Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy had even more reason to celebrate after being named the 2026 Founder’s Award winner. The accolade is given out 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.
Principal Sabrina Terenzi said her staff is intentional in building relationships with students, and that is a key to their success.
“Every staff member and student, we’re connected and we care about each other,” Terenzi said. “In every interaction with a student, good or bad, we lean on the virtues, and they are embedded in our philosophy.”
NHA Founder J.C. Huizenga speaks before presenting Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy leaders with the Founder’s Award.
The relationships Plymouth Scholars’ staff build with students are making a difference. In October, the school was honored as one of 16 schools across Michigan to earn a Michigan Blue Ribbon. The Blue Ribbon is a testament to strong partnerships between parents and teachers that inspire students to achieve. The school was identified as an Exemplary High Performing school, which means it is among the top performing schools in Michigan as measured by state assessments.
Plymouth Scholars' academic excellence and character development have also earned recognition from respected organizations. The school was ranked the second-best Public K-8 school in the state by Niche, an organization specializing in data and rankings. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Plymouth Scholars as the third-best public elementary school and the eighth-best public middle school in Michigan.
Terenzi said these honors are a testament to how engaged her school community is.
(From left to right): Principal Sabrina Terenzi, Dean of Middle School and Specials Marcella Rogers, Dean of Lower Elementary, Intervention, and EL Deana Murray, and Dean of Upper Elementary and Special Education Jamie Steeb.
“Because of that buy-in and the community we’ve built, we’re succeeding, and it feels good to be in our building,” Terenzi said. “We have a culture where students want to learn. They ask questions, investigate and take risks. Because of our tremendous culture, students feel safe to take these risks and be active learners.”
Whether students are learning from each other in buddy classrooms or becoming inspired to persevere, Plymouth Scholars infuses Moral Focus™ into every interaction.
Congratulations, Plymouth Scholars!
About Plymouth Scholars
Plymouth Scholars is a tuition-free, public charter school in Plymouth, 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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