“Over the past 20 years, I have dedicated my career to expanding access, opportunity, and equity in education, helping young people see college not as a distant dream, but as an achievable reality. Now, as I take on the incredible honor of helping to build a new school in Philadelphia that will enable students to earn both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree, I recognize the importance of reflection, growth, and collaboration. This moment represents both a culmination of my experience and a new beginning. The Surge Academy offers the ideal space to pause and refine my mission — to learn from visionary thought partners who are leading transformative change, and to collaborate with peers who will both challenge and inspire me. I’m eager to join a community that will help me deepen my impact and empower me to dream even bigger for young people.”
Jennifer Rivers | Founding Director of Early College & Career, Early College Charter School of Philadelphia