Our Philosophy

Thea Bowman Preparatory Academy supports families in the education of their children.   We are committed to supporting every student. This is the cornerstone of our mission and influences all of the other aspects of our school.  In our society where knowledge is the great equalizer, Thea Bowman Prep offers every student the opportunity to excel and acquire the knowledge necessary to be successful in today's world.  All of our students are thought to be capable of achieving great things. We see our responsibility to support their efforts and acknowledge their achievement.  Our high academic standards and behavioral expectations demonstrate that we respect our students and their abilities. 

The trademark of our school is to intentionally remain small.  As a small school, we have the opportunity to learn more about each of our students.  You can be assured that all faculty and staff will know your child by name.  Each grade at Thea Bowman Prep is organized into a team that emulates a family.  Each grade-level team has two faculty members responsible for the delivery of instruction and are supported by other instructional staff, resource teachers and specialists.  All members of our school, from our custodian to our administrator are valued members of our school community.  By creating a smaller learning environment, our students have access to more individualized instruction, greater adult interaction, and develop a deeper sense of belonging.

At the beginning of each school day our students gather for the Morning Assembly.  This assembly  begins with the recitation of the “Academy Affirmation.”  This affirmation was adapted from the 1994 Inaugural Speech of Nelson Mandela and popularized in the motion picture, Akeela and the Bee.  Through ritual and a common statement, our students develop a sense of identity and see themselves belonging to a larger community.  The text of the affirmation is as follows:

At Thea Bowman Preparatory Academy our philosophy is guided by these eight principles:

1. We believe that all parents desire the best education for their children.
2. We believe that the only sustainable means to deliver a quality education is through partnerships with parents, educators, and community stakeholders.
3. We believe that by providing opportunities for success, students gain a sense of hope that can be a catalyst for personal transformation.
4. We believe that students must acquire a fund of knowledge held in common by literate adults in our society and the world.
5. We believe that as a school we must cultivate universal ethical principles so that each student matures to become an adult who is caring, honest, courageous and just.
6. We believe that a safe and healthy learning environment is essential to improving academic performance and well being.
7. We believe that the attainment of academic achievement demands the critical analysis of data to design instruction that meets the needs of all students.
8. We believe that to provide effective instruction we must recruit and retain teachers who are expert in teaching young adolescents and engage them in meaningful and targeted professional development.