Head of School announced for the Academy at King

BRISTOL, Tenn.—King College announced Tuesday that veteran educator Susan Melkowski has been named Head of School for the Academy at King. The Academy, a tuition-based private school designed to serve families with students in grades 9-12, is scheduled to offer its first classes in the fall of 2008.

“We are delighted that Susan Melkowski will be leading this new initiative,” said Dr. Linda Fore, consultant for the Academy. “She brings three decades of experience in instruction, curriculum design, policy making, standards testing and more. Her longtime investment in our area’s educational community makes her an excellent candidate, and her familiarity with the administrative operations of an educational facility are a very
valuable asset as we work to establish the Academy.”

Melkowski holds a bachelor’s degree in math education from Concord University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech, and an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership and policy studies, also from Virginia Tech. From 1977 to 2007, she served as an instructor at Virginia High School, and has also led courses at Virginia Intermont College and Virginia Highlands Community College.
“The opportunity to help guide this project is very exciting,” said Melkowski. “I am looking forward to collaborating with students and families throughout our area to offer educational resources consistent with King’s history of academic excellence, exploration of faith, and service to others.”

Programming at the Academy is being designed to offer a well-rounded mix of academic experiences, fine arts and physical education, with advanced placement options and strengths in math and science. A central focus of the Academy’s catalog will be to challenge young scholars to excel in the classroom, preparing them for educational development at the collegiate level, as well as providing a foundation for careers.
“We are working to create a nourishing environment that values multiple intelligences, learning styles and focuses on the academic disciplines,” said Melkowski. “Integrated learning helps students gain a larger perspective on their own lives and those around them, and by incorporating a number of academic experiences, we ultimately hope to cultivate a life-long love of learning in each participant. ”

Extracurricular offerings being considered for the Academy include activities such as debate, photojournalism, theatre, vocal and instrumental musical groups, Beta Club, and co-curricular clubs in art, science and foreign language. The school may also offer extracurricular intramural athletic programs. Competitive athletic teams potentially include soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball, baseball, softball, swimming, diving and basketball.

King College officials see the Academy as an opportunity to collaborate with area public schools to further promote education in the region through additional academic opportunities and programs, particularly in math and science. The project was announced in September 2007 as a potential exploration by the College, and following positive due diligence by officials and an enthusiastic response from the community, has begun to welcome its first enrollees.

“The Academy is being created in response to requests from the community,” said Fore.
“King has long served as an academic and community resource, and similar to our expansion of course offerings and instructional locations, the Academy is another step in helping meet the educational goals of our region.”

A contract is now being finalized so that classes for the Academy at King can begin at a temporary location at 5825 Old Jonesboro Road, a property formerly known as the Gathering Church. “A new facility for the Academy and its students is projected for completion next fall,” said Fore. “In the meantime, we are accepting applications for the Academy’s ninth and tenth grades.”

Officials at King are interested in receiving feedback from and discussing the Academy with parents of prospective students. An information session for parents is planned for Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. in DeFriece Place on the campus of King College. To provide input or to be added to an informational mailing list, please contact King College’s Office of Admissions at 800.362.0014 or e-mail melkowski@academyatking.org. Additional information is available online at www.academyatking.org.