Hogan Preparatory Academy in The Mary Kelly Center
Collaboration Among Education Organizations Results in Win for All Parties
November 1, 2018 (Kansas City, Mo.) – In a strategic partnership that benefits local education organizations, Hogan Preparatory Academy will begin leasing The Mary Kelly Center from Upper Room in 2019.
“We are pleased to be returning to our primary service area,” said Dr. Tanya Shippy, Interim Superintendent of the HPA school district. “This will better enable us to serve our students and families,” added Shippy.
“Through this collaborative process, we quickly realized our communities are stronger and healthier when we work together. We began referring to our partnership as a win for our organizations and above all, the children and families we serve. When we unite our vision, we serve our communities more effectively and efficiently and that’s a win-win-win,” said Dr. Alexis Petri, HPA’s School Board President.
Hogan Preparatory Academy, the K-12 public charter school district, grew out of the former Bishop Hogan private Catholic high school. When Bishop Hogan High School closed, a group of parents and teachers founded Hogan Preparatory Academy in 1999. Wanting to make a difference for younger students, HPA opened its middle school in 2011 and its elementary school in 2013.
The third beneficiary of this collaboration is Upper Room, a not-for-profit providing early childcare, after-school and summer academic programs. HPA will lease the Mary L. Kelly Center building, located at 2803 E. 51st Street, and will partner with Upper Room to deliver programming outside of the school day and year.
“Having Hogan Prep Elementary utilize our space for its instructional needs is a perfect complement to our offerings and it enables us to share resources that will greatly benefit both organizations,” said Tonia Gilbert, executive director of Upper Room.
The HPA elementary school will continue operating in this location through the end of the 2018-2019 school year. During the summer of 2019.
“This is a great example of area charter schools working together to benefit the children and families they serve,” said Dana Cutler, education lawyer and recognized advocate of quality public education. “We should look for more such collaborations among our public schools, both charter, and district, to increase opportunities for access to quality education for all children” added Cutler.
About Upper Room
Upper Room provides high quality, out-of-school educational programs while actively engaging and challenging a diverse population to enjoy learning from cradle to college.
About Hogan Preparatory Academy
Hogan Preparatory Academy is a premier college prep district developing educated, compassionate, self-motivated leaders who prepare for lifelong career options and give back to their community.