1. Share Your Story

2. Welcome to Open House-2016 "Share Your Story“
Parents and families are an important part of our school's mission and we continually want to find ways to improve our school and our home/school partnership. Please share your thoughts about Abby Kelley and why you chose our school for your child.

3. Why did you choose Abby Kelley?
Here is what our AKF families and Staff
had to say…….

4. Emmy Castillo and her children Jubilee and Joziah
Mrs. Emma with Gloria Ampadu and her children Akua and Kofi
“We chose AKFCS due to the high reputation it has bringing children through challenges and through life experiences in a structured learning environment. My children are happy and have excelled in their academics. We are so glad they attend AKFCS.”
“I chose Abby Kelley because of your passion for education and because children and adults are treated equally.”

5. Diana LeClaire and her daughter Sophia
Mercy Amo and her children Glory and Zion
“When Sophia was in preschool, we were debating on where she would attend Kindergarten. A neighbor told us about AKFCS and I decided to look at the school. I was impressed with the student/teacher ratio and the passion the school has for providing quality education. I also loved the idea that she would attend the school for her whole K-12 academic career. Putting Sophia in the Kindergarten lottery was the best decision we could have made. She enjoys going to school every day and She has learned and progressed so much. The staff never fails to be positive and they’re excited to be involved in the development of my child’s education.”
“I love the classroom sizes and Interactions between teachers and students I also love the relationship between parents and teachers and the longevity of the school from K-12. Most of all, I love that Abby Kelley is focused on academics!”

6. Christine and Mike Burke and their daughters Rose and Lily
Elisabeth Razidor and her son Timothy
“When searching for a school for our oldest daughter we looked at both private and public schools  and found Abby Kelley, a public school with a private feel. We found a school that provided character virtues, morals, and structure. Something we try to provide at home.  My husband and I knew that this was an opportunity of a lifetime. For a little over eleven years Abby Kelley has been a guiding force to our children. Our oldest is a sophomore at Abby Kelley's High School. We know the she will reach her hopes and dreams because of the education she is receiving. The school has created an atmosphere for learning that is exceptional. Abby Kelley has seen our family through some tough time. I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer six years ago. The school went above and beyond. Teachers and guidance were always checking in with my daughter helping her deal with her mom being sick. Mrs. Emma would call and see how I was doing. This school is part of our family. We are blessed to be part of it.”
“My family arrived in Worcester fourteen years ago. Abby Kelley was the school of choice of the families I met at church. Abby Kelley has wonderful values that are the corner stone which promotes and encourages hard work. Above all, kids aspire to pursue their college education as a treasure to be found and posses. My son Timothy loves to read. As a second grader, he’s already reflecting what I’ve heard from the past about Abby Kelley.”

7. Kerry Fitzpatrick and her daughter Kennedy
Jacqueline Santiago and her daughter Jaizzy
“I chose Abby Kelley because it was well recommended by many families. It goes through 12th grade and has a uniform setting. I also like the fact that siblings are accepted right away. After being with the school for many years now I have to say that is an amazing school with many programs for our children that will allow them to be successful in their future endeavors. I’m very happy my children attend Abby Kelley and I wouldn’t want it any other way. The teachers are amazing and willing to help in any situation. Thanks Abby Kelley for running such a great program.”
“Sending your only child off to school was a very scary process. We want the best education possible for Kennedy. After hearing wonderful things about Abby Kelley, we decided to fill out the application with fingers crossed she would get in. Kennedy was number 58 out of a possible 60. We were very excited. Kennedy has had nothing but the best education so far and wonderful teachers. I love the curriculum and philosophy of Abby Kelley.”

8. Eusebio Robles and his children Aiyanna and Alessandro
Kevin Michaud and his children Kara and Kevin
“I chose Abby Kelley because it is uniform, one school throughout all their years. AKF is also full of diversity and has a different style of education with good peer reviews.”
“When the time came to look for the best school in our area, Abby Kelley always popped up. Year after year the school had high praises from parents and local community. We were initially put on a waiting list and expected to attend our local home school when we got the call. We didn’t think twice about our decision and have been very happy since. Our little girl is in middle school now and our little guy is in Kindergarten. The AKFCS family has been great.”

9. Melaina Negron and her daughter Ahvianna
Katelyn Hiit and her son Robert
“I chose AKF because I believe it will give my kids the best education they deserve while having a great structure and memories to last forever.”
“We chose Abby Kelley because we heard such awesome things about the school. My son’s uncle and aunt go here as well and his grandmother couldn’t stop saying what a great school it was. We knew he had to come here.”

10. Estefanny Pineros and her son Adriel
Kay Ann Gunning and her daughter Keona
“I picked Abby Kelley for Keona because I did not like the school in my neighborhood. It was run down, had no outdoor space for play and the window panes had been replaced with white opaque material. I liked Abby Kelley because of the idea of wearing uniforms and having a defined structure and expectations.”
“We chose Abby Kelley because of the well balanced academic curriculum it offers for my son’s education. Also, we like the diversity of the school and it’s culture.”

11. Edry M. Jimenez-Bonilla and his son Edrien
Joselyn Salgado-Peluyera and her daughters Sophia and Elyna
“Our family picked this wonderful school because education is very important to us and we wanted our kids to get the best education available. The things we heard about this school were amazing. Teachers have exceptional teaching skills which help students to learn quickly and thoroughly. We are more than convinced that we made the best choice for our son and are looking forward to our second child to attend this school as well.”
“We chose Abby Kelley because we heard how good it was from friends. My girls have learned so much. The teachers work really hard to make sure the children don’t fall behind in their education.”

12. Marilyn Muniz and her son Adriel
Magdalene Njuguna and her sons Brian and Lewis
“We chose Abby Kelley because we heard great things from other parents and students. We love the uniform policy and now that Adriel is a student I am impressed with how much he has learned. He loves his school.”
“The reason why I chose for my children to attend Abby Kelley was because it is one of the disciplined schools in the city and the education level cannot be compared with other schools. I also like that students wear uniforms because not every child feels comfortable without fashion and styles. I also have a child in a Worcester public school and can see the differences .”

13. Amanda Doty and her duaghers Elyssa and Izabelle
Michelle Champagne and her daughter Ciara
“About 4 years ago we looked up Abby Kelley Foster because we were looking for a strong positive education. I think it’s a good fit for me because I love the teachers and the strength of the school. Thank you so much!”
“Looking at the focus on academic and the curriculum AKF had to offer I was taken aback by the passion of the school . There are many amenities not offered at traditional public or private schools such as art and music. At Abby Kelley, I feel safe and know my child are being exposed to so many cultures . Not to mention the small classrooms sizes benefit my children’s education.”

14. Kindergarten Team Leader
“I have just started my 6th year of teaching kindergarten at Abby Kelley. When I began teaching here I couldn’t have been more excited to be back in the classroom. I began my career teaching kindergarten in a variety of different settings, from childcare centers to other districts. I have always taught kindergarten. When I began having my own children I decided to stay home and be a nanny. As my own children grew older, I began to have the urge to return to the classroom fulltime. When I noticed the opening at Abby Kelley for a kindergarten teacher I was so excited. My excitement was based mostly on the location of the school being so close to home. I was not even sure what a charter school was, but it didn’t matter, I applied immediately.
I wound up starting the school year after it had already begun which posed a variety of difficulties. However, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt welcomed. I remember standing in Amy’s office not sure of where I was going to send my younger son to preschool, because of the early start time. She was extremely helpful to me right from the start with bringing me to different teachers in the building that she knew had had similar issues. I was able to find a preschool close by and that allowed my focus to be on my brand new students and classroom. That feeling of being welcomed and shown how caring everyone seemed to be allowed me to be extremely thrilled to be a part of that kind of community.
As time has gone on, the community of teachers has become a strong part of my life. The teachers at Abby Kelley not only thrive to do the best job, but the attitude toward the students is what keeps me going. Everyone wants nothing more but to do what’s right for the students. Curriculum can change, some people can come and go, but the reason for being there each day stays the same it’s for the kids. That mentality has been what brings me back each day and each year. There is truly nothing like the Abby Kelley way.
After being a classroom teacher for 4 years at Abby Kelley I decided I was ready to take on more. I became the team leader for kindergarten. Although it posed new challenges, it’s been another great learning experience seeing from a new perspective how great Abby Kelley is. All the people I’ve been in contact with, all have that same mentality, doing it for the students. As team leader, I’ve been able to go above and beyond to make the kindergarten year a great one for our young students. As a team we have not only done our job as teachers, but we continue to make a difference each day. I honestly couldn’t imagine doing it anywhere else.”
Cindy Prest
Kindergarten Team Leader

15. Nancy Kennedy 1st Grade Team Leader
“My name is Nancy Kennedy and I teach First Grade here at Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School. It is my 10th year at the school and I have grown so much from when I started as an Instructional Assistant. This school has taught me how to work successfully alongside so many others, as well as become a leader and decision maker.
What I particularly love about working here is the collaboration with staff. I have worked in another school system where teachers did not collaborate nearly as much as what is done here. There were teachers working on their own instead of an entire grade level working toward the same goal. Teachers mostly kept their best teaching practices to themselves. This made it hard to learn from others. As a new teacher, you felt like you were in a world by yourself. I know here at AKFCS that I am supported. If I have a need for something, there are so many others I can turn to for help. I can share my successes and failures with any colleague and not be judged for it. We all look out for each other’s students and want them all to succeed. Since we all work so close with one another, teachers tend to form lasting bonds with each other. Through this school I have met some of my closest friends. For that, I am eternally grateful.
The administration really cares about training their staff. We do not just have lost professional development opportunities. We have training that is meaningful for the needs of the teacher and their students. Teachers also have input in what professional development we would like to attend to help our students grow both academically and socially. Teachers also have the opportunity to take on leadership roles where they can assist in important decision making of the school. Being on the Math Committee, I was able to pilot many math curriculums until we decided as a school which one best fit our students. Now on the Literacy Leadership committee, I have the chance to go to trainings on literacy and bring back best practices to share and model for my colleagues as well. Again, this collaboration helps all the teachers and students grow regardless of the grade level.
I strongly feel that each year I grow more as a teacher and friend. I thank Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School for helping me do this. The collaborating we all do as a school has opened my eyes to try new things in my class each year as my students change. It has caused me to form friendships that go beyond the classroom. The trainings and committees I have worked with have shown me how I can be a collaborator and decision maker. I am hopeful that my 10th year here will be my best year yet.”
Nancy Kennedy
1st Grade Team Leader

16. Kayla Harshaw 2nd Grade Team Leader
“I started my journey at AKF fresh out of college in During my senior year at Stonehill, I went to a career fair at Northeastern University where I first met you. J I grew up in Worcester so I had heard of AKF, but never really knew much about it. I gave you my resume and a couple months later had an interview. I was offered three positions the week I was offered a 2nd Grade position at AKF, but I chose AKF without hesitation. I can’t really put it into words, but I knew immediately that AKF would be a good fit for me, it just felt right.
Abby Kelley has become such an important part of my life and at this point I can’t really imagine working anywhere else. The staff is the most amazing, dedicated group of professionals to work with every day. The students, challenge me every day in the best ways possible. The administration always has the student’s (and staff’s)best interests at heart, and is willing to support us in whatever ways they can. What is better than that? I have learned so much in my time at AKF and have enjoyed so many opportunities to grow as a teacher, a professional and as a person.
So I know this was supposed to be more about how I got started here, but truthfully, I think my start up story is pretty generic. I was like most college grads, desperate to find a job doing what I love. To me, the more powerful thing is the reason why I choose to stay. “
Kayla Harshaw
2nd Grade Team Leader

17. “This is my 10th year at AKF, and 10th year teaching Grade 3
“This is my 10th year at AKF, and 10th year teaching Grade 3.  The reason I love working at Abby Kelley is the comradery and support from staff and administration. I have friends who work in different school systems who say that "everyone is on their own" or "there's no sense of community."  I have made lifelong friends at AKF and have always felt supported.  I love how everyone works to problem solve towards the common goal of meeting the needs of all of our students.”
Kate Greenwood
3rd Grade Team Leader

18. Marci Rasmussen 4th Grade Team Leader
“In 2009, I started as a 4th grade teacher at Abby Kelley. At the time, I really had no idea of what a charter school was. I knew that Abby Kelley prided itself on academic and musical excellence. That was an understatement. I worked in a public school prior to Abby Kelley where the teachers showed up right before the students and ran out the door after them, where many teachers refused to adjust their instruction to meet the needs of their students. I have never worked with a staff so committed to the education of every student like those here at AKF. Teachers, instructional assistants, specialists and administration work tirelessly here at Abby Kelley day after day and year after year to improve our academic instruction and student performance. We have a staff that I call my family and I wouldn’t want it any other way. “
Marci Rasmussen
4th Grade Team Leader

19. Elementary School Reading Coach
“I am in a unique position having been an employee of AKF since the doors opened in Over the years I’ve held several different position including Kindergarten Instructional Assistant, Kindergarten Teacher, Second Grade Teacher, Title I Reading Teacher, Reading Specialist and most recently Reading Coach. I’ve seen us branch out on our own away from a management company, teachers and administrators come and go, new curricula adopted, the change from Massachusetts Frameworks to the Common Core State Standards, and much more! No matter the changes I’ve seen, the one thing that has always stayed consistent is the dedication of our teachers and administrators. We all strive to ensure that our students are receiving the best education we can provide for them in a safe and caring learning environment. I am proud to have had the experience of seeing our school grow into what we are today and look forward to what the future holds. “
Renee Carlson
Elementary School Reading Coach

20. Diane Wasgatt Kindergarten Teacher
“I first came to Abby Kelley in the spring of 2000 to work one on one with a special needs Kindergarten student. At the time, I had no idea that this part-time job would be the spark that would ignite my journey as an educator or that I was being ushered into a family like no other. I could never have imagined that sixteen years later, I would still be in Kindergarten and still enjoy the friendship, support and collegiality that Abby Kelley offers.
The environment at Abby Kelley is unique. I don't know of many, if any, other places of employment that provide a true family atmosphere. This is a place where you are truly supported and encouraged; a place where working as part of a team is the expected norm and working alone is, well, unusual. Abby Kelley offers its people a home, a place to belong and an environment of loving support. This essence, that is Abby Kelley, remains unchanged despite the evolution that it has undergone since its inception.
During my sixteen years at Abby Kelley I have been witness to this evolution. I have seen: innumerable changes in administration, faculty, and student population; instructional and curriculum transformation; facilities growth, improvements and more. These developments have afforded me opportunities that I would not otherwise have had. I have participated in the research, creation, adoption and on-going development of various curricula programs. I have been introduced to and learned from many well respected educators during professional development provided by Abby Kelley and I have been offered and taken advantage of a multitude of leadership opportunities within my grade, my building and the school at large.
My participation in all of this has led me to develop an understanding of teaching, learning and relationships that I'm not sure I would have without it. I have been given the unique opportunity of being there on the first day of a child's academic career when they walk through the door of my Kindergarten classroom excited yet nervous, not knowing what to expect and also being there on their last day at Abby Kelly when they cross the stage to receive their high school diploma, excited and nervous about the future. My pride in their accomplishments is great and I often think how lucky I am to witness and be a part of it all. I don't know of many Kindergarten teachers in other schools and districts lucky enough to be able to say the same
My time at Abby Kelley has had a profound impact on the teacher that I am and the teacher that I strive to be. The people with whom I have had the privilege of working and interacting with have changed the person that I am. The administrators, the faculty and staff, the families and most importantly the children both past and present, have enriched my life in ways that words cannot adequately express. So for all of this, it is with great pride that I say, I teach at Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School.”
Diane Wasgatt
Kindergarten Teacher

21. Elementary School Guidance
“I started here in 2002 is a one-on-one aid to a student in second grade. The next year I was a grade level instructional assistant and then a long-term sub and then a classroom teacher for 10 years during which I was also team leader. Four years ago I moved into the role of Behavior Intervention teacher which I did for two years while getting a masters in school counseling and I'm now currently a school counselor. One of the things that has always been amazing about AKF is the ability to work in all these different roles. The administration has always been supportive of wanting to try different roles and work at different grade levels. They truly value the people on their staff. The philosophy of our administration is to do what is best for us and our students. So when I wanted to pursue counseling I knew I would be in a place where I could do that with the support of everyone.
Having been here for 14 years I've seen a lot of my students grow up and become amazing adults. The continuity from elementary school to middle school to high school means that I am constantly getting updates on the ones I call my own. Our charter school does everything we can to raise productive members of our society, and I am grateful that I've been able to be a part of that for so long. Our staff are incredibly dedicated to our students and I've made lifelong friends working here at AKF. “
Kate Stockwell
Elementary School Guidance

22. Created by Amelie Tambolleo