Cesar Chavez Academy coming to North Denver

By Don BainLa Voz NuevaMarch 25, 2009When students first enter the Cesar Chavez Academy in Pueblo, a modern adobe-style update of a former public elementary school, the first thing they see is a large black eagle, the square-winged symbol of Cesar Chavez’ populist crusade for pride, dignity, a living wage and improved working conditions for Mexican migrant workers. It is perhaps this symbol of social justice that inspires the students to excel.
More likely, they instill the motivation to succeed in students by fostering a commitment to academic achievement, leadership and involvement in their community. They further utilize a commitment to intense academic preparation, small class size, a longer school day and year plus an expectation of parental commitment and a dedicated and highly devoted staff. Since their first five years of operation, every grade has exceeded state performance levels in all subject areas. A rare record for schools in Colorado.
Chances are that tradition will continue when the César Chavez Academy opens a charter school in North Denver. On May 28, the Denver Arts and Technology School will hold its last day of classes. After that, the CCA will take control of the building at 38th Ave. and Tennyson St. They are accepting applications for faculty and staff positions through May 1.
The schools in Pueblo were established in 2000 by Lawrence and Annette Hernandez. After the steel mills closed, Pueblo faced a local low-wage service economy aggravated by rising gang violence and shrinking job prospects. The couple knew full well the path to a brighter future lay in the education of the local youth to overcome those limitations.
CCSN, the Cesar Chavez School Network, is currently comprised of César Chávez Academy (CCA) and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High (DHPH) both located in Pueblo, Colorado, Cesar Chavez Academy - Central (CCA-Central) and Cesar Chavez Academy-North both located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, GOAL Academy online and with a new site slated to open in Denver, Colorado within the next two years.
All the CCA schools offer an educational foundation built up by the Core Knowledge curriculum. They have created shining results in terms of building an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum and achieving 100 percent proficiency in several areas of CSAP testing. During the 2004-5 school year, every grade level at CCA exceeded the state performance levels in all subject areas. It has become a national model for effective education.