Release Details
SkyView Academy Names Executive Director
Date: Friday March 19,2010
School: SkyView Academy
SkyView Academy (SVA), a preschool through 8th grade Core Knowledge charter school opening September 2010, is pleased to announce that Merlin Holmes is joining their team as the school’s Executive Director. An exceptional educational leader with 20 years in the industry, including over 10 years working directly with charter schools, Mr. Holmes brings experience in charter school startup and facility construction, community partnership development as well as a commitment to creating a strong school culture that reflects the mission of the school.
“We are thrilled to have Merlin on board. He is well-respected in the education community and described by colleagues as a strong and confident leader with a great deal of personal integrity,” said Jennifer Larson, SVA Board President. “With his history of successfully creating and sustaining high quality education programs, Merlin is the kind of leader our school needs to effectively execute our school vision and create a positive learning environment for all of our students.”
Mr. Holmes has held numerous leadership roles in the charter school industry, including serving as the High School Principal for The Classical Academy, a K-12 Core Knowledge charter school in Colorado Springs, which has consistently ranked as one of the top 10 academic high school programs in the state. In addition, he is a regular consultant for the Colorado Department of Education where he has led professional development, networking and mentoring programs for school administrators and charter school leaders. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Colorado League of Charter Schools and actively participates in their governmental affairs committee shaping public policy for the school choice movement. Mr. Holmes has worked extensively with National Heritage Academies, a charter school management organization based in Michigan, and successfully opened Landmark Academy in 2007, a charter school in Commerce City. He has successfully led Legacy Academy, a K-12 charter school in Elbert County, where the middle school was the top ranked school in Elbert County.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with a group of families who are so dedicated to the educational success of students in this community,” Mr. Holmes said. “My goal is to develop SkyView Academy into a school that is respected for the quality of education provided to students and the strength of character demonstrated by staff, students and families.”
Originally from Kansas, Mr. Holmes received a BS in secondary education – biology, from Taylor University in Upland, IN; an MA in education administration from the University of Phoenix in Colorado Springs, CO. Currently, Mr. Holmes lives in the Monument area with his wife, a physical education teacher for The Classical Academy, and his five children.
SkyView Academy will serve grades preschool through fifth grade in its opening year, adding an additional grade each year to reach full enrollment of approximately 625 students in grades kindergarten through eighth by the 2015-2016 school year. The school is accepting Intent to Enroll forms for its early childhood education (preschool) and elementary programs, which can be found on their new website at www.skyviewacademy.org.
For more information, visit the website at www.skyviewacademy.org .