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

  • Smiling Portrait of Head of School Mario Lemons

    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.

  • Smiling Portrait of Katie Paulsen

    Katie Paulsen | 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.

  • Smiling Portrait of Kirstin Stoeckle

    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.

  • Smiling portrait of Paula Beam

    Mrs. Beam | Kindergarten

  • Emily smiling at the camera standing against a brick background

    Ms. Emily | Kindergarten

  • Smiling portrait of Charissee

    Mrs. Hatchett | First Grade

  • Smiling portrait of Deondra

    Ms. Powers | First Grade

  • Adea Davis Smiling

    Ms. A. Davis | First Grade

  • Ms. T. Davis | First Grade Specialist

  • Smiling portrait of Georgina

    Mrs. Russell | Second Grade

  • Ms. Moore | Second Grade

  • Mr. Wolak | Second Grade Specialist

  • Shanell smiles at the camera

    Ms. Shanell | K-2 Classroom Assistant & Substitute

  • Ms. Edwards | Third Grade

  • Mr. Hayek | Third Grade

  • Ms. Liggins | Third Grade Specialist

  • Ms. Battle | Fourth Grade

  • Ms. Cannon | Fourth Grade

  • Cristyn smiles at the camera

    Ms. Wilson | Fourth Grade Specialist

  • Smiling Portrait of Mazen Youssef

    Mr. Youssef | Fifth & Sixth Grade Teacher

  • Ms. Gibson | Fifth & Sixth Grade Teacher

  • Ms. Hayden | Fifth & Sixth Grade Teacher

  • Smiling portrait of Corlissa

    Ms. Huddleston | Science Teacher

  • Ms. Hoisington | Seventh & Eighth Grade Math

  • Raer smiles at the camera

    Ms. Rawlings | Seventh & Eighth ELA

  • Kevin smiles at the camera

    Mr. O'Brien | High School Transition Coordinator

  • Ms. White | Social Work

  • Ms. Hoefer | Special Education

  • Ms. Kelly | Art

  • Smiling portrait of Red

    Mr. Red | Music

  • Coach Malcolm | Fitness

  • Ms. Erynn | Dance

  • Ms. Watkins | Expert Guest Teacher

  • Mr. Paul | Expert Guest Teacher

  • Ms. Denise | Expert Guest Teacher

  • Smiling portrait of Krystal

    Ms. Krystal | Director of Operations and Facilities

  • Smiling portrait of Dezare

    Ms. Dez | Operations and Pupil Accounting Manager

  • Carice smiles at the camera

    Mr. Carice | Operations

  • Ms. Chevon | Lunch Aid

  • Smiling portrait of Kyle

    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.

  • Jess McNally | Special Projects Associate

Our School Board

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.