Cresthaven Academy Charter School (CACS) was born out of my strong, personal belief that all children should have access to a great education. Cresthaven Academy Foundation (CAF) was created to be the vehicle that supports the mission of the school and enhances the development and well-being of each student, as well as to provide support and resources to families to help make a great education possible for every child.
My personal story, like most, has taken me down many paths that have ultimately shaped my belief that every child is uniquely gifted and carries unlimited potential. I’ve seen stories of brilliance and success in the least expected places, as well as tragedies and heartbreak in places it doesn’t belong. Circumstance does not always dictate outcome, but without a strong educational foundation, success, in my experience, is rarely achieved.
I also believe in family. And by family, I mean whatever unit the child returns to daily for love and support. Whether it is a traditional family, a blended family, a single-parent family, a foster family, or anything in between, I believe that supporting parents, caretakers, and every family unit leads to increased confidence and greater success in children. When a student’s needs are met at home, learning improves. When a student is loved, cared for, and believed in outside of the classroom, they can excel inside the classroom. And that is why I created CAF Emergency Fund -- to support families in times of crisis and hardship, so that children can succeed.
When I founded CAF in 2014 and CACS in 2015, I was guided by these core beliefs. They have been governing principles to me personally and professionally throughout my life, and they helped to shape the vision for Cresthaven all those years ago. Today, CACS and CAF have matured into organizations that carry my founding vision, shared and amplified among the many talented individuals who do this important work, day after day. I am humbled and so grateful for the many hands who have embraced my vision and labored alongside me to make the Cresthaven dream a reality.
Over the last thirty or so years I have had grassroots involvement with many institutions in Plainfield, as well as deep commitments to individual families in the community. Plainfield is a city I love, and a place I am proud to call home to Cresthaven. If you’d like to hear more about Cresthaven Academy, or about my work in Plainfield over the years, I would be happy to share my stories with you. Please feel free to get in touch with me at scolson@cresthavenacademy.org. I would love to hear from you!
