Meet Our Principal

Kimberly Jackson

Principal, Propel Homestead

Hometown: New Orleans, LA   Years with Propel: 1st year

Ms. Jackson received her BA from Dillard University, her initial teacher certification from Southern University at New Orleans, her Masters from American Intercontinental University and her Principal Certification from Coppin State University. This is her first year with Propel Schools. She has spent her last ten years in Baltimore City Public Schools, DC Public Schools and charter schools in DC.

Her primary goals for the 2017-2018 school year are to strengthen instructional practices, provide positive socio-emotional learning experiences for students and to use data strategically to plan.

I am #PropelProud because….within 5 minutes of meeting my team at Homestead it became clear that these ladies have the best interests of students at heart and want the best for our kids.

Meet Our Assistant Principal

Amber Mukasa

Assistant Principal, Propel Homestead

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio; Years with Propel: 1

Ms. Mukasa began her career with Propel Schools as the Assistant Principal of Propel McKeesport. She has worked in Wahiawa, Hawaii, Nashville, Tennesse, and Chicago, Illinois. She attended Xavier University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has a BA in Psychology and is certified in Special Education: Mild to Moderate, K-12.

Her primary goal for the 2017-2018 school year is to lead staff to develop their learning community so that it is beneficial to all Propel Homestead members.

I am #PropelProud because….our students and staff are the best around!

Dear Students and Families,

My name is Ms. Kimberly Jackson, and I am the new Principal of Propel-Homestead! I am very excited to join the Propel Homestead family and to
welcome you to the 2017-18 school year! My vision for Propel Homestead is that we will become a nationally recognized K-8 school through our
laser-like focus on rigorous academics & world class arts instruction within a safe, and nurturing environment. We are grooming our students to
be leaders and success stories. As such, the leadership team is hard at work to ensure that our children’s learning experiences will be rigorous
ones.

I would also like to take the time out to introduce 2 new members of the leadership team: Mrs. Amber Mukasa and Ms. Elise Casello! Mrs.
Mukasa is joining the Propel Homestead family as the new Assistant Principal, and Ms. Casello is joining as our new Culture Coach. Ms. Stacy
Knauer, Mrs. Laura Soeder and Mrs. Angela Boyer are returning as members of our leadership team.

The leadership team has been hard at work all summer to ensure your child has the best school experience. We are launching a character
education/ incentive program called Project TEAM. Project TEAM is a holistic model that provides character education, social emotional learning,
bullying prevention and career education. Aligned with Project TEAM, we are creating our Student Events Calendar, which will include a 8th
Grade Prom. Please be on the lookout for more information within the first 2 weeks of school.

This year we will continue to build the partnership between home and school. We need you to help us write our children’s success stories.
Parents who are involved in their child’s education significantly impact their child’s success in school. We will continue to provide a myriad of
opportunities for parents and families to be involved here at Propel Homestead, including the relaunch of School Community Council. Some other
important dates include:

● Beautification Day: August 12, 2017 from 9am to 3pm​. We will be beautifying the school and cooking out. We want to put the HOME
back in HOMEstead and invite you to join us! You can sign up for Beautification Day here: ​https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q586YPQ
● Meet the Teacher Night:August 17, 2017 from 4pm to 6pm.
We are also excited to announce that
● ALL students will now receive FREE breakfast and lunch!
● We are launching a Uniform Bank! We are accepting gently used uniforms and packs of new white or black socks. All sizes are
welcome. If you have gently used uniforms that your child has outgrown and would like to donate, please bring them to Beautification
Day. You can also drop off once school starts.

As we begin to focus on building positive relationships between students and staff as well as creating a safe and academically rigorous
instruction, we are rethinking how we begin to build those relationships. As such, ALL GRADES WILL BE ON A STAGGERED START THIS YEAR.
This means your child will only attend school either Monday, August 21st, Tuesday, August 22nd or Wednesday, August 23rd. All 1st – 8th grade
students will attend on Thursday, August 24 and Friday, August 25. This change will not affect your child’s attendance​. ​Please see below for
more information about your child’s start date.

KINDERGARTEN WILL STAGGER ON MONDAY, AUGUST 21, TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 AND THURSDAY, AUGUST 24​.
Kindergarten WILL NOT BE IN SESSION ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 25.​ You will receive a letter with your child’s start date. Please be on the lookout for
this.
I want to take a moment to say thank you! I want to thank the Homestead parents who have entrusted us with your child’s education. I know as
parents, we send out the very best we have. We want our children to have the very best and be prepared for success. It is my goal to ensure that
our children receive the very best: the very best teachers, the very best learning experiences and the very best opportunities. I look forward to
meeting you!

On the following pages you will receive information for the 2017-18 school year. Please take a moment to review this information. Again,
additional information will be sent out about Kindergarten staggered start and your child’s start date. If you have additional questions, please
reach out to Mrs. Benning at (412) 464-2604. Enjoy the rest of your summer so you are ready for school bright and early on your start date!

Sincerely,

Kimberly Jackson, M. Ed
Principal, Propel Homestead