Dr. Tamara Anderson and Dr. DaJuane Lateef Anderson    
dajuane@nova.edu  

My name is Dr. Tamara Anderson (NSU Alumni) and my
husband is Dr. DaJuane Lateef Anderson.  We recently moved
to Charlotte a few weeks ago and will be opening a private
school for students in the inner city of Charlotte in fall of 2008.  We have spent the past four years developing our mission in a meticulous manner. Thus far we have purchased a home in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area and have spent the past eight
months preparing our vision.  We recently received news from the IRS that our 501(c) (3) non-profit status has been granted. Anderson Academy of Mathematics and Science is scheduled to open fall of 2008.  Our non-discriminatory policy ran in "The Charlotte Observer" the final week of January 2007.  Anderson Academy of Mathematics and Science will service inner-city/at-risk students in grades 5-8, eventually becoming 5-12, after adding 1 additional grade each year.  We are also honored to have Gordon Bingham (Executive Director of NCAIS-North Carolina Association of Independent Schools) as a board member.

We have spent the past ten years of our lives involved in Education. Our initial educational experiences took place at Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology located in Detroit, Michigan. Timbuktu Academy is an African Centered charter school, which opened in 1997.  We were instrumental in the design and development of the Academy as well as lending input in various areas including: elementary and middle school instructors, curriculum writing, implementation, design and numerous administrative roles and responsibilities.  We're also receiving an honorary founders award from Timbuktu this month at the organization's 10th anniversary celebration. Our personal educational backgrounds included private and Catholic schools which properly prepared us both for college.  I(Tamara) graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities Pre-Law from Michigan State University. My husband (DaJuane Anderson) received a scholarship from Grambling State University.  (Where Everybody is Somebody!!!) and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelors in Management. After meeting at Timbuktu Academy we decided that our goals, visions, and missions had outgrown our current place of employment and began to formulate a proactive plan for change.  This change would not only include geographic relocation but also academic goals, personal aspirations, and eventually marriage.

DaJuane and I decided to relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001. We immediately began employment in the fall of 2001 at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. AACPA was a new charter school opened by Andre Agassi and his Charitable Foundation which included donors from around the nation.  The vision and mission of the school called for college preparatory courses for inner city-at-risk students with aspirations for college.  In a five year period Andre Agassi Academy became one of only three institutions out of 300 schools to receive "Exemplary Status" from Clark County School District in 2005. My husband (DaJuane) taught middle school math and science during the time period that the school received exemplary status. His students' math and science scores were the highest in the school and above average in the school district.  I (Tamara) was the Director of Curriculum during that time period and my guidance to the teachers pertaining to curriculum and classroom instruction was directly related to the exemplary status that the school achieved. These accomplishments were attained after the implementation of the "No Child Left Behind Act".

Our experiences in inner city education and our dedication and commitment have been exemplified in our work ethic and proven results throughout our careers.  Our passion and dedication to education and the changes necessary for inner city children's success are what fuels our fire and drives our focus towards the opening of "A MODEL INSTITUTION" an "ELITE ACADEMY" or "TOP NOTCH-SCHOOL" for minority students whose dreams include college. Our educational philosophies, ideologies, and concepts are a direct reflection of our upbringing.  We were both born in Detroit, Michigan on opposite sides of town with both parents, hardworking and focused on education.  A blue-collar town with a population of well over 80% Black at the time, called for swift and disciplined child rearing based on discipline, knowledge of self, and education.  Our parents went the extra mile to provide the best possible educational opportunities, which would eventually lead to a combined five Master degrees and two Doctorates alone amongst six children in our immediate families.

We have been able to develop similar philosophies with both our students and parents at every level of education throughout our careers. Providing children with the proper focus and discipline necessary for academic prosperity has been and will be incorporated in our past, present, and future educational missions and visions. After thorough research, we moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where we are committed to creating an academic institution for minority youth, which can spring-board an elevated sense of pride, academic awareness, and prosperity.  We have committed our talents and expertise to middle and high school students in inner city communities where minorities are considered at-risk and unable to learn.  Our talents and results over the last ten years have continued to refute these negative stereotypes and often racist view points of children of color in the nation, and we plan on duplicating our efforts in Charlotte, North Carolina.   Our formula for reaching this vision would include resources identified with your help, the passion, background knowledge and direction we posses, and the children who will benefit from the educational experiences.