Parma Community School News

Wanda Ford, a basketball legend and physical education teacher for Summit Academy Community School – Parma, was named Coach of the Year in youth basketball by the City of Parma. She received the honor on March 25 at Parma City Hall from Mayor Tim DeGeeter, Ward 4 Councilwoman Kelly Zacharias and Director of Parks and … Continued

While awareness about autism has developed over time, misconceptions surrounding this common condition still linger. Experts from Summit Academy, an Ohio leader in K-12 special education with an emphasis on autism and ADHD, weigh in with five key, yet relatively unknown, facts about autism. 1. Autism affects girls, too. The proverbial cat may finally be … Continued

“I think we should get a slide for the playground … a slide is fun,” wrote Summit Academy Community School  – Parma student Vivienne Schoger as part of a persuasive letter-writing assignment. The second grader’s narrative conveys a viewpoint shared by many of her fellow school community members. Since last summer, Principal Noriliz Santiago has … Continued

For Social Work Month, we went behind the scenes with Summit Academy’s amazing social workers and counselors. We asked them what they like most about social work and counseling, why they enjoy working for Summit Academy and what attracted them to their profession. We discovered a common theme among them, a desire to help others. … Continued

The Summit Educational Foundation (SEF) has named Leo Hyland as its executive director. Leo brings an extensive professional background in education leadership and mission advancement. Leo most recently served as the president of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School where he worked collaboratively with the school’s Executive and Foundation Boards. Prior, he was the president of … Continued

January 29, 2024 Re: Summit Academy School – RFP / Psychological Testing and Related Services Summit Academy Management invites your company to submit a proposal based on the attached Request for Proposal for Psychological Testing and Related Services. Summit Academy Schools are non-profit community schools for alternative learners. The Summit Academy Schools are specifically designed … Continued

Sporting headphones, Summit Academy Akron Elementary School third grader Dominic grins and nods at a laptop screen as he engages with a tutor working with him virtually, in real time. Instructional Coach Lindsey Durbin says Dominic finds his tutoring sessions so enjoyable that he wishes they extended beyond their typical 30 minutes. Dominic is one … Continued

For Summit Academy Executive Director of Special Education Erica Richley-Duda, penning her first book — aimed at unmasking ADHD — has been an 18-year-long labor of love, simmering since she started her career in counseling and special education. Richley-Duda, who is both a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervision Designation and a Certified Clinical Trauma … Continued

Summit Academy Management welcomes new Director of Food Services Gina Nash. Gina brings 17 years of experience in food service direction including positions at Educational Empowerment Group, White Hat Management and most recently Pisanick Partners. At Pisanick, Gina served as a consultant to seven local school districts including Summit Academy Schools. “After visiting the schools … 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