Detroit Prep exists to provide a globe-form, equitable education that will give all students a foundation of academic excellence and character development while fostering a love of learning and passion for exploring and fulfilling their extraordinary potential as learners, leaders, and globe-changers.

Detroit Prep's work is urgent and focuses on holistically educating each pupil. Our piece of work is guided by these four principles:

Our work is active.

We larn past doing and getting our hands dirty. Students are scientists, urban planners, historians, and activists, investigating real customs issues and collaborating with peers to develop creative, actionable solutions. Adults are active guides of pupil learning and active members of their professional learning community.

Our piece of work is inclusive and equitable.

Students and adults celebrate the diverse backgrounds of their peers. School leaders work to recruit and concenter a population of families and kinesthesia that represents unlike socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.

Our work is excellent.

Students at all levels are pushed and supported to practise more than than they call up they can. Excellence is expected in the quality of their work and thinking. Schoolhouse leaders, teachers, students, and families share rigorous expectations for quality work, achievement, and behavior.

Our work is cogitating.

Students and adults reflect as they triumph and equally they stumble. Students and adults offering direct and sensitive feedback to their peers. Trust, respect, responsibility, and joy in learning permeate the schoolhouse culture.

 See the Squad

  • Jen McMillan | Co-Founder & Head of Schoolhouse

    Jen McMillan is honored to exist the Caput of School, alongside the all-time team ever! As 2nd grade instructor at Detroit Achievement Academy, our flagship school, Jen led her students to 2.22 years in reading and the 99th percentile for growth nationally in both reading and math. Jen was named Michigan Charter School Teacher of the Twelvemonth in 2015. Born and raised in metro-Detroit, Jen spent seven years in the San Francisco Bay Area teaching high schoolhouse and middle school, and working in instructor support and development with Teach For America and The New Teacher Project. She earned her BA in Psychology from Harvard University in Massachusetts and her Masters in Pedagogy from Alliant International University in San Francisco. Jen loves the environment of abiding learning at DP (for kids and adults!), nurtured past our partnership with EL Didactics--existence with our crew brings and so much JOY! In her costless time, Jen likes running, reading, doing yoga, eating water ice foam, and drinking lots of coffee. You lot can oft discover her doing all of these things with her hubby while snuggling her ii baby boys!

  • Ryen Odom | Manager of Elementary

    Ryen is thrilled to exist returning to the Detroit Prep Coiffure equally Director of Elementary. She graduated from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in 2014 with a BA in Psychology and Women's Studies. After graduating she joined Teach for America and has been teaching since. She is also a TFA Detroit Leads Young man. As she embarks on her eighth year in education, she is excited to continue inspiring students and educators to attain their wildest dreams. Ryen also holds a Chief's of Education in Community Health Education and an Education Specialist Document in Assistants and Supervision (K-12) from Wayne State University. She is also currently pursuing her Doctorate of Didactics in Pedagogy Leadership and Policy Studies also at Wayne State University. When she's not working, she's cooking or binge watching shows on Netflix. Ryen started her ain catering business in June of 2020. Ryen loves to conditioning, melt, grill, travel, shop, and spend lots of time with her family and friends and two dogs Jackson and Dakota. She too actually enjoys game nights with family unit and friends.

  • Sarah Paone | Director of Chief

    Sarah is really excited to be a role of the Detroit Prep crew equally Director of Primary for some other year! Sarah is one of Detroit Prep'southward founding teachers. She earned her BS in Elementary Educational activity in 2011 from Central Michigan Academy. She majored in English language Language Arts and double minored in Child Development and Elementary Didactics. She has her Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University. She has taught in kindergarten - second grade classrooms for eight years. Sarah is excited to motivate students to become engaged and excited about their learning experience, and support teachers along the way.

  • Mallory Fiske | Director of Upper School

    Mallory Fiske feels so lucky to exist the Manager of Upper School at Detroit Prep this yr. She has 12 years of experience as a special education teacher, English teacher, intervention coordinator and assistant principal. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a Master's degree in Education Policy & Leadership from Stanford University. When she's not at Detroit Prep, Mallory enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 sons, and dachshund. She enjoys reading, knitting, pond, and trying to keep her plants alive.

  • Elijah Andrews | Operations Manager

    Elijah Andrews feels very blessed to be serving as this year'due south Operations Manager, hither, at Detroit Prep - he's so pumped! Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, he's so glad to be back in the Midwest! Elijah is a graduate of Tuskegee Academy and University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his B.S. in Biological science and Chiliad.S.Ed in Urban Education, respectively. Additionally, Elijah is a 2017 (Philly) Teach For America Corps member and has 4+ years of teaching experience. In his spare time, Elijah likes to rejuvenate his body and soul by spending time with his family unit and friends. His journeying in this piece of work started with a 6th grade, Black boy in Tuskegee, AL who barely knew how to read and write, and knew even less near math. Elijah continues to do this work considering education is the great equalizer. He wants to ensure all kids, particularly marginalized groups of kids, have the adventure to compete on this uneven playing field.

  • Ben Asher | Fifth Grade Math

    Ben is thrilled to bring together the Detroit Prep coiffure as a 5th grade teacher! He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Dark-brown University and his Master of Arts in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education in New York. Ben has taught at Vox Charter School in Queens, NY and Edward Brooke Charter School in Boston, MA, and spent the last five years at The Steppingstone Foundation in Boston, where he served as the Director of Teaching & Learning for Steppingstone'south afterschool and summertime academic enrichment programs. Outside of school, Ben enjoys hiking, playing basketball, watching sports on Tv, playing and listening to music, and spending time with his two cats, Cinder and Pepper! Ben is excited to call Michigan his new home and be part of the amazing Detroit Prep community.

  • Kailey Basford | Kindergarten

    Kailey Basford is so excited to exist teaching Kindergarten at Detroit Prep once again this twelvemonth! She graduated from Michigan Land University in 2018 (Go Light-green!). She earned a Bachelors Caste in Elementary Education with a concentration Language arts. In her free time Kailey likes to exist outdoors, camping ground, running, and skiing. She as well loves to travel and has been to 11 countries so far. She cannot wait to get into the classroom and see her students.

  • Abbey Bradley | Fourth Grade

    Abbey is and then excited to be a function of the Detroit Prep crew for another year, teaching fourth grade! She received her BS in Nutritional Sciences from Michigan State University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy from The University of Michigan. Afterwards graduating from Michigan Country, Abbey found herself working in Detroit Public Schools as a Diet and Yoga educator for several years before pursuing an Americorp plan called City Year. During her time with City Year she worked as an academic interventionist. In her gratuitous time, she loves to go to concerts, travel, practice yoga, ride her bike, or play with her dog Junior!

  • Lauren Burkhard-Ortega | Sixth Grade Math Teacher & Labs Curriculum Coordinator

    Lauren is excited to proceed to learn and grow during her 4th year at Detroit Prep! She earned her Bachelors of Science in Pedagogy from Fundamental Michigan University where she majored in Social Studies and minored in Language Arts and Middle Level Didactics. She received her Masters in the Art of Education from Marygrove College where she focused on Elementary Reading and Literacy. Lauren is currently working toward her Doctor of Education degree! She started teaching in Detroit in 2013 and has spent her career didactics in Detroit and Fort Wayne, IN. When Lauren is not at school, she enjoys spending fourth dimension with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. They enjoy riding bikes, camping, reading, and exploring new places.

  • Jillian Clapp-McCleary | Fine art

    Jillian is excited to be back for her 4th year as the fine art instructor at Detroit Prep. She is a Wayne State grad, hold a BS in Visual Arts Education and this volition be her ninth twelvemonth education in Detroit. Jillian is a big plant lady and enjoys nature, reading, fun/interesting facts, dancing, singing, ghost stories and going on walks with her husband and dog. This year, she is very excited that her family will be growing by one with a tiny human due at the end of November. She is also obsessed with Frida Kahlo, any and all things eco friendly and the color carmine.

  • Candace Cooper-Brockman | First Grade

    Candace Brockman is very excited to bring together the Detroit Prep Crew! She has been educating children from infancy through 8th grade. She directed an early childhood facility for 5 years and transitioned to teaching PreK for iv years. She has had many educational experiences that include educational activity HeadStart and MSRP, education Kindergarten, Manager of Admissions and served in the office of school main for several years. She received her B.A. in Early Babyhood Development and Didactics from Madonna University and her Master's work was completed at Grand Valley State University in Educational Leadership. She has been married for 26 years and is the proud mom of three sons who are all higher graduates and entrepreneurs. She has two grandchildren and is an agile fellow member of her church! Candace enjoys singing, cooking and traveling. She believe that every child deserves to have an excellent pedagogy relationship edifice, graphic symbol didactics, educational rigor, exposure to new and different opportunities. An excellent educational activity as well includes the supports that develop the entire child and those additional wrap arounds services needed to make gains and thrive, and believes that Detroit Prep is indeed this place!

  • Denzel Donald | Music

    Denzel Maurice Donald (He/Him), born and raised in Detroit, is a instructor, vocalist, instrumentalist, private lesson instructor, and business owner with fiscal services licensed in Michigan and Ohio. Denzel has attended in public schools through his educational experiences that lead him into the direction of fine arts. His first band manager, Dewayne McAllister, introduced him to musical instruments in the quaternary grade starting on flute, and switching to trombone. Sticking with music ever since, Denzel attended Detroit Loftier School for Fine Performing Arts and graduated in the year 2010. Denzel continued his music endeavors at Wayne Land University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in music, graduating in 2014. Some other notable accomplishments would be traveling to Panama, Italy, and Kenya over the course of his musical career. He is currently pedagogy at Detroit Prep building a foundation in music for the students and helping to expand/unlock their abilities in music.

  • Alissa Gadouas | Fifth Form ELA & Instructional Guide

    Alissa is thrilled to be a function of the Detroit Prep team for the 2021-2022 school yr. Alissa grew upwardly in Kalamazoo Michigan and is a graduate of Albion College. Most recently, she spent 7 years educating students in Saint Louis, Missouri. She is excited to exist back in Michigan and returning to Detroit Prep for her second year! In her complimentary time, she enjoys running, reading, watching the Green Bay Packers, and spending time with her family and friends.

  • Charles Johns | Fifth & Sixth Course ELA

    Charles is excited to exist autonomously of the Detroit Prep team for a 2nd yr! He is from California and moved to Detroit in 2014. He received his undergrad degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and is a Veteran of Usa Army. Although this is his 2nd yr teaching, he has a background in the not-turn a profit sector working with youth.

  • Susan Leavy | 3rd Class

    Susan is a mother, teacher, good friend, and potent advocate when information technology comes to standing her journey to fulfill the hopes, dreams, and mission of Detroit Prep. She earned a B.A. from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana and completed Grand.A.T. coursework at St. Louis Academy. Detroit Prep'south rigorous exemplar to provide children with an equitable and safe environs to acquire, grow and prosper is where she want to be.

  • Jessica McNally | Fitness & Wellness

    Jess is joining Detroit Prep as Fettle/Health Teacher. She comes from 12 years feel as an Athletic Trainer (ATC) in college athletics. Jess earned her BS in athletic preparation with a minor in holistic healthcare from Western Michigan University before heading to Villanova where she studied and earned a Master's in Public Assistants. She is also a CrossFit Level two certified instructor. Jess is excited to bring her passion for health, health, movement and sport to our crew and community. Jess currently lives in Detroit, with her partner Miguel and puppy Roy. They love java, leisure cycle rides and exploring new places.

  • Alexa McCoy | Second Class

    Alexa is very excited to feel her first twelvemonth in Detroit as a TFA Alumni Educator Fellow, working alongside the crew. Before moving to Detroit, she spent four years teaching in Baltimore City where she learned virtually its civilization through her students and families. While in Maryland, she received her Bachelors in Castilian at Goucher College and is now pursuing her Masters Degree in Elementary Education at Johns Hopkins University. One thing you lot will soon learn about her is that she absolutely loves dissimilar types of shoes and loves the city that helped her grow into the person she is today- sunny but not ever sunny Los Angeles, California. Alexa is more than excited to outset her new journey at Detroit Prep learning from her peers, but almost chiefly her students, to transform the educational experience of our youth.

  • Rebecca Pawlinski | 2d Grade

    Rebecca Pawlinski is across excited to be pedagogy at Detroit Prep. Rebecca grew up in Buffalo, NY but spent the last 9 years living in New York Metropolis. She graduated from Niagara University in 2013. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Elementary/Special Education. Later graduation, Rebecca began working at a lease school in the S Bronx. Hither she taught 2nd course for 6 years earlier becoming the Dean of Students for 2 years. During this fourth dimension she earned her Main'due south Degree in Instructional Coaching from Clemson Academy. In her free fourth dimension, she likes to travel, cook, spend time her husband and cats (Schmuel and Paczki) and spend time exploring the wonderful city of Detroit.

  • Sierra Phelps | Beginning Grade

    After teaching Kindergarten for the past two years, Sierra Phelps actively engages a spirit of beloved, curiosity, and excellence inside her classroom to inspire communal change. She greatly anticipates fostering this change with her Offset Grade crew this year through core values of accountability, self-pity, and unity. Sierra knows spaces of advancement and agency tin can be reconstructed. Every bit a Houston native, her conclusion to pursue educational activism in the urban center of Detroit was founded upon her conventionalities and witnessing of Detroiters' resilient promise and regenerative action! Most recently, Sierra received admittance into New York University and volition begin coursework for a Masters in School Counseling this autumn. Upon receiving her B.S. in Psychology and African & African American Studies from Louisiana Country University, the continuation of her educational journeying is to support the erasure of pedagogical behavior and practices that are designed to oppress and marginalize the efficacy and self-actualization of children of color within schools as well as posturing radical love and cocky-awareness as a tool of equity beyond social demographics.

  • Briana Quaker | Social Work

    Briana is excited to start her journey equally a social worker at Detroit Prep! She graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She was employed at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services where she worked in child welfare and human services. During her time working at MDHHS, she realized that there was a not bad need for social workers to help provide resources to families in the Detroit area. In 2021 she received her Masters of Social Piece of work from Wayne State Academy. She loves working with children and is excited to support and empower our students.

  • Alora Riley | Fourth Grade

    Alora graduated from University of Colorado with a degree in Economic science and a pocket-size in French. This is her second yr at Detroit Prep! She taught middle school math and career grooming in New Orleans for two years earlier moving to Detroit. She as well started an after school program leading students through yoga do and breathing techniques to develop body awareness and coping mechanisms. She went into instructor to help students develop their problem solving skills in a loving environs that promotes curiosity. Alora may be new to Detroit, just her roots run deep considering all six of her older siblings are from hither, then she moved herself and her mom dorsum to be with family. In her gratis time, Alora likes to do yoga, hike, cycle, play ultimate frisbee and read. She too spends a lot of her free fourth dimension listening to podcasts.

  • Lindsay Singer | Third Course

    Lindsay is excited to be joining the Detroit Prep Crew as she begins her 9th yr in the classroom! She earned her Bachelors caste in Public Policy from the University of Michigan where she focused on racial and social injustices. Get Blue! Additionally, She received her Masters of Educational activity from University of Chicago where she focused on culturally responsive learning and trauma-informed teaching. Lindsay has had the joy of teaching 2nd and third grade in both Detroit and Chicago. Exterior of schoolhouse, Lindsay enjoys spending fourth dimension with her puppy Maizie Bluish and her married man Matt. She too loves to accept workout classes and caress upwardly with a good book!

  • Edwin Spinks | Commencement Grade

    I am the vision of the slaves manifested in the physical class! My story is non unique, nor is it far removed from the experiences that our youth struggle with each day. I am the production of a single-parent dwelling that, although was filled with love, was also filled with dysfunction. I was fortunate enough to have family members, teachers, and mentors who pushed me to exist a better version of myself each twenty-four hour period. The support I received helped to shape a mindset that focused on rewriting my narrative. At an early age, I establish pedagogy to be a vessel towards my liberation from my environment, thus dismantling the systems that oppressed me every bit a male of color. I developed an unwavering sense of self that fueled an intrinsic motivation to excel. My educational prowess was further realized when I attended the University of Arkansas at Pino Bluff where I graduated in 2008. The abridged version of my life experiences shows the possibility that anyone, regardless of socio-economic, can be successful.

  • Aly Tetreault | Social Work

    Aly is then excited to begin her 2d year at Detroit Prep! She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English before spending 2 years serving with the AmeriCorps plan, Metropolis Year Detroit. During her fourth dimension working within Detroit Public Schools, she discovered a passion for supporting and empowering students and families, and making sure they receive the quality education that they deserve! Aly returned to school and graduated with her Masters in Social Work, and a Master of Arts in Educational Studies in 2019. She loves exploring Detroit, spoiling her two cats, listening to podcasts, and writing creative non-fiction in her free fourth dimension.

  • Gloria Thompson | Kindergarten & Learning Loss Specialist

    Gloria is excited to teach at Detroit Prep again this yr. She graduated with her BA in Elementary Education and continued her journey to receive her MS in School Counseling. She has been an educator in different chapters for over 20 years. Her passion is early babyhood which she has spent nigh of her career. She loves to spend time with her family/friends and educate children, In free time she loves to become to movies, concerts and travel. She looks forrad to building strong relationships with the students, their families and the community.

  • Casey Wanna | Learning Loss Specialist

    Casey Wanna is excited to exist joining the Detroit Prep Crew every bit a Learning Loss Specialist and Teaching Fellow! Later graduating from Middlebury College with a degree in Psychology, she pursued multiple research positions both domestically and abroad. However, she ultimately found that she wanted to be involved in her Detroit community in more tangible ways, and she has institute that route of date through teaching! She has taught both domestically and abroad in both formal and breezy settings. However, she is ecstatic to learn more than about the craft through the wonderful crew and community at Detroit Prep!

  • Lydia Wimberley | Operations & Student Compliance Manager

    Lydia is super excited to be a part of the Detroit Prep Coiffure as the Operations & Pupil Bookkeeping Manager. She graduated Cum Laude and received her BS from Wayne Land Academy where she majored in Dance Education and minored in Kinesiology. Prior to working at Detroit Prep, Lydia taught Dance to grades Grand-viii for 10 years, serving every bit Section Head of the Performing Arts Department for several of those years. During the summer of 2020, Lydia was promoted from Dance Teacher to Dean of Operations. In her gratuitous fourth dimension, Lydia enjoys traveling to Niagara Falls and Frankenmuth with her Husband multiple times a year and spending time with her family and best friends. Lydia also enjoys dancing, bike riding, and practicing American Sign Linguistic communication.

  • Anna Woolridge | Kindergarten

    Anna loves our Detroit Prep community and looks frontward to some other year of educational activity kindergarten. Anna grew upwards in Tucson, Arizona where she graduated from the University of Arizona with a BSBA in Direction Data Systems and a minor in Spanish. She is currently pursuing her main's in educational leadership at Wayne State University. Anna is passionate about igniting her students' beloved for words and reading with fun, diverse stories. When she'south not at school, you can find Anna on a run, reading a book, or doing what she tin to stay warm!

  • Darcie Yobp | Special Education

    Darcie is Detroit Prep's resources specialist teacher. She loves helping students with special needs achieve their bookish goals. Her favorite moments are those when students surprise themselves with their own capabilities and gain even more self-confidence and passion for learning. She earned her MA in special education at Loyola Marymount Academy and taught for many years in Los Angeles Public School District before moving to Detroit. Her ain children have attended Detroit Prep since its opening, and she is so grateful to exist office of this inclusive, nurturing community that fosters bookish excellence, abiding learning, and character evolution.

  • Kyle Smitley | Co-Founder & Executive Managing director

    Kyle Smitley is the Founder and Executive Director of Detroit Accomplishment University and Detroit Prep, both of which are small-scale, incredible nonprofit charter schoolhouse communities opened in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Kyle manages the schools' budgets, partnerships, fundraising, and all things external. Kyle'south previous feel is in business, where in 2009 Inc. Mag named her among the 30 Coolest Entrepreneurs Under 30 and Forbes named her a Summit Ten Entrepreneur to watch. She earned her JD in 2019.

Our Schoolhouse Lath

  • Lewis Butler earned his BS in Economics from Hillsdale College, and his MA in Economics from George Mason University while working at the Mercatus Middle, a DC based remember tank. While at that place he worked on various topics, including, minor business access to uppercase, midnight regulations, and governmental transparency. He has done political consulting and is currently teaching economics at Hillsdale College. Outside of economics, he enjoys running, tamales, and consumer technology.

  • Jared Stasik is Vice President at Detroit Venture Partners, an investment firm focused on growing loftier-tech startup companies in Detroit. Prior to DVP, Jared spent 5 years equally a consultant at ZS Associates, a leading global consulting firm in sales and marketing strategy. He earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business organization at the University of California-Berkeley, graduating with high honors and receiving the distinction of Most Outstanding Graduate Teacher. He completed his Bachelor'south degree from the Ross School of Business at the Academy of Michigan.

  • Sarah Beaubien graduated magna cum laude from Siena Heights University with a BA in English Communications, and earned her law degree past graduating cum laude from the University of Toledo College of Law. Afterward completing law school, Sarah was admitted to the bar in Ohio and Michigan. Sarah is currently an associate and Rohrbachers, Cron, Manahan, Trimble & Zimmerman Co. L.P.A. in Toledo, Ohio, where she focuses her practise on civil defence force and business litigation matters. In her spare time, she is the varsity softball coach at St. Mary Catholic Fundamental in Monroe, Michigan, and is active in the Toledo Bar Association.

  • Gregory M. DeMars, CFA is a Chief Financial Officer for middle-market applied science companies, primarily in cyber security, marketing engineering science, and financial technology. He lives in Grosse Pointe Forest with his wife and two children. He earned an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and a BS from the Academy of Dayton. He is as well a Chartered Financial Annotator.

  • Lenora Hanks was born and raised in the Detroit area and attended the University of Michigan, earning degrees in French and Political Science. She went on to an 11 twelvemonth career in Democratic politics, working on both of President Barack Obama'south presidential campaigns, and helping to lead Hillary Clinton'southward 2016 primary campaign as as an early staffer in Iowa. Following the 2016 campaign, she became the COO and Finance Director of Serve America PAC, a political system that helped recruit leaders with national service and military machine backgrounds to run for office in 2018, and supported their campaigns strategically and financially. She recently left politics to join her family concern - The Associated Management Company, which was founded by her grandfather on the E Side of Detroit in 1970 with a goal of providing quality affordable housing to the people of Metro Detroit. Bated from politics and real estate, Lenora is passionate almost 90'due south hip hop and R&B and every dog she's ever encountered.

  • Trevor Duke works as a Property Manager in Farmington Hills, at the Thomas Duke Visitor. Trevor attended Hillsdale College, and majored in Economics. After graduating, Trevor co-founded a few small businesses before returning to Detroit. Equally a Holding Manager, he is involved in the financial/development strategy, as well as the ongoing 'basics and bolts' needs of the concrete assets. Prior to joining the board, Trevor worked on the landlord side for developing another charter school in Metro Detroit, converting a dark office edifice to a performance school in 5mos. In his spare time, he can be found boating effectually Charlevoix.

  • Lindsey Barrett is an Associate Program Officer at The Skillman Foundation, a children'southward foundation in Detroit. Lindsey was raised on the westside of Detroit where she still lives. Prior to joining The Skillman Foundation, Lindsey spent v years teaching and learning from Detroit's vivid youth equally an uncomplicated and centre schoolhouse teacher. She also brings feel in community development leading youth engagement in neighborhood planning processes. Lindsey holds a bachelor's in Elementary Education and master's in Pedagogy and Curriculum from Michigan Country Academy, and a chief's degree in Public Policy from the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Lindsey loves Detroit-mode pizza, staying active, and coaching picayune league softball in her neighborhood.