Jones plans upcoming summer Registration Fun Day on July 23, 2016

Born and raised Belle Glade resident, Vinnisha Jones, has been appointed Glades Academy’s newest principal, stated Emilia Fanjul, board chairman and founder of the charter school in Pahokee. In her new position, Jones will serve as the academic leader of the elementary -middle school.  According to Fanjul, she will provide curricular and instructional leadership to maximize student achievement and will set high expectations for all staff while fostering a positive and cooperative team atmosphere.

Newly expanded Glades Academy teaches students from kindergarten to eighth grade.  The middle school is in its second year, and its students enjoy learning in the school’s brand new facilities. 

Jones has been a valuable asset to charter school education for the last nine years. Prior to joining Glades Academy, she presided as principal of Lakeside Academy Charter School in Belle Glade since 2012.  Not only has Jones succeeded as an educational leader, but she has also had the opportunity to experience education from a teacher’s point-of-view. Jones was a reading teacher for five years, teaching grades third through sixth, before becoming a school principal at the age of 28.

“We are happy to have such a passionate and knowledgeable educational leader join Glades Academy,” stated Fanjul. “With her leadership background as a principal and teacher, she has the skills necessary to enrich the lives of these children and prepare them for high school and help provide them with the tools necessary to graduate.”

Jones has many plans for the coming school year, starting with Registration Fun Day on July 23, 2016. Registration Fun Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glades Academy. Enrolled students and families, as well as those looking to enroll, are invited to enjoy a fun summer day with food, bounce houses, face painting and more. Teachers and faculty will be on campus to answer questions and enroll students for the coming year. Jones plans to expand the school’s extracurricular activities including a garden club and cheerleading, when campus reopens on August 15, 2016.

According to Jones, the school currently has a waiting list for its newly added middle school classes, but there are several openings in the elementary classes.

“I look forward to motivating the children and keeping them engaged not only within the school, but within their community as well,” stated Jones. “We encourage parent involvement at Glades Academy and hope they will attend Registration Fun Day this summer to learn more about how they can help their children and the school during the course of the year.”

Ms. Jones is a graduate of Glades Central High School where she was an honor student. She continued on to Palm Beach Atlantic University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management. She received her master's degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.  She is ESE certified and has ESOL endorsement. 

The Fanjul family and their Florida Crystals Corporation provide ongoing support to Glades Academy as well as other educational institutions and developmental programs for youth and families in the tri-cities of western Palm Beach County, where the company has a majority of its Florida operations.

About Glades Academy

Glades Academy Charter School is a Kindergarten - Eighth grade state certified public/charter school. Our school is designated as a Title 1 school, and this enables us to expand the opportunities for students to meet the state achievement standards in math, science, reading and writing. We believe that our primary purpose is to educate each student to the highest possible level of academic achievement.

Our classrooms are enriched with the latest technology to enhance the student learning experience. We offer hands on curriculum and the use of various teaching strategies to meet each students learning style and ability in math, science, reading and writing. We create an environment that encourages learning and social growth through character building and high expectations. This will help prepare our students not only for middle and high school but also for their futures.