News

A brand-new gym floor at Summit Academy Akron Elementary School is getting plenty of practical use during students’ PE/therapeutic martial arts classes. The soft grey-tone floor made of seamless vulcanized rubber features a cushioned bottom layer to accommodate students with comfort as they participate in assorted fitness activities. “We are so grateful for our new … Continued

AD/HD, or Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder, receives its share of misinterpretation. The truth is, AD/HD does not look the same on everyone. While educators at Summit Academy Schools are well aware of AD/HD’s multiple facets, the public, in general, is often misinformed by myths that typecast children with AD/HD. For AD/HD Awareness Month, October, Summit … Continued

Sporting a crisp white chef hat and jacket, Harper reports to work with a bounce in her step. The fluffy white Goldendoodle prances into Harper Café, the Summit Academy Akron Elementary School eatery students named in her honor. Inside the K-3 classroom café, children assemble joyfully around the pup, the school’s therapy dog. Harper also … Continued

The Summit Academy Management Board of Directors issued a proclamation recognizing Sensei Charles Rickard’s promotion to the position of Shihan, a martial arts “teacher of teachers.” Summit Academy CEO John Guyer and Summit Academy Board Chair Tony Malorni presented the proclamation to Rickard at the board’s Sept. 19, 2023 meeting. Shihan Rickard oversees Summit Academy’s … Continued

Albert “AJ” Charpentier  and Diane Longstreth, Ph.D., were elected to the Summit Academy Management Board of Directors at the organization’s June 3 annual meeting. Both new members bring extensive K-12 education leadership experience, including previous involvement as Summit Academy school board members. Charpentier joins the SAM Board after serving as both a Summit Academy school … Continued

Former Canton Police officer Evan McIntosh has been appointed as the Director, Health, Safety and Security for Summit Academy Schools. Evan brings nearly two decades of experience to Summit Academy, including the past nine years as a police officer for the Canton Police Department. During his tenure with the department, Evan held assignments in the … Continued

Martial arts has a lot to teach about well-being, especially a hybrid style like Summit Academy Schools’ Therapeutic Martial Arts. With a focus on serving K-12 students with Autism and ADHD, Summit Academy Schools incorporate therapeutic martial arts into their curriculum. In the dojo, where students learn martial arts movements and traditions, they also find … Continued

Summit Academy Schools Plan Graduation Ceremonies With more than 110 seniors set to graduate in the coming weeks,  the Summit Academy community is uniting to celebrate its Class of 2023 graduates. “Their milestone achievement of earning a high school diploma calls for celebration,” says Summit Academy Management CEO John Guyer. Inspirational speakers, recollections of amusing … Continued

Katelyn Thompson, LSW, has what she calls an impact word. That word is love. SAM Executive Director of Special Education Erica Richley-Duda describes the word as “perfectly fitting” for the Summit Academy Secondary School – Middletown behavior specialist. Richley-Duda, MSEd, LPCC-S, CCTP, says Thompson’s love for her work is evident in her “whole-student approach and … Continued

With the comfortable style of a veteran teacher and the finesse of the three-time book author she is, Jewell Jones captivated Summit Academy Akron Elementary School kindergarten to second-grade students with her African American history “story sharing” last Wednesday. She will return to Summit Academy on February 22 to read to the school’s third- to … Continued