Jennifer Carlson admits she was nervous about being featured in the National Heritage Academies® (NHA) 30th Anniversary series, but once she started talking about her students and her team, the nerves faded and her passion for teaching began to shine.
Jennifer is an eighth-grade math teacher at Chandler Woods Charter Academy and this year marks 25 years since she first walked into an NHA classroom.
A Start at Ridge Park
Jennifer’s NHA story began at Ridge Park Charter Academy as a student teacher. After graduation, she started serving Chandler Woods as a substitute and soon after was offered a position as a sixth-grade teacher.
In her early years, Chandler Woods was still growing. As more grades were added to the school, Jennifer found herself in a unique role, moving up grade levels alongside the same group of students: sixth grade, then seventh, then eighth.
“I moved up with that same class. That was a really cool experience.”
She knew the students. She knew their families. She knew what they needed and what they were capable of learning.
Eventually, as the middle school expanded, Jennifer settled into the role of eighth-grade math teacher.
The Reason She Stayed
Ask Jennifer why she stayed, and she’ll tell you it’s the people.
She has worked alongside the same teammate, Kristen Humboldt, for 25 years.
“Over half my life has been spent with her. We’ve been through a lot of different phases of life together.”
The strong relationships extend across the entire middle school team.
“We’re all friends,” she said. “We balance each other out with our strengths and weaknesses.”
That collaboration creates a culture where teachers support one another both inside and outside the classroom, something Carlson says is rare and deeply valued.
Another reason Jennifer says Chandler Woods feels special is the students.
“We are very fortunate. The kids are pretty much ready to learn.”
She believes NHA’s Moral Focus™ program plays a significant role in that readiness.
“I get to see the benefits of all of those teachers teaching those Moral Focus™ lessons throughout the years.”
By the time students reach eighth grade, Jennifer sees how the Moral Focus™ lessons show up in their approach to learning, especially when they face adversity.
She said the most rewarding moments come when students push through challenges and find success.
“I enjoy seeing them struggle through something and be successful on the other end. I tell them: ‘Every single one of you will be able to solve an equation by the end of this unit.’ It makes me really proud when they all can because we work really hard together.”
“It Doesn’t Feel Like Work”
Jennifer has seen NHA evolve from its early days into a high-performing network of over 100 schools, and she continues to take pride in Chandler Woods’ growth and strong academic culture.
Most importantly, she still loves coming to work.
“I’m happy to come to work every day,” although she adds with a smile, “Of course, I love a snow day. Don’t get me wrong.”
About Chandler Woods Charter Academy
Chandler Woods Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Belmont, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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