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Nebraska's first state-approved, Black-founded middle school is coming to North Omaha — and it’s for all girls.
Identity Preparatory Academy is set to open in North Omaha later this year, according to KETV.
The school’s Chief Executive and Founder, DerNecia Phillips, has over 20 years of experience as a public and non-public school educator, mentor, and principal, according to her LinkedIn page.
She holds advanced degrees from both Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and plans for the school to promote a responsive learning environment that prioritizes both academic excellence and community engagement.
“We invited the families and their daughters to come in. We called it ‘the Dreams of Our Daughters,’” Phillips told the outlet in an interview. “They talked about what an education that would be nourishing for them would look like, and then we built it out.”
Phillips explains that a “culturally fortified” education sits at the core of Identity Preparatory Academy’s focus and approach, and aims to foster a setting where all students can see themselves represented in school leadership, staff, and learning materials.
“There’s a lot of research that shows that our girls really shine when they are around each other, and especially in those middle years,” Phillip said.
A future student told the outlet that she and her mother helped pilot some of the school's programs, such as sports and cooking classes, and that she’s excited to be around girls “just like her.”
Waiting lists for the school range from 60 to 100 students, according to Philips, who confirmed that community involvement will continue to play a pivotal role in the school’s future even after its doors open.
“Community members, community co-educators are coming in and teaching our girls, so those who want to get involved, we encourage them to do so,” she said.
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