Josh Bell: Leadership enhancements to help us accelerate progress

December 4, 2024

Dear Meeting Street Schools staff,

I hope this note finds you well and re-energized for this final stretch before the well-deserved winter break. 

Reflecting on our journey together, I am deeply grateful for your unwavering commitment to our students and mission. Your hard work and passion are evident in so many ways and – most significantly – in the students who are making progress toward our ambitious academic expectations. Each of you plays a critical role in the improvements we’re seeing.

Our most recent iReady scores are a testament to your dedication, showing that we are making strides toward our goal of ensuring all students are proficient in reading and math. These results remind us of the incredible potential in every one of our students.

We have much to be proud of, but there is still so much more to achieve. I’m excited to share some key leadership enhancements that will help us accelerate progress and pave the way for the next chapter of our impact.

  • Javeria Khan Richman is our new Chief Schools Officer. Javeria is a nationally recognized leader in education reform, a National Blue Ribbon Award-winning principal, and an experienced manager of high-achieving schools. Her extensive background includes leading 47 schools serving 18,000 students with Success Academy Charter Schools and guiding charter school organizations nationwide. As part of our executive leadership team, Javeria will oversee our school model strategy and monitor the progress of our schools and principals. Her expertise will drive even greater success in classrooms across our network.
  • Jere Stille is our new Chief Operating Officer. Jere brings exceptional leadership experience from his tenure at Boeing, where he excelled in operations, finance, HR, facilities and data analytics. His focus on high standards, passion for learning and contagious enthusiasm align with our values. Jere will oversee our schools’ day-to-day operations, ensuring our operations, HR, and other administrative functions are consistently high-quality.
  • As we welcome new leaders, we also bid farewell to a cherished member of our team. Kaitlyn Nigro, who has served as our Chief of Human Resources and in other key roles supporting HR for the past eight years, will be moving on to an exciting new professional chapter. Kaitlyn has steadfastly advocated for our staff and students, and her contributions have had a meaningful impact on our network. Please join me in wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.

In the new year, we’ll continue making strategic changes that empower us to go further together. I am confident that, with the collective talent and determination of this team, we will continue to set new benchmarks for excellence and innovation.

As we approach the holiday season and new year, please take time to recharge and celebrate all you’ve accomplished this year. Your work changes lives, and I am continually inspired by it. Thank you for living out our mission of “empowering students with the exceptional, life-changing education they deserve.”

With gratitude and optimism,

Josh Bell
President of Beemok Education
Board Member of Meeting Street Schools

 

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About Meeting Street Schools

Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.

Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.

While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.

News & NotesJosh Bell: Leadership enhancements to help us accelerate progress

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Our Schools

Meeting Street Academy – CharlestonDowntown Charleston, SC - Independent School - Since 2008 - 364 Students

Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.

Meeting Street Academy – SpartanburgDowntown Spartanburg, SC - Public Charter School - Since 2012 - 323 Students

Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Meeting Street – BrentwoodNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2014 - 850 Students

Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.

Meeting Street – BurnsNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2018 - 478 Students

Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.

CommunityVoices

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“Meeting Street Academy is my family. They taught me that I am valuable. I am an asset to the world…They asked me, ‘What is your dream?’ I had never been asked that before. The MSS community gives me the strength to pursue my dreams.”

— Kadelyn SteedStudent

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“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”

— Tyeka GrantParent

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“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”

— NikToshia GilesTeacher

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