Pembroke Academy Honored with Founder’s Award
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) celebrated its schools during the 2025 Leadership Summit and kicked off the week with recognition of the hard work school leaders put in all year long.
The Founder’s Award, the top honor of the week, was awarded to Pembroke Academy. The award is given annually to the school that creates a culture which embodies Moral Focus™ by embedding each virtue in what they say and do in their interactions with parents, students, and staff.
Pembroke Principal Salwa Kinsey said earning the accolade was extremely exciting for her entire school community.
“It means a lot because this award is the keystone of what we do,” Kinsey said. “For our families, students, and each other, we live each day embodying Moral Focus virtues. So, to be honored for the work we’re doing as a community and bringing those virtues to life is special.”
The honor caps off a special school year for Pembroke, which was named a 2024 Blue Ribbon school in the fall. Pembroke became the fourth city of Detroit elementary school to receive Blue Ribbon status and the first since 2001 to earn the accolade. The school earned the added distinction of an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School. Schools with this recognition are ones that excel in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body.
Kinsey stressed how important teaching Moral Focus is to providing a well-rounded education for scholars.
“This award really speaks to teaching the whole child,” Kinsey said. “To have strong Moral Focus for our students, staff, and families in addition to our Blue Ribbon honor and academic success really brings it all together.”
Along with the Founder’s Award, Schools of Excellence and Distinguished Board Service Awards were handed out on Leadership Summit’s opening night. A full list of these winners is below.
For a complete recap of Leadership Summit and list of Eagle Award winners, please click here.
Congrats to Pembroke and thank you to everyone for celebrating!
SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE
Awarded to schools with superior performance in academics and enrollment for the 2024-25 school year.
- Achieve Charter Academy
- Advantage Charter Academy
- Burton Glen Charter Academy
- Canton Charter Academy
- Cross Creek Charter Academy
- Detroit Enterprise Charter Academy
- Excel Charter Academy
- Great Oaks Academy
- Greensboro Academy
- Hamtramck Academy
- Laurus Academy
- Linden Charter Academy
- Oakside Prep Academy
- Peak Charter Academy
- Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy
- South Arbor Charter Academy
- South Canton Scholars Charter Academy
- Summerfield Charter Academy
- Walton Charter Academy
DISTINGUISHED BOARD SERVICE AWARDS
- Greensboro Academy
- PrepNet Virtual Academy