MISSION
The Mission of JO’S Learning Academy is to increase the academic, social, emotional, and literacy success for young children and to empower families as partners in their children’s success.
VISION
JO’S Learning Academy is committed to active and creative learning. We believe learning is maximized when it takes place in an environment enriched with support, encouragment, and in partnership with our families.
CORE VALUES
JO’S Learning Academy has a strong committment to instill in young children it serves. This includes social and emotional learningfoundations that last throughout their lifetime. JO’S is committed to provide these foundations through qualified, experienced, and dedicated professionals to ensure the well being and future development of chlidren enrolled in K4-5th grade.
A Look Into Our Core Values
JO’S Learning Academy’s commitment to quality is embodied in the following values:
Supports
A quality school program that supports the social and emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child
Promotes
A quality school program that promotes positive school/home relationships between parents, guardians, teachers, and staff
Respects
A quality school program that respects and celebrates diversity of its students, families and staff
Trained
A quality school staff that is trained in early childhood and primary education to understand the development and needs of young children and how they develop and learn
Personalized
A quality school that focuses on differentiations and personalized learning for each child with small adult and child ratios
Learn
A quality school where children learn, develop and are supported so they can be successful
Our History
1967
JO’S Learning Academy, (formerly known as JO’S Daycare), was founded in 1967 when Joceal Price began to offer childcare services for neighborhood families from her home. Ms. Jo, as she is affectionately known to family and friends, believed that children were most likely to succeed if they were cared for in a nurturing and loving environment with an abundance of personal attention.
1997
Schnell Price Lambert, Ms. Jo’s daughter, after pursuing a corporate career in marketing for over ten years, knew she wanted to return to her hometown and do something that would have a larger and more significant impact on the community. Therefore, in 1997 she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps to provide high quality early education and care for central city families. In addition, Schnell wanted to provide opportunities for employment and training for women and men in their community who were interested in working to improve the education and well-being of young children and their families.
2001
In 2001, Schnell was asked by Milwaukee Public Schools to utilize the second floor of the center for Hi Mount Elementary School. This collaboration became an opportunity to offer childcare services as well as an after school program for children attending Hi Mount in one location. In that same year, JO’S Daycare Academy began partnership with Next Door Foundation to provide on-site childcare services for children six-weeks to five years of age at their facility.
2003
In June 2003, Schnell opened JO’S Early Learning Academy-South at 3027 West Greenfield Avenue to provide the same quality of early childhood services to Milwaukee’s south side children and families.
History Cont’d
2004
In 2004, JO’S began a partnership with Guadalupe Head Start to provide Head Start classes at the Greenfield site. This offered the community additional access to a much-needed bilingual early childhood as well as infant/toddler care and an after-school program. The collaborative partnership with Guadalupe Head Start ended in 2016 and continued a partnership with Next Door Foundation.
2005
In 2005 Next Door expanded the collaboration and began providing Head Start services at JO’S North Avenue site. Currently, Next Door is our provider for our JELA South and Acelero Learning has been in partnership with JELA North for over eight years.
2013
In 2013, JO’S partnered with Acelero Learning to provide Head Start services for eligible children and families at the North Avenue site. The partnership ensured continuity of head start services for children and families.
2015
Since JO’S Early Learning Academy flourished very well, Schnell decided to expand education to children over the age of three. In 2015, she bought the building right next to the childcare center to operate her first elementary school. Partnering with Cardinal Stritch University, Schnell opened the doors to students from kindergarten to 1st grade. A year after, a 2nd grade classroom was added to the school.
Would You Like To Join Our Team?
Contact Us
JLA Elementary
School
4801 W. North Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-873-8940 Opt 1
Principal: Nicole Gaines
JO’S Early Learning Academy
North Site
4801 W. North Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-873-8940 Opt 2
Site Director: Nadia Mark-Henderson
JO’S Early Learning Academy
South Site
3027 W. Greenfield Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53215
414-384-7825
Site Director: Maria Gonzalez