DETROIT — Global Educational Excellence (GEE) celebrated two grand re-openings on Tuesday for Detroit Charter schools White Academy and Edmonson Academy, bringing optimism to two schools whose futures were in limbo last year when they were about to be closed by the city as a result of students performing below the state level.

GEE co-founder Mohamad Issa, Detroit charter school director Doug Ross, Edmonson Principal Daria Neal and students cut the ribbon at Edmonson’s grand re-opening ceremony.

GEE has found major success by operating their schools with specific goals and strategies in place geared towards the individual student. The company manages the entire school, from hiring teachers, tutors, and counselors to even selecting custodians and lunch servers. According to Mouna Abboushi, the Marketing and Communications Director of the company, it’s these strategies that will help students accelerate in the two new schools they are managing.

“We are constantly testing students to see how they are performing. We give each student an individual curriculum based on their strengths and weaknesses,” Abboushi stated. “We catch a problem while it is small and focus on trying to help the student progress in the subject they are struggling in by offering resources like after school tutoring and one on one counseling.”

In addition Abboushi states that the student is constantly being tested throughout the year to see if the individual’s curriculum is benefiting them. Adjustments are made depending on the students progressing results.  GEE is constantly training their staff and providing them with resources they can use when educating their students. 

GEE, which started up in 1998, already has several successful charter schools under its belts. The organization operates 12 schools total, including one in Ohio. GEE also has two schools in Dearborn, Riverside Academy East and Riverside Academy West, as well as two schools in Dearborn Heights, Global Heights Academy and Riverside Academy Early Childhood Center. The majority of their schools offer bi-lingual curriculums for their Arabic speaking students as well.   

All students that reside in the state can apply to any of GEE’s schools. If there aren’t any available spots for students they are put on a waitlist until one opens up. A public lottery then takes place to determine which students get in. Also, each student has to re-apply every year.

Edmonson re-opened its doors last September under the management of GEE. The Detroit charter school currently enrolls 280 students.

White Academy in particular has a diverse group of students. According to the schools principal, Felicia Jones, the students are comprised of 55 percent African American and 45 percent Arabs and Bengalis. According to Principal Jones they thrive off of the diversity.

“We live diversity. We all learn from each other and don’t make distinctions or point anyone out,” Principal Jones stated. “These students have gone to school with each other for a while and have lived in the same neighborhoods for years.”

According to Principal Jones, the 450 students currently enrolled in the school even take Arab instruction. It’s part of the GEE goal in helping the students perform at their highest potential. Many of the school’s students wear the headscarf and there is even a small population of black Muslims. The school plans on expanding in the fall by offering more after school programming and having sports teams.

“Our mission overall is to educate today’s student for tomorrow’s world. We need to make sure they are equipped with the goals they need,” Principal Jones added. 

Over at Edmonson Academy, the school also has plenty of room to grow as well. Currently the school has around 280 students enrolled and plans on doubling that number in the fall. They have come a long way in the seven months since GEE took over, according to Abboushi. She says she couldn’t believe the maintenance condition of the school when they took over seven months ago. 

Daria Neal, the Principal of Edmonson Academy says that it’s important to give students that extra push when it comes to academics.

“In the beginning, the students felt like they were being pushed too hard. But now the parents recognize we are pushing for their excellence,” Principal Neal stated. “They have to be competitive not just in the workforce, but in life. They need to be citizens who are thoughtful and can shake the future.”

The students at Edmonson Academy seemed excited and optimistic of the schools future while Mohamad Issa, GEE co-founder, was gearing up to cut the ribbon on the schools re-opening ceremony. Both Edmonson Academy and White Academy have been re-opened since September 2011, but didn’t celebrate until they were fully operating under GEE standards. Staff members, parents and city employees such as Doug Ross, Director of the Charter School office in Detroit, were also participating in the ceremony as well. 

“The overall reaction has been very successful,” Issa stated. “The reason why we didn’t have the re-opening ceremony in the beginning is because it takes time to change the school culture. There is a lot of learning going on in these classrooms and the kids have been on excellent behavior.”