Annual Report 2014
A Message From Our Founders Camden’s Charter School Network is currently the largest network in
Dr. Joseph Conway
William Helmbrecht
the City of Camden, as well as home to the second oldest charters in the City of Camden. Incorporated in 2011, our network places all four of our schools, Camden’s Promise, Camden Academy, Camden’s Pride, and KATZ Academy, all under one roof. Our schools have a long history of serving the Camden community and, most importantly, your children for over the past 17 years. Continuing to always strive for excellence, we have provided the most comprehensive academic model from grades Kindergarten through 12th in a tuition-free, lottery based environment. Our goal for each and every one of our students is a college education. Each year we have expanded our mission to the community of Camden, furthering the development of our schools as well as our student enrollment to service the demand of our long waiting lists. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Camden Academy Charter High School’s first graduating class. Over the past 10 years, we have placed over 700 students in colleges and universities across the country. In addition, we are proud to announce that Camden Academy has, once again, received a bronze medal from U.S. News & World Report Best High School Rankings for 2014. As a whole, our network has also made a number of strides integrating digital learning tools into the classroom. I am pleased to announce that by the end of the 2014-2015 school year, 100 percent of all classrooms will have multimedia active whiteboards. In addition, Camden’s Promise and Camden Academy have taken strides towards our one-to-one tablet initiative and virtual library, as we take one step closer towards our goal of being completely textbook-free by 2016. We thank you for choosing our network of schools, as we are committed to making sure it was the right choice for you and your child. As you journey along with us from Kindergarten to 12th grade, know that you have a support system of faculty and staff that is equally dedicated to your children’s success during the roughest of days and the most rewarding. Help us spread the word. Join our network. Go to college!!
-Dr. Joseph Conway and Mr. William Helmbrecht Co-founders of Camden’s Charter School Network
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Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
Camden’s youth deserve better
19,250
53.4%
school-aged children live within the City of Camden
graduation rate for Camden’s Public Schools
*NJ Department of Education
*NJ Department of Education
Three Camden schools have ranked persistently dangerous in NJ within the past 10 years.
23 out of 26 Camden schools are priority schools by NJ Standards
*NJ No Child Left Behind *Camden City School District
The City of Camden was named the most violent city in America three times in the past 10 years. * “Report Ranks Camden Most Dangerous U.S. City” - Courier-Post
But there’s also another story... Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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Our Schools at a glance Camden’s Charter School Network (CCSN) is a charter management organization dedicated to providing viable educational opportunities for more than 1,400 students and their families. The network is comprised of four schools, which include Camden Academy Charter High School, Camden’s Promise Charter School, Camden’s Pride Charter School and KATZ Academy Charter School.
Grades Served
9th -12th
Grades Served
5th -8th
Grades Served
K-4th
Year Founded
2001
Year Founded
1998
Year Founded
2008
Students Currently Served
450
Students Currently Served 240
Students Currently Served 450
KATZ Academy Charter School (Rosedale Campus)
Camden’s Pride Charter School
Promise Academy Center (PAC)
Camden Academy Charter High School
Camden’s Promise Charter School *Aerial views courtesy of Google Maps
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Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
Camden Academy Charter High School (Downtown Campus)
KATZ Academy Charter School (Parkside Campus)
Grades Served
K-4th
Year Opened
2012
Students Served
Parkside - 160 Rosedale - 160
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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Our schools have some of the highest standardized test scores in the area 2004-2013HSPA Language Arts Literacy Proficiency Rate Total Population
120
In 2013, Camden Academy out-scored the City of Camden School District, the state of New Jersey and District Factor Group ‘R’ (DFGR), which is comprised of all charter high schools in New Jersey.
100
80
CACH 60 District 40
DFG R
State
20
0 CACH District DFG R State
2004 75.3 44 82.2
2005 52 44.7 65.7 83.2
2006 69.2 40 65.3 83.5
2007 83.5 63.9 70 85.4
In 2013, Camden Academy’s HSPA Math Proficiency Rate passed the average for District Factor Group ‘R’ (DFGR) and the City of Camden School District.
2008 88 58.1 65.2 82.8
2009 87.8 35.4 67.3 83.6
2011 87.9 51.6 83.4 89.6
2012 91.4 65.4 90.5 91.5
2013 97.9 61.75 88.8 91.6
2004-2013 HSPA Math Proficiency Rate Total Population
90 80 70 60
CACH 50 District
40 30
DFG R
20
State
10 0 CACH District DFG R State
5
2010 91.3 50.8 74.2 87.1
2004 39.8 23.8 70.1
Camden’s Charter School Network
2005 29.9 30.1 41.1 75.5
2006 32.7 22.6 37.6 75.9
2007 48.4 36 39.5 73.4
2008 55.4 32.2 45.4 74.8
2014 Annual Report
2009 65.8 13.7 39.8 72.7
2010 54.3 25.2 44.8 74.1
2011 62.6 18.3 47.7 75.2
2012 64.7 36.6 61.6 79.3
2013 65.3 41 64.3 79.7
Camden’s Promise NJASK Performance
Proficiency Trends - Math
Proficiency Trends – Language Ar ts Literacy
Approximately 30% of Camden’s Promise students scored Advanced Proficient and 55% scored Proficient on the math portion of the NJASK.
Camden’s Promise Charter School currently ranks number one in language arts literacy test scores among K- 8 public schools and other charter schools within the city. Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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We’re growing everyday Rosedale Expansion In April of 2014, Camden’s Charter School Network was given the green light by the City of Camden’s Planning Board to add a 60,000 sq. ft. expansion to KATZ Academy Rosedale campus in September of 2015. The addition will host a second campus from Camden’s Promise Charter School, making it a shared building for both schools.
60,000
sq. ft. addition to Rosedale
5 -8 th
th
grade classrooms added
“This project’s approval will allow Camden’s Promise to continue its mission of providing the highest caliber of education in Camden.” - Superintendent Dr. Joseph Conway
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Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
The community we serve
146
6.7%
total special needs students served throughout the network for the 2013-2014 school year
94%
increase in the network’s total student body from 2012-2013 to 2013-2014
Network Ethnicity Breakdown Multiracial 1.3 %
total student body received free or reduced lunch for both 2012 -2013 and 2013-2014 school year
Asian 0.15% Black 30%
Hispanic 68%
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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The evolution of our network 1st graduating class walks at Camden Academy
Academy’s 12th grade moved to Downtown cam
Camden’s Promise Charter School is founded.
Camden Academy Charter High School is founded.
1995
2000
2005
Biology and Chemistry science labs and 11th grade added to Camden Academy Camden’s Charter School Network
2010 Camden’s Pride Charter School is founded.
Promise’s first middle school class graduates to high school
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The Promise Academy Center (PAC) officially opens
2014 Annual Report
Pride moves into new building
Facility Breakdown (sq. ft.) KATZ (Rosedale), 16,400 Promise Academy Center (PAC), 26,231
Academy (Downtown), 29,411
KATZ (Parkside), 33,066
Promise / Academy, 47,000
Pride, 34,180
is mpus
Facility Growth (sq. ft.) 200,000 180,000 KATZ Academy Charter School becomes affiliated with the network
160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000
2015
80,000 60,000 40,000
o
20,000 0
Rosedale expansion is approved by the City of Camden planning board
1998
2005
2010
2011
2012
Property (sq.ft.)
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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Student enrollment has grown exponentially Total of Students
1,267 increase in students over the past 16 years
1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400
110
200 0
sq. ft. per new student over the past 16 years Total of Students
Student Growth Per School
1600 1400
1000
1460
800
student total for the 2014 -2015 school year
1200
600
&
400 200
2,000
0
projected for the following year Camden's Promise
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Camden Academy
Camden’s Charter School Network
Camden's Pride 2014 Annual Report
KATZ Academy
Your child’s future is our priority
98%
100%
4-year graduation rate
5-year graduation rate
Post-Commencement Attendance
Post-secondary institution U.S. Armed Forces
94%
2014 graduates will attend post-secondary school Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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For our students, there are no limits College and University Acceptances Alabama State University Albright College Alfred University Allegany College of Maryland Alvernia College American University Arcadia University Arizona State University Art Institute of Philadelphia Bates College Benedict College Bloomfield College Bowdoin College Bowie State University Bryant University Bryn Mawr College Cabrini College Caldwell College Camden County College Capitol College Case Western Reserve University Centenary College Chatham University Chestnut Hill College Cheyney University Clark University Clark Atlanta University College of Notre Dame College of St. Elizabeth College of the Holy Cross Coppin State University Delaware State University DeSales University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University East Stroudsburg University Eastern University Elizabeth City College Elizabethtown College Elmira College Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University Esperanza College Fairleigh Dickinson University Felician College Florida Institute of Technology
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Camden’s Charter School Network
Franklin & Marshall College Franklin Pierce College Gannon University Georgian Court University George Washington University Gettysburg College Goucher College Green Mountain College Gwynned Mercy College Hampton University Hood College Howard University Immaculata College Iona University Juniata College Kean University King’s College Knox College Lafayette University LaSalle University Liberty University Lincoln University Livingstone College Long Island University Loyola University of Maryland Loyola-New Orleans Mary Baldwin College Mercer County College Millsaps College Monmouth University Montclair State University Moravian College Morehouse College Morgan State College Morris College Mount Holyoke College Mount St. Mary College Muhlenberg College Neumann University New Jersey City University New York University New Jersey Institute of Technology Norfolk State University Oklahoma City College Pace University Philadelphia University 2014 Annual Report
Pomona College Prescott College Providence College Quinnipiac University Radford University Ramapo College Richard Stockton College Rider University Robert Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology Rosemont College Rowan University Rutgers University Salisbury State University Seton Hall University Sienna College Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology Spelman College St. John’s University St. Joseph’s University St. Peter’s College SUNY Cortland Syracuse University Temple University The College of New Jersey University of Albany University of Chicago University of Delaware University of MD –Eastern Shore University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of the Sciences, Philadelphia University of Tampa University of Washington Ursinus College Villanova University Virginia State University Wagner College West Chester University Western New England University Widener University Wilberforce University William Patterson University Worcester Polytechnic Institute York College of Pennsylvania
“C.P.C.S. has helped my daughter to really value her education. She has grown leaps and bounds since she has attended this school. She loves to check on her grades and does her very best to bring them up. She is looking forward to attending college in the future.” - submitted by a parent as part of Camden’s Promise Charter School’s 2013-2014 Parent Climate Survey Camden’s Charter School Network
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Digital Intergration: The future classroom model The Technology Push As a network, we believe our children deserve the best when it comes to their education. To facilitate the learning process, we offer more digital tools for our teachers and students than ever before: • Technology Curriculum-Centric Professional Development • Anytime, Anywhere Resource Access • High Speed Content Delivery Network Infrastructure • Multimedia Active Whiteboards • Digital Projectors • One-to-One Tablet Initiative • Online Learning Management System • High Speed Campus Wide Wireless Access • 24/7 Virtual Library
A textbook-free classroo
With the onset of the one-to-one tablet and similar initiati are making the move to a more digital-based curriculum. W sponsors through DonorsChoose.org, thirty instructors at K received digital projectors in May of 2014 making it the fir network to have an interactive board in every classroom. of the digital conversion, Camden’s Promise Charter Schoo completely textbook-free school by the 2015-2016 school . 15
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
$93,600 in technology shared services contracts were booked within a 10 week period, following the start of our technology outreach campaign
MAP Testing
As we move closer to NJPARCC integration, Camden’s Charter School Network will be facilitating the om conversion to a 100% online standardized test, by ives, network schools replacing the TerraNova in both our elementary schools With the help of and middle school with Measures of Academic Process KATZ Academy (MAP) Testing. MAP Testing is delivered completely rst school within the online and adapts to a student’s learning level with Also on the forefront ol aims to be the first every correct or incorrect answer for a more interactive year. and effective testing experience. Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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Why students benefit from Camden’s Charter School Network
Curriculum Our network’s curriculum is anchored by Common Core and the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and delivered in a holistic, hands-on style to meet the needs of our classroom and students.
Student to Teacher Ratio Students benefit from individualized attention from staff and instructors with approximately one staff member for every eleven students.
Trips Schools within the network offer a wide range of field trips for students. By visiting places they would most likely not in their personal time, students garner a greater appreciation for the world around them.
After School Programs To assist parents with child care, our network schools offer after school programs free of charge for all students. During this time students may engage in a number of activities and are served a well-balanced dinner.
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Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
What our alumni have to say.... Q: Would you recommend our network schools to parents? “I would [recommend] it. It provided me a system of staff and faculty that not only truly care for their students, but also for their education.” - Corin Morgan, Rutgers University Camden
“I would 100 percent recommend charter network schools to parents because the students really learn, and teachers really do go out of their way to help you succeed. I believe this school will do great things for Camden city and for all of the students who will attend college after charter.” - Christina Mercado, Rowan University
Q: What are some of your earliest memories as a student of Camden’s Charter School Network?
“Yes, [the network] did a really good job of preparing me for college and helping me get there.” - Chrismairi Acosta, Ramapo College of NJ
“Being pushed by teachers, feeling like I was part of a family.” - Rodolfo Coplin, Ursinus College, University of Penn, current Camden Academy teacher
Q: What would you rate your level of college preparedness? “From a scale of 1 to 10, it would be a 10. This school has given me great insight on how to separate school work and personal life, and great methods on studying.” - Jasmine Little, College of St. Elizabeth
“I would rate my level of preparedness high and higher than others.” - Jeremy Lopez, Rutgers University Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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Giving our students every advantage Internships To help our students evaluate possible career paths, our network offers internship opportunities with local businesses, such as Cooper University Hospital, Adventure Aquarium and Rutgers-Camden.
AP Classes Camden Academy currently offers eight AP Courses, including U.S. History and Chemistry.
Community Service As a network, we care as much about students’ character growth as we do about their academics. For this reason, we’ve mandated five days of community service as a graduation requirement for all seniors.
Best Summer Ever Program To prep students for college readiness, Camden Academy Charter High School offers The Best Summer Ever Program, which runs throughout the month of July. In the summer of 2014, 120 students participated in the program, which consisted of four days of Camden County College courses and group team-building exercises and one day for group field trips per week. 19
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
Development Beyond the Classroom The Mission of our After School Programs are to provide a safe, enriching, supportive environment for students of all ages to achieve their highest potential. As a means of meeting the growing need of the families in our communities, Camden’s Charter School network provides high quality after school programming free of charge. Within the past 15 years the number of after school programs found across the country has increased dramatically. As the popularity of programming increased, studies seeking to determine positive benefits of programming repeatedly came to the conclusion that high quality after school programming benefits student’s holistic development. This program also offers four different NJSIAA sports to students and hot dinners at no cost to families.
After School Programs
Promise • Art Club • Beginner Band • Recreational Sports • Study Hall • Ultimate Frisbee • Choir • Promise Newspaper • Debate Club • Swimming • Digital Music Club • Computer Club
Academy • Computer Club • CPR and First Aid • Guitar Lessons • Chess & Games • Fabulous Females • Japanese Writing • Girls Conditioning • G.I.F.T. • Jiu Jitsu • Pre-med Club • HSPA Prep Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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KATZ Academy Charter School What does our school have to offer? • Nurturing Learning Community - Through the use of Professional Learning Communities, the KATZ Academy Charter School is a collectively led school, in which all stakeholders are engaged in a dynamic process of learning to strengthen the teaching within the classroom and student achievement. • Extended Enrichment Programs - KATZ Academy offers programs before and after school, as well as during the summer months to promote student growth. • Technology - The school is equipped with Apple iPads to incorporate innovative technical resources and applications to extend student learning. • Smart Classrooms - All classrooms are furnished with interactive white boards to increase the use of technology within the classroom. • After School Program - Students 6 years and older have daily access to the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County from 3:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. to help parents with after school care free of charge. • Theme-Based Authentic Learning - KATZ employs holistic learning techniques, which focus on students’ association among educational topics and real world experiences. 21
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
At a Glance •Opened in 2012 •320 Students •15 students per class •K-4 •Boys and Girls Club Wrap Around Services • Parkside and Rosedale Campus
Camden’s Pride Charter School What does our school have to offer?
At a Glance
• Nurturing Learning Community - A school based management style is used to create a safe and comfortable learning environment.
•Founded in 2008
• Block Scheduling - Camden’s Pride follows a block schedule format to allow for extended learning and assessment opportunities, thematic based units, and team-teaching activities. Integrating writing and reading workshops, the Pride curriculum also allows students to develop a strong grasp of language arts literacy. • Hands-on Curriculum - Hands-on cooperative exploratory activities are a major facet of curriculum. The interdisciplinary sessions expand the students’ foundation knowledge by creating relevant authentic experiences. • Technology - All classrooms have three Apple computers for student use. There is also a computer lab with Apple Laptops and Apple iPads. • Experiences - Through partnerships with local museums, such as the Garden State Discovery Museum and the Please Touch Museum, Camden’s Pride is able to create memorable field trip experiences for the students. • Before and After School Programs - To assist with child care needs, Pride offers before school care, beginning at 7:30 a.m., and after care until 4 p.m. Camden’s Charter School Network
•240 Students •16 students per class •K - 4 •Re-charted in 2012 •Learning Centers •Interactive Museum Focus
2014 Annual Report
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Camden’s Promise Charter School What does our school have to offer? • Academically the #1 School in Camden - Promise ranks higher than the state average for K-8 schools in standardized test scores in language arts literacy. • Reading and Writing Strand - Placing a heavy emphasis on language arts, Camden’s Promise integrates reading novels into other subjects such as science and social studies. • Accelerated Reader - Students utilize an online reading comprehension tracker, Accelerated Reader, to find literature that matches their skill set and take quizzes based on their reading. Incentives are awarded based on points accumulated through Accelerated Reader. • After School Programs - After school services are offered until 6 p.m. for all Promise students. Students are offered a number of enrichment activities, including homework help, performing arts, swimming and sports. • Summer Programs - Camden’s Promise offers a summer enrichment program free of charge to all students. During the month of July, students participate in field trips, art projects, group swiming, sports and language arts exercises from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students are also served both breakfast and lunch every day during the program. 23
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
At a Glance •Founded in 1998 •Grades 5-8 •400+ Students •Re-chartered in 2002, 2007, and 2012 •Capacity to 800 Students •Uniform and Safe School
Camden Academy Charter High School What does our school have to offer?
At a Glance
• Nationally Recognized - Received a bronze medal as part of U.S. News & World Report National Rankings for 2010 and 2014.
•Founded in 2001
• Life After High School - In 2014, 88 students graduated from Camden Academy. Of those students, 83 were accepted to post-secondary institutions, while the other five choose to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces.
•Grades 9-12 Uniform School
• AP Classes - Camden Academy currently offers eight AP Classes for the 2014-2015 school year. In addition, students also have the option of taking dual credit courses, for both Camden Academy and Camden County College.
•434 Students
• Immersion Programs - All students are able to attend summer and school year immersion programs. First and second year students attend a two-day immersion experience, participating in team-building exercises. Upper-class students are required to participate in job shadowing and internships. • Community Service - As part of Camden Academy’s graduation requirements, seniors must complete five days of community service.
Camden’s Charter School Network
•Re-chartered in 2005, and 2010 •Guidance Driven Model •Collegiate Academy Instruction 2014 Annual Report
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We offer constant support to our staff Professional Development Each school provides an average of 14 days of professional development to the entire staff.
In-Class Observation Each school principal conducts an average of 3-5 observations per classroom each year.
Classroom Walk-throughs School administrators regularly conduct walk-throughs of all classrooms throughout the entirety of the year.
Professional Learning Communities Six seasoned staff members of Camden Academy provide mentorship meetings with each teacher throughout the school year.
Tuition Reimbursement Our network firmly believes that the education process never stops. Standing behind this principle, our network offers tuition reimbursement for teachers who attend graduate school. 25
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
Providing the staff to accommodate our growing schools
11%
increase in staff from the 2012-2013 to 2013-2014 school year
204
vs.
total staff members employed for the 2012- 2013 school year
227
total staff members employed for the 2013-2014 school year
“I taught special education at Camden Academy HS during the 2006-2007 school year. From day one, the administration was organized and class schedules were in place. Mr. Jones, the principal, was fabulous; he was always willing to listen. I miss the school now that I am living in MS. I learned a lot from my students.” - submitted by a former teacher to greatschools.org Camden’s Charter School Network
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Doing the most with your tax dollars • After-school programs offered to every student
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner for all students • State-of-the art digital education resources
•College and financial aid counseling • Enrichment-focused summer programs • Fun and educational field trips
$21.7 K received per pupil by Camden City School District
$ 16.8 K received per pupil by Camden’s Charter School Network
$19,331,950 total overall annual budget for network schools 27
Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
Investing in our students’ futures Investing in our students’ futures As a network, we believe that supporting extra-curricular activities, such as the performing arts and recreational sports are equally important to the growth and development of our students. Moving forward with our expansion on the Rosedale campus, Camden’s Charter School Network hopes to raise additional funds to support an on-site, fully functional gymnasium and performing arts center in order to provide a more enriching experience for our network students.
The Goal Raise the final $2 million of an $8 million campaign 25% 75%
Total Funding Needed
Our Progress As a product of refinancing, Camden’s Charter School Network was able to bond 6 million dollars for the project. Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
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Camden’s Charter School Network
2014 Annual Report
In Memoriam...
May 31, 2014
On May 31, 2014 a jet carrying KATZ Academy co-founders Lewis Katz and Marcy Dalsey crashed down in Massachusetts, claiming their lives and the lives of five others. Both known for their philanthropy and commitment to social justice, Camden’s Charter School Network will never forget these two exceptional individuals. Mr. Katz and Ms. Dalsey opened KATZ Academy Charter School in 2012, and continuously dedicated their time and effort to ensuring its success. Up until her untimely passing, Dalsey served as the KATZ board of trustees’ president and was a daily presence in KATZ Academy. Katz was also a familiar face around network campuses. As a Camden native himself, Katz was a living testament to achieving success in the face of adversity and always found time to deliver words of inspiration to network students. While both Katz and Dalsey were taken before their time, their legacy will forever remain in those lives they touched at Camden’s Charter School Network. Camden’s Charter School Network
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Camden’s Charter School Network 879 Beideman Ave. Camden, NJ 08105 (856) 365-1000 Follow us:
www.promiseacademycharter.org