Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy's board of directors has named
Marcus Robinson, Ph.D., as the first chief executive officer of the public charter high school on Milwaukee' northwest side.
Robinson previously served as superintendent of Normandy Schools Collaborative in St. Louis, Missouri from May 2020 to July of this year. His 30 years of experience in education administration includes a 14-year stint as principal, chancellor and CEO of Tindley Accelerated Schools in Indiana.
"Marcus comes with a list of credentials and a wealth of experiences," said Michelle Nettles, HFCA board chair. "He has a devotion to our community and an enduring love for our people. I am truly excited about this step in our journey and am confident that Marcus is precisely the leader we need at this time."
HFCA's principal Judith Parker will continue to lead the school, now reporting to Robinson as CEO.
"Together, the two will work closely to achieve our mission of sending our students to and through college," said Nettles.
Founded in 2004 as a private voucher school under its previous name, CEO Leadership Academy, by education reform advocate Dr. Howard Fuller and a group of area pastors, the school converted to a public charter a decade ago and adopted its founder’s name in 2019.
HFCA, located at 4030 N. 29th Street, has historically put an emphasis on the college part of "college and career readiness," promoting messaging that keeps students focused on their post-secondary education plans. As a non-selective enrollment high school, HFCA accepts students from across the city and has positioned itself as a school that delivers the kind of intensive, tailored instruction that’s needed to not only bring students up to grade level, but also ensure they are accepted into college.
"I am incredibly humbled to be selected as champion for excellence and growth in our school community," said Robinson in a news release. "I have spent my entire career creating pathways for young people to access some of the best colleges in the world. I am excited to bring those experiences to our HFCA family as we look to expand our reach to many new families in Milwaukee."
In July, the school
launched a $25 million capital campaign to help fund the construction of a new high school building and renovation of the current high school building into a feeder middle school. HFCA has so far raised $19.5 million through the "Commit to the Future" campaign. Preparations are currently underway to begin construction on the new high school, which is expected to be be ready for the 2023-24 school year at 2212-28 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. in Milwaukee’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood.
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"As much as I am thrilled about our mission to get all of our scholars to and through college, I am also aware that it is the toughest mission any school can take on," said Robinson. "We are going to need students, teachers, staff, board members, community partners, and parents all pushing in the same direction to continue to deliver on our promise that all of our students will have access to an amazing opportunity after high school."
Robinson earned his bachelor's degree from DePauw University, two master’s degrees in education from Butler University and Columbia University and his doctorate in education also from Columbia.
