At Abner Creek Academy, students are immersed in a dynamic learning environment that promotes creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, effective communication, and technological proficiency. Guided by the leadership principles of the iLead program, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning while developing the confidence and skills to become empowered leaders. Through a common leadership language used consistently across the school, iLead provides students with the values and leadership skills needed to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.
In the 2025-2026 school year Abner Creek Academy continued to strengthen and expand opportunities for students to develop their communication and leadership skills in meaningful and engaging ways. Throughout the year, students continued to build confidence as communicators, problem-solvers, and leaders while participating in experiences that connected classroom learning to authentic audiences and real-world applications.
Our school continued to cultivate a strong culture of student leadership through our iLEAD initiative, Student Council, Gator Patrol, Student Ambassadors, and numerous classroom leadership opportunities. Students continued to share their learning with families and the community through Academic Showcases, providing authentic opportunities to communicate their knowledge and celebrate their accomplishments. Every grade level invited families into classrooms throughout the year to see learning in action through authentic experiences such as a Farmers Market in kindergarten, a living wax museum in third grade, and student-designed shadow and light puppet shows in first grade. The year concluded with our student-led conferences, a schoolwide tradition where every student reflected on personal growth and goals while celebrating accomplishments with their families.
This year also marked several new exciting additions to our magnet program. Students participated in our school Spelling Bee, showcasing their academic achievement and poise in public speaking. We also launched our very first Beta Club for fourth- and fifth-grade students, recognizing academic excellence while providing expanded opportunities for leadership and service learning within our school and community. Student voice continued to flourish through the publication of The Gator Gazette, our first completely student-written newspaper. Published every six weeks, the newspaper gave students the opportunity to strengthen their writing, interviewing, editing, and collaboration skills while informing our school community about important events and celebrations.
The arts remained an integral part of our magnet program. Our Gator Jam Percussion Club continued to grow, providing students with additional opportunities to develop creativity, teamwork, and performance skills. Students also showcased their talents through our annual school musical, BOTS!, demonstrating confidence, collaboration, and effective communication both on and off the stage. During our second annual Evening of Excellence families were invited to experience a showcase of learning across all content areas—including the arts. This event not only highlighted core academics through engaging exhibits but also celebrated student talents in visual art, drama, music, physical education, and multimedia. This evening event served as a culminating celebration of student voice and creativity.
ACA continues to offer a full continuum of support services, including differentiated instruction for students with special needs and those identified as gifted and talented. These students are challenged daily through our integrated academic model and our rich arts program, Creations. Teachers use results from the Panorama Social Emotional Learning Survey to tailor classroom experiences that meet the social and emotional needs of students. This intentional focus on the whole child ensures that academic learning is paired with emotional growth and resilience.
This year, we continued our Unified School partnership with the Special Olympics. This initiative helped us further foster an inclusive environment where leadership and empathy are cultivated. Student buddies partnered with our self-contained special needs students during recess and PE and inclusive literature was integrated into classroom lessons to promote understanding and acceptance. Our self contained students also participated in the Special Olympics for the first time.
We were proud to host our very first Black History Month Celebration, bringing students, staff, families, and community members together to honor the rich contributions of African Americans through dance, music, and a powerful presentation from a community guest speaker. This meaningful event further reinforced our commitment to celebrating diversity, fostering inclusion, and building cultural understanding.
The continued support of our PTO, School Improvement Council (SIC), community mentors, and local partners plays an essential role in strengthening our school community and enriching the experiences we provide for students. Maintaining strong partnerships with families remains a priority, and we communicate regularly through Instagram, Facebook, monthly S'more newsletters, the ACA website, email, and text messaging. At Abner Creek Academy, we are more than a school—we are a welcoming and collaborative community where every student is empowered to lead, achieve, and thrive.
