Welcome Back

The beginning of a school year creates a natural pause between what has been and what comes next. We bring forward the lessons and relationships that have shaped Venture while making room for new people, new ideas, and new ways of reaching students.

This year, we are excited to welcome Jasmine Reed, Christina Stylc, Julia Smulkowski, Frank Maier, Tara McGuigan, and Izzy Alvarez to Venture Academy in teaching roles. We also welcome Kris Rhodes and CeCe Taylor in support roles. Each brings different experiences and strengths to our staff. Their arrival gives us an opportunity to reconsider familiar practices, learn from one another, and continue improving our work.

Venture has never depended on everyone doing things exactly the same way. In fact, as one staff member often reminds us, this place runs on a little “misfit power.” Our differences matter but only when we use them in service of a common purpose.

That purpose is clear: we believe our collective work can change what is possible for students.

No individual teacher, strategy, or program can meet every need. The real strength of Venture is a staff that shares responsibility for every student. We notice when someone is struggling. We exchange ideas, adjust our approach, and step in for one another. We hold high expectations while recognizing that students often need different paths and different levels of support to reach them.

Belief in our shared ability to make a difference is more than optimism. It is built through the decisions we make each day: how we respond when a student disengages, whether we try again when an approach falls short, and how willing we are to learn from one another. These choices may appear small, but together they shape a student’s experience of school and can alter the direction of their life.

The year ahead will challenge us, and we will need to adapt as we learn more about our students and what they need from us. What matters is that we remain connected to our purpose, open to growth, and committed to one another.

No single person carries that responsibility alone. When we bring our different strengths to a shared purpose, we become the kind of team that can change what students believe is possible.

Week of  Sept. 7th
Bus Duty: Levy/Alvarez
Monday: No School
Tuesday: 1st Day of school
Wednesday:  
Thursday: 
Friday: Staff Work Day

Week of  Sept. 14th
Bus Duty: Wilson/Penske
Monday: 
Tuesday:  Mantz/Jen out @am
Wednesday: Mantz/Jen out @am
Thursday: 
Friday: Staff Work Day

Week of  Sept. 21st
Bus Duty:  Gonzalez/Smulkowski
Monday: 
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: 
Friday: Non Work Day