The Emma Jewel Charter Academy, a tuition-free public charter school in Cocoa, Florida, held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this week to celebrate the recent renovation of an additional building on the campus. The newly remodeled Building D adds 4 classrooms to this VPK-8 charter school in Brevard County, bringing the school’s enrollment to 400 students for the 2018-19 school year.

Present at the ribbon cutting were representatives from Brevard County Public Schools, Florida Community Loan Fund, and Building Hope…A Charter School Facilities Fund. FCLF and Building Hope worked together to finance this new 2018 addition to the school, as well as providing financing in 2013 for major rehabilitation of the formerly vacant school building.

The motto of Emma Jewel Charter Academy is “Helping the Village Raise the Child.” Its co-founder and principal, Thomas Cole, has over 20 years of experience in charter schools and is a long-time resident of Brevard County. School curriculum in this high poverty area focuses on health and nutrition, and individualization of the education process in an effort to create a unique choice option for families.

Read more about FCLF and Emma Jewel Charter Academy here.

Pictured above, Emma Jewel Principal Thomas Cole celebrates the ribbon cutting with students, teachers, and parents.
Below, Thomas Cole of Emma Jewel Charter Academy, Richard Moreno of Building Hope, Cindy Ross of Florida Community Loan Fund, Corey Lancaster of Harlan Development, and Janet de Guehery of Florida Community Loan Fund.