About
Detroit Achievement Academy is a free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade students.
We at Detroit Achievement Academy want to shake things up a bit. We have a grand vision for what education can look like and are excited to be creating it in the great city of Detroit. We are committed to our students, their families, and to our neighborhood. We believe that all students can achieve at high levels and that it is our responsibility to support them in an intense and holistic way. We are thrilled to be able to provide a world-class education in a world-class city.
Detroit Achievement Academy is proudly located in northwest Detroit. We opened our doors in 2013 with 40 kindergarten and first graders. We’ve grown a grade level every year and currently serve 350 students in kindergarten through 8th grade.
MISSION: Detroit Achievement Academy exists to holistically support the education and development of students who have the determination, drive, and skills to shape their own path of high achievement with the ultimate goal of creating civically engaged, joyful citizens who are ready to change the world.
DAA’s work is urgent and focuses on holistically educating each student. Our work is guided by these four principles:
Our work is active.
We learn by doing and getting our hands dirty. Students are scientists, urban planners, historians, and activists, investigating real community problems and collaborating with peers to develop creative, actionable solutions. Adults are active guides of student learning and active members of their professional learning community.
Our work is inclusive and equitable.
Students and adults celebrate the diverse backgrounds of their peers. School leaders work to recruit and attract a population of families and faculty that represents different socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Our work is excellent.
Students at all levels are pushed and supported to do more than they think they can. Excellence is expected in the quality of their work and thinking. School leaders, teachers, students, and families share rigorous expectations for quality work, achievement, and behavior.
Our work is reflective.
Students and adults reflect as they triumph and as they stumble. Students and adults offer direct and sensitive feedback to their peers. Trust, respect, responsibility, and joy in learning permeate the school culture.
Meet the Team
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Mario Lemons | Head of School
Mario Lemons is a native of Detroit, and was educated in the Detroit Public Schools system. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Curriculum, with a Specialization in English and Language Instruction. Mario is passionate about empowering young people to be their best selves and is excited to bring his expertise to Detroit Achievement Academy. For over ten years, Mario has dedicated himself to educating young people in the arts, as well as empowering students academically, socially and emotionally. Outside of school, Mario enjoys traveling frequently with his travel club, being involved in the arts community, and giving back to the less fortunate.
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Katie O'Donnell | Interim Director of Primary
Katie O'Donnell is thrilled to be returning to DAA for a seventh year, but this time leading our K-2 team! This will be her twelfth year in education. Katie is a graduate of the University of Michigan (go blue!) with a BA in English and Sociology and a MA in Education. Recently, Katie's students had their final products featured in EL Education's Models of Excellence! In her free time, Katie likes to cook, travel, run, and spend time with her family and friends.
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Kirstin Stoeckle | Director of Upper
Kirstin Stoeckle is elated to be the Director of the Upper School to support all 6-8 students and teachers. Kirstin has over ten years of experience teaching and coaching students and teachers in grades 3-8. Kirstin's passions in education are grounded in her desire to prepare young people to fight for a more equitable and just society and to feel comfortable expressing themselves as individuals. She has worked with students to not only learn rigorous academic content but also to advocate for change in the larger community. Kirstin enjoys all things outdoors and spending time with her husband and two sons.
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Mazen Youssef | Director of Elementary
Mazen is excited to be leading our 2-4 team at Detroit Achievement Academy! This is his fourth year at DAA and his tenth year in education. He has taught elementary school in both Detroit and Baltimore. He has served as a coordinator and coach for summer programs in Detroit and in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. He's excited to work with young people and help foster their intellectual, social, and emotional capacities to be change-makers in their communities. Mazen is from Dearborn Heights, MI. He received his Bachelor's from the University of Michigan in Kinesiology as well as a Master's degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education in Learning and Teaching. He enjoys spending time with his partner, watching and playing basketball, listening to podcasts & music (all types, but mainly Hip-Hop), cooking, dancing, and being outdoors!
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Mrs. Beam | Kindergarten
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Ms. Bonaparte | Kindergarten
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Ms. Emily | Kindergarten
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Mrs. Hatchett | First Grade
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Ms. Powers | First Grade
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Ms. Rawlings | Second Grade
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Mrs. Russell | Second Grade
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Mrs. Wasmer | Third Grade
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Ms. Shivers | Third Grade
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Ms. Ballard | Fourth Grade
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Ms. Roundtree | Fifth & Sixth Grade Math
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Bro. Batell | Fifth & Sixth Grade ELA
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Mrs. Mack | Middle School ELA
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Ms. Huddleston | Middle School Science
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Ms. Hoisington | Seventh & Eighth Grade Math
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Mr. O'Brien | High School Transition Coordinator
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Mrs. Jennings | Special Education
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Ms. Gray | Special Education
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Ms. Sherman | Social Work
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Ms. Brott | Visual Arts
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Mr. B | Dance & Movement
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Mr. Red | Music
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Coach Malcolm | Fitness & Wellness
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Mrs. Acker | Strategic Instruction
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Ms. Wilson | Strategic Instruction
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Mrs. Moore | Strategic Instruction
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Mrs. Underwood | Strategic Instruction
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Ms. Shanell | Classroom Assistant
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Ms. Krystal | Operations
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Ms. Vickie | Operations
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Ms. Dez | Operations
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Ms. Ajai | Lunch & Bus Aide
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Kyle Smitley | Founder & Executive Director
Kyle Smitley is the Founder and Executive Director of Detroit Achievement Academy and Detroit Prep, both of which are small, incredible nonprofit charter school communities opened in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Kyle manages the schools' budgets, partnerships, fundraising, and all things external. Kyle's previous experience is in business, where in 2009 Inc. Magazine named her among the 30 Coolest Entrepreneurs Under 30 and Forbes named her a Top Ten Entrepreneur to watch. She earned her JD in 2019.
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Alexa O'Brien | Chief Operating Officer
Alexa is proud to be the COO of the Detroit Achievement District! She moved from Atlanta to Detroit in 2013 to begin her teaching career. After five years in the classroom, she began working at Detroit Prep as an Academic Interventionist in 2018, and soon shifted onto the Network Team. She has her Masters in Education, holds an Ed. Leadership certificate, and raises her two kids just a few miles from DAA with her husband.
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Elijah Andrews | Director of Facilities
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Elijah is so glad to be back in the Midwest after spending the last few yers in Philadelphia! He has a B.S. in Biology and M.S.Ed in Urban Education. He taught for over 3 years in Philly and 1 year in Detroit before shifting into School Operations. Elijah loves to spend time with his family and go on walks with his dog in his spare time.
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Brigette Wright | Director of Development
After living in Texas and Colorado, Brigette is so happy to be back in Michigan as a Detroit resident! After working for Playworks, she joined the Detroit Prep Crew in 2020 as their fitness teacher before transitioning to the Network Team to focus all of her energy to fundraising. In her spare time, she loves to dance and go on walks with her weiner dog named Dave.
Our School Board
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Lewis Butler earned his BS in Economics from Hillsdale College, and his MA in Economics from George Mason University while working at the Mercatus Center, a DC based think tank. While there he worked on various topics, including, small business access to capital, midnight regulations, and governmental transparency. He has done political consulting and is currently teaching economics at Hillsdale College. Outside of economics, he enjoys running, tamales, and consumer technology.
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Jared Stasik is Vice President at Detroit Venture Partners, an investment firm focused on growing high-tech startup companies in Detroit. Prior to DVP, Jared spent five years as a consultant at ZS Associates, a leading global consulting firm in sales and marketing strategy. He earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley, graduating with high honors and receiving the distinction of Most Outstanding Graduate Instructor. He completed his Bachelor’s degree from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
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Sarah Beaubien graduated magna cum laude from Siena Heights University with a BA in English Communications, and earned her law degree by graduating cum laude from the University of Toledo College of Law. After completing law school, Sarah was admitted to the bar in Ohio and Michigan. Sarah is currently an associate and Rohrbachers, Cron, Manahan, Trimble & Zimmerman Co. L.P.A. in Toledo, Ohio, where she focuses her practice on civil defense and business litigation matters. In her spare time, she is the varsity softball coach at St. Mary Catholic Central in Monroe, Michigan, and is active in the Toledo Bar Association.
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Gregory M. DeMars, CFA is a Chief Financial Officer for middle-market technology companies, primarily in cyber security, marketing technology, and financial technology. He lives in Grosse Pointe Woods with his wife and two children. He earned an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and a BS from the University of Dayton. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
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Lenora Hanks was born and raised in the Detroit area and attended the University of Michigan, earning degrees in French and Political Science. She went on to an 11 year career in Democratic politics, working on both of President Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, and helping to lead Hillary Clinton's 2016 primary campaign as as an early staffer in Iowa. Following the 2016 campaign, she became the COO and Finance Director of Serve America PAC, a political organization that helped recruit leaders with national service and military backgrounds to run for office in 2018, and supported their campaigns strategically and financially. She recently left politics to join her family business - The Associated Management Company, which was founded by her grandfather on the East Side of Detroit in 1970 with a goal of providing quality affordable housing to the people of Metro Detroit. Aside from politics and real estate, Lenora is passionate about 90's hip hop and R&B and every dog she's ever encountered.
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Trevor Duke works as a Property Manager in Farmington Hills, at the Thomas Duke Company. Trevor attended Hillsdale College, and majored in Economics. After graduating, Trevor co-founded a few small businesses before returning to Detroit. As a Property Manager, he is involved in the financial/development strategy, as well as the ongoing 'nuts and bolts' needs of the physical assets. Prior to joining the board, Trevor worked on the landlord side for developing another charter school in Metro Detroit, converting a dark office building to a functioning school in 5mos. In his spare time, he can be found boating around Charlevoix.