Dear Parents,

My name is Dr. Clare Starobynski and I am honored to be the new Principal of AVE Academy.

The 2024-2025 school year will be my 22nd year in education. I have served at all levels in education in the United States and internationally. I have my PhD in Educational Leadership, as well as dual Master’s Degrees in Primary Education and Special Education. My vision for AVE Academy is centered on collaboration, innovation, and a student-centered approach.

At AVE Academy, we are focusing on building a strong literacy foundation in our Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 programs. We have implemented UFLI this year, which is a research-based, explicit and systematic phonics program developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute. We are backing our practices using the Science of Reading.

In our Secondary School, we are implementing Visible Thinking Routines. Visible Thinking is a flexible and systematic research-based conceptual framework, which aims to integrate the development of students’ thinking with content learning across subject matters. Visible thinking routines are one of the critical factors to help learners become effective learners – who become fully aware of their own learning process and are able to manage their thinking and learning.

I look forward to working with all stakeholders at AVE Academy, particulary with the parents of our students.

In closing, please know that my door is always open to you.

Dr. Clare Starobynski

Principal, AVE Academy