Plans underway for new private elementary school in Jacksonville

A new, tuition-based elementary school, for students ages 5-10 years, is planned for the Jacksonville area. Karen Hendley, local educator, is looking for interested, founding families who would like to be a part of the establishment of the school. She is also seeking an appropriate school site.

An informational meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at the Jacksonville Public Library auditorium. All interested persons are invited.

The Learning Exchange will be a small, respectful, child-centered environment that will foster skills needed to function in the 21st century. It will be a place where students learn independence and responsible decision-making in a positive setting.

The school will be for students who can work independently and would benefit from opportunities to make choices, to have a voice in their education, to develop a portfolio of their learning and to participate in group and community experiences.

Students will have the opportunity to express themselves through an arts and sciences-based program. Organized around democratic principles, the school will foster skills that contribute to active citizenship.

The Learning Exchange curriculum framework is available on the website, www. learningexchangetx.org.

Mrs. Hendley began her love for teaching while playing school as a child. She has been an educator for 30 years. As a public school teacher and homeschooling parent, she has participated in the education of, not only her own two children, but also hundreds of young people.

She has experience working as a church youth director, civic theatre director and has served on the Cherokee County Child and Family Service Board.

Most recently, she worked for seven years at Joe Wright Elementary School in Jacksonville as a special education consulting teacher. She completed her Master of Education in Educational Administration in May 2007 at University of Texas at Tyler.

The Learning Exchange website is at www.learningexchangetx. org. Mrs. Hendley can be reached at (903) 795- 3779 for more information.