LINC Academy

LINC Academy is a new public elementary school opening in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus in August 2024. We will serve Grades K-2 for the 2024-25 School Year and will grow to serve Grades K-5 from there.

Our intentionally small elementary school, which is open to all students, focuses on high academic standards, leadership skill development, and community. In a safe, supportive, and academically rigorous learning environment, students will experience an instructional and cultural program that deliberately, skillfully, and authentically engages them in a developmentally appropriate learning experience.

LINC Academy’s model is rooted in the belief that students deserve to be valued, seen, and known by their school community. As a community, educators, students, and families will work collaboratively to ensure that students receive a high-quality education that will prepare them for their future endeavors as the next generation of great leaders across the globe.

Through our leadership development programming and supportive counseling, scholars continue developing social and interpersonal skills that when coupled with a strong academic foundation, lead to prepared and engaged citizenship.

A LINC student dreams of “the me I am learning to be.”

LINC’s Foundational Beliefs

We believe that all learning happens in relationships

Relationships are the foundation of everything we do as a community. Relationships guide and ground our ability to learn, lead, and grow in our development as we navigate the world around us. We understand that relationships are built and sustained upon consistency and trust in all of our interactions. As a close knit community, we seek to ensure that these interactions are guided by mutual respect, kindness, and love for our students, families, and each other. LINC Academy draws inspiration from the Mayan philosophy In Lak’Ech, which means “You are the other me. If I do harm to you, I do harm to myself. If I love and respect you, I love and respect myself.” Our humanity and ability to thrive is interdependent upon seeing, knowing, and valuing each other.

We believe families are our partners

Our families are our first teachers. We recognize and honor the great diversity and strength of family structures that exist within our community. LINC Academy cultivates an environment where families feel a true sense of safety and belonging. It is our belief that families know their children best and that our best work is done in authentic and consistent collaboration with each other. This collaboration includes authentic decision-making power in policies, curriculum, and planning for their children’s future. LINC Academy utilizes the Dual Capacities Framework, developed by Harvard Professor, Dr Karen Mapp, who is national leader in family partnerships. This framework focuses on building both the capacities of schools and families, so that both parties can thoughtfully engage in sustained mean-making and decision-making in schools.

We believe that our students are the next generation of dreamers, thinkers, and leaders

Our students will change the world in ways we cannot yet imagine. As the world is ever-evolving, it is critical to ensure that each child has access to educational opportunities and supports that will assist in their development as they discover their passions and purpose in life. We believe in self-determination and each individual’s ability to charter and to navigate their own path in life with assistance from an ecosystem of support of teachers, family members, and the larger community. Ultimately, we seek to help activate students’ sense of responsibility in making the world a more just and equitable place for all people.