It's official: Steel City Academy
Opening in 2016!

Just over a year ago, educators passionate about creating a transformational, high-performing school in Gary started designing what that school could look like. Less than a year from now, that school will open. In May of 2015, the Indiana Charter School Board voted to authorize their first charter school in Northwest Indiana. In August 2016, Steel City Academy will open its doors to 7th and 9th graders in Gary. The founding team has been working to build community support, secure a location, and create our instructional model. We look forward to introducing you to our founding team, updating you on our progress throughout this "year 0", and sharing the successes of our students, teachers, and families in year 1 and beyond.

- Chrissy, Executive Director

Founding Team (L to R): Chrissy Hart, Katie Kirley , Robert Hart, Julianne Boulware

Founding Board Members: Julianne Boulware, Quiana Davis, David Fischer, Mike Hines, Rosemarie Joiner, Hilary Lewis, Katherine Pohlkamp, Odis Richardson, Erica Thompson

Join Us - Support Steel City!

What We're Up To

Steel City's summer was filled with celebrations and community building. Thrilled to receive our approval, we celebrated with our team, board members, and supporters at our Authorization Party in July. After a year of meeting, planning, and writing it was truly humbling to see the enthusiasm for the school we are creating. The summer closed out with Steel City Academy Day at the Gary Railcats' game. It was a great opportunity to get out in the community and bring new supporters to Gary. Both events raised over $1000 each for Steel City Academy's planning year.

The summer wasn't just parties and baseball games though! The Steel City founding team was busy writing grants and securing a facility. We submitted a competitive grant proposal to the state for our planning year which received a score of 94% from three independent evaluations. Along with the generosity of our supporters, this funding will go a long way in making Steel City Academy a reality. We hope to share good news regarding our location soon...stay tuned!

Steel City friends and family enjoyed a beautiful (and hot!) day at Railcats' Stadium.

Founding team, board members and friends of Steel City Academy celebrate the school's authorization.

Team Steel City

Executive Director - Chrissy Hart

Chrissy began her career as a science teacher in Washington D.C. as a Teach For America corps member. Later at KIPP DC: Key Academy, one of the nation’s premier charter schools, she received the Kinder Award for Excellence in Teaching. In her later role as the Director of KIPP to College in Chicago, she placed 100% of students into competitive private, public and charter college preparatory high schools. This experience shaped her vision for what excellent schools look like and the preparation that students need to be successful there.

Chrissy then became principal for Gary Lighthouse Charter School, where she oversaw the school’s growth from its third to tenth year, leading grades 3 through 12. This included founding the first high school in the network and ensuring that all graduates were accepted to four-year colleges.

Chrissy has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and her M.A.T. from The American University in Washington D.C.

Chrissy loves spending her free time with her family, especially her 11-month old niece. She is a loyal, if not disappointed, Illini and Bears fan.

You can email her at chrissy.hart@steelcityacademy.org.

Be Heard!

Our fall Listening Tour kicks off October 29 from 5:30 - 7:30 and November 7 from 11 - 1 at the JWA Boys and Girls Club. This is a crucial opportunity for Steel City to

Hear from families in Gary in order to refine the vision and direction for our role in the community;
Understand the needs of families within the community in order to strategically develop partnerships;
Plant seeds of collaboration and build community.

Our goal is to hear from 200 families. If you are interested in participating or want more information please e-mail our Director of Culture and Community, Julianne at julianne.boulware@steelcityacademy.org

Thank you!

Debra Terrill Mr. and Mrs. John F. Patterson
LaShawn Murphy Stacey Johnson Sue Brauer Cherice Barr
Judith Hart Patricia Kirley Maggie McKenna Liz Samways

Your name belongs here! Please donate today!
Every amount helps bring boundless opportunities to Gary!

Steel City Academy will empower the students of Gary with the most rigorous academic skills, cultural fluency, and depth of character so they can choose from boundless opportunities and strengthen the community of Gary.

It's official: Steel City Academy Opening in 2016!