We are proud to announce that the Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy (JCFA) East Bank and West Bank campuses are now autonomous from The Jefferson Chamber Foundation. The schools are achieving their mission and are no longer under any oversight of the Jefferson Chamber Foundation. The two academies will have a new name in the coming months.
JCFA, an alternative charter high school organization, was founded in 2010 by the non-profit arm of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, and offers charter high school options that support students who do not excel in traditional learning environments and gives them an opportunity to earn a high school diploma. Through a computer-based curriculum, students are provided with the opportunity to work at their own pace, while having access to dual enrollment career skills courses.
The organization has experienced rapid growth. The first campus opened in 2010 on Delgado Community College’s location in Harvey. By 2013, the organization expanded and opened an East Bank location, currently operating in Metairie. In total, the academy has graduated over 150 students and today enrolls 248 students between the East and West Bank campuses.
In cooperation with its founding organization, the Jefferson Chamber Foundation, JCFA is proud to announce that a process has begun to select a new name to reflect its growing mission. This process includes choosing organization and campus names that reflect the success and experiences of students, while supporting the mission of the organization. JCFA plans to share its new identity with the community in the upcoming months.
Tom Meyer, Chairman of the Jefferson Chamber Foundation, expressed pride in his organization launching and organizing the school. “This school’s concept was born out of findings from the Multiple Education Pathways Blueprint grant and has now become a viable choice for our youth in need of an alternative option. The vision of the original organizers remains clear and the Board of Governance will continue to provide great leadership for the academy for years to come.” The Foundation Board was responsible for selecting and approving initial members of the organization’s Board of Governance and supported the initial charter application in 2010.
Dr. Kristine Strickland, Board of Governance Chair, also expressed her thanks to both the Jefferson Chamber and the Jefferson Chamber Foundation. “We will always have a deep sense of gratitude for the Chamber and the Chamber Foundation for their unwavering support of the mission and students at JCFA. The vision of these organizations in the founding of the school has been instrumental in its success. As the school continues to grow and expand its mission, in service to the community, we will continue to seek ways to expand upon our past and we look forward to a bright future.”
