity through active learning and community exploration. The small class sizes ensure that each student has a front row seat in classes with an average size of eight. Our model combines a warm, inviting atmosphere with great teaching that allows our students to flourish. Schedule a visit today!
Press contact: Caitlin Cox, Caitlin.cox@blythtempleton.org