1. Executive Director Search Update
At the Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, the Jefferson Academy Charter Schools Board of Directors selected two final candidates in the search for our next Executive Director.
We are pleased to announce and congratulate Mr. Cory Harbor and Dr. Ann Schultz as the two finalists advancing in the selection process. Both candidates bring significant experience and a strong commitment to educational leadership, and we thank them for their dedication and professionalism throughout this process. We encourage you to visit the following webpage to view information about the two final candidates, including their resumes: https://www.jajags.com/page/executive-director-search
We invite our community to join us for the next step in the search process at the public forum on March 9th at JA Secondary. The Board expects to announce the selection for Executive Director at the March 17th board meeting.
2. Call for Board Candidates
Jefferson Academy Charter Schools is a unique, "family-governed" institution, and you have the opportunity to shape its future by running for one of the two Board of Directors seats up for election this May. These three-year terms offer parents and guardians from all campuses a vital role in setting the policies that guide our school’s mission and vision. We are particularly seeking individuals with experience in legal, leadership, facilities, fundraising, or project management, though we welcome all candidates who are passionate about our educational philosophy.
If you have an interest in serving, please submit a candidate letter and resume to Jerrilynn Lilyblade (jlilyblade@jajags.com) by Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Your letter should introduce yourself to the community and explain how your professional background and experience will contribute to the school's success. Voting will take place between May 4th and May 12th, 2026. We encourage you to reach out to any current Board member with questions and look forward to seeing our community’s diverse talents represented in this year’s candidate pool. You can find their contact information here.
3. Staff Survey Thank You and SAC Survey Reminder
Thank you to all of our staff members who took the time to complete the recent staff survey. Your thoughtful feedback is greatly appreciated and plays an important role in helping us reflect, grow, and continue improving our school community.
We also want to remind our parents and guardians to please complete the SAC survey if you have not already done so. Your input is equally valuable and helps guide our school leadership's work and decision-making. This survey will close TONIGHT. Thank you in advance for your time and partnership in supporting our school. If you have not taken the survey(s), you can find the links here.
In addition to results being shared at Board meetings, our Principals will take results from both surveys and share specific actions they will implement to address feedback and strengthen student and staff experiences at the upcoming April board meeting.
4. Developing a Responsible Framework for AI in Education
The Board received an update from Ms. Jen Davis, our Digital Teacher Librarian and Tech Coordinator, regarding the innovative work being done at JA Secondary to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the classroom responsibly. The school has developed a comprehensive framework designed to ensure AI supports student learning without replacing the critical thinking essential for academic growth. Central to this approach is the question, "Who is doing the thinking?" Teachers now have a clear structure to designate assignments as "brain-only" or to integrate AI at specific levels ranging from "Supporting" (AI helps students to think) to "Replacing" (AI does the thinking while students manage output). This framework has been a collective effort supported by many staff members at the Secondary. We appreciate their thoughtfulness in integrating this new technology with integrity and diligence. Learn more about our approach at https://ai.jajags.com.
5. JA CCC Earns 57/60 on Comprehensive Quality Review
As part of its $425,241 Charter School Program (CSP) award from Great Schools Colorado, JA CCC recently completed a Quality Schools Review (QSR) conducted by the Charter School Institute (CSI). Led by a two-person team over two days, this process provides a structured, evidence-based assessment of a school -- and in the case of JA CCC -- focuses on how effectively the replicated school has implemented its existing model. Following a thorough process that included two site visits and 16 stakeholder interviews, JA CCC received a final score of 57/60 points. Scoring proficient or above on all indicators, this is truly an accomplishment! The QSR also identified areas of opportunity, offered recommendations and shared potential action items. To view the full report, click here.