ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY INC.
LAKELAND, FLORIDA

Mission Statement Philosophy To provide childhood experiences in all areas of development within a safe, loving, and secure environment which encourages the acquisition of skills that are meaningful to the child both now and in the future... To be a continuing source of support and assistance to all Achievement Academy families, both past and present... To facilitate parent involvement, provide access to information, assist parents and others with questions and concern, and to help resolve disputes, the Achievement Academy Board of Directors has appointed Jill Bartley, ESE Facilitator and Mary Holjes, Resource Parent, as the parent representatives and liaisons with the Board. They can be contacted at Achievement Academy is a Drug-Free workplace and all candidates will be successfully background screened and fingerprinted prior to hiring. Interested candidates may send resume via email to We currently have an opening for a contract Per Diem Physical Therapist (PT) to direct hire for our Bartow Campus. The Achievement Academy is a developmental pre-school servicing special needs children between the ages of 2-5. This position is for approximately 6 hours, either 1-2 days weekly, to cover a small caseload (currently 8 students). The Achievement Academy follows the Polk County school calendar including all major holidays and summers off. Candidates must hold current Florida Licensure, be either an active or eligible Medicaid provider, and pediatric experience is preferred. Physical therapist responsibilities include; evaluation and plan of care development for children with varying exceptionalities, providing weekly 1:1 individual therapy sessions to address concerns in gross motor development, completion of all necessary paperwork (data collection, attendance, quarterly progress reports, IEP goal development, etc.). Please send resume to It all began in 1955 with a group of parents who had a dream -- a place in Polk County that provided education, therapies and services for their children with cerebral palsy. Remember, it wasn’t until 1974 that federal law mandated a free, appropriate public education to all children, regardless of disability. The school opened in Lakeland in 1956 as Achievement Academy Today, Achievement Academy Charter School serves 157 students at its three campuses in Lakeland, Bartow and Winter Haven. In addition to the Charter School, Achievement Academy has served thousands of children and families in their homes since 1997 through our early intervention program. Thanks to United Way and with the help of caring individuals in our community, the program continues today, serving hundreds of children and families each year throughout Polk County as the Birth to Three Program. To facilitate parent involvement, provide access to information, assist parents and others with questions and concern, and to help resolve disputes, the Achievement Academy Board of Directors has appointed Jill Bartley, ESE Facilitator and Mary Holjes, Resource Parent, as the parent representatives and liaisons with the Board. They can be contacted at Mission and Philosophy Mission Statement Philosophy To provide childhood experiences in all areas of development within a safe, loving, and secure environment which encourages the acquisition of skills that are meaningful to the child both now and in the future... To be a continuing source of support and assistance to all Achievement Academy families, both past and present... Achievement Academy will be following the traditional school calendar for Polk County Schools for the 2016-2017 school year. For the Achievement Academy 2017-2018 calendar, please click below: . There is also information concerning the early release days on that page. For Achievement Academy students, early release only affects those that ride Polk County school buses in the afternoon. All other Achievement Academy students will dismiss at the regular time of 2pm. See what families have to say about Achievement Academy... Ty’Anthony has been attending Achievement Academy since he was 17 months old and he is now four years old. Ty’Anthony receives small class instruction and one-on-one physical therapy as he has no movement in his legs. He is now able to get in and out of a chair and push his mobile stander on his own. Achievement Academy has the best therapists and teachers who always keep us informed about his progress at school. This school has done so much for our family. How do you articulate your gratitude to a team of people that have been so life changing to your family? I am not sure, but I will try. We started taking Judah to Achievement Academy almost two years ago and it has been one of the best decisions that we have ever made. Two years ago, we were tired and hopeless regarding Judah's situation. Judah seemed to be in a rut and we didn't know what to do. Judah had no feeding skills, his social skills were lacking and he was making no progress in his ability to stand. Fast forward two years and now- Judah holds his spoon and is able to feed himself with assistance. Judah has also gained enough strength to stand in his stander for 30-60 minutes. Judah's vocabulary has increased, he is happier and he constantly asks to go to "class". While our time at Achievement Academy has come to a close because of a move up to Minnesota, our gratitude will carry on forever. Thank you!! My daughter Ta’Niya was referred to the Achievement Academy charter school in August 2013 when she was three years old to help with her developmental delays. She started out using a walker, but through physical therapy and assistive equipment, Ta’Niya is now walking independently, skipping, doing jumping jacks — and no longer needs surgery! Ta’Niya is highly motivated to be mobile and doesn’t allow her motor difficulties to stop her from accessing the school environment. What she has overcome since starting Achievement Academy is just remarkable. This Fall, Ta’Niya will begin kindergarten in a mainstream class. I am so thankful for Achievement Academy and how it has helped Ta’Niya with her development. Everyone at Achievement Academy has gone above and beyond and it is greatly appreciated. I’m just completely satisfied with the advancement she’s made. It’s because of Achievement Academy that she’s where she is today.