At Saturday Academy, we value...
Growth Mindset Focused on Progress
Founded in 1983, Saturday Academy’s practices, curriculum, and values continue to evolve. We value learning and adapting by continually improving our programming relative to today, participating in professional development, and learning from the communities we serve to meet the needs of our current and future students. Partnering with our community at large allows Saturday Academy the ability to provide free and reduced cost of classes and camps offered to students. Adapting our processes enables us to innovate our program offerings with virtual classes and internships as well as bring classes directly to schools.
Producing Quality Programming that Centers the Student Experience
We value students and their experiences in our programs by providing culturally competent programming taught or led by well-trained and experienced instructors, mentors, and teachers. We spark curiosity, prioritize student’s safety, and provide a sense of belonging to engage students in lifelong learning in STEAM education starting in elementary school in hopes of building their confidence to explore and play in STEAM classes by middle school and develop skills for careers and forge their identities while in high school.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics
In the spirit of sparking curiosity and interest in learning at all age levels, Saturday Academy offers STEAM classes. We understand that STEM programs can seem intimidating or uninteresting for students from various backgrounds and by offering arts classes, we attract students who have not yet discovered their passion for STEM. That said, all of our classes infuse critical thinking and problem solving skills required for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pursuits. Our internships are focused on STEM careers and our staff is very driven to support more diverse representation within STEM fields.
Staff as our Greatest Asset
Saturday Academy’s programming would be nothing without the hard working, dedicated, and passionate staff who work here. We believe our staff are our greatest asset and we value their voices in decision making, prevention from burnout through the importance of work life balance, and support for professional development. We strive to build a positive organizational culture that supports and values the needs of every staff member. This means staff that feel supported and provided with all the tools to do their jobs well.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Saturday Academy regards EDI as an important guiding principle in all aspects of its organizational operations including the planning of class curriculum and camps, student recruitment efforts for our programs, and in our hiring practices for instructors, mentors, and teacher monitors. Representation matters and we strive to recruit instructors and mentors that live in and represent the communities we serve. An inclusive and equitable environment is paramount in how we work together as a team and for the work we do for the students and communities we serve.
Sustainability and Respect for the Future of the Planet
We value our planet, and as a STEAM organization working with students, we know the importance of protecting the planet for our future generations. We aspire to make sustainable economic, environmental, and social decisions in our processes and recognize that every choice we make in the right direction makes a positive difference.