Ujima Village Academy
KIPP Ujima Village Academy,founded in 2002 by KIPP Baltimore Executive Director, Jason Botel, is now run by Principal, Natalia Walter. KUVA is a public charter school serving over 470 students in grades 5-8. KUVA is located in the Roland Patterson building at 4701 Greenspring Ave. Students attend school for up to 9 hours per day, as well as three weeks in the summer, and participate in extracurricular activities such athletics, step and dance teams, art activities, NAL, etc.
Part of the middle school process also includes finding college-preparatory high schools for our Eighth Graders and that support is provided by the KIPP to College. KUVA students go on to attend public magnet programs, private schools, parochial schools and boarding schools across the country. Many students attending tuition-driven programs also receive scholarships.
During its seven years in operation, KUVA has been ranked as the highest performing public middle school in Baltimore City.KUVA's core values are (F.I.R.E) FUN, IMPROVEMENT, RELATIONSHIPS and EXCELLENCE. At KUVA we strive for Excellence in every area of the lives of our students. Our motto is Excellence without Exception.
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- When giving tours at KIPP, my favorite stop is the Golden Ticket Wall. I love to share with visitors how our students work really hard to earn themselves entry to some of the best college-prep high schools in Maryland and the Country for that matter! — Hilarie Szczygiel, Director of Recruitment Communications
- Working at KIPP has been liberating for me as an educator. I am given the freedom to really teach the curriculum but also life lessons and good habits, the way that I know is best for my students. I can see the impact I am making on each and every child I come in contact with, even once they leave KIPP. — Megan Hall, High School Placement Coordinator
- I love working at KIPP because I feel like I belong here! The students and staff are constantly working together to achieve success. We leave no room for excuses and take an active role in our future. — Nancy Poole, Alumni Solutions Coordinator
- I work here because I hope my life will have some small impact on the lives of others. I love our kids because they choose to be here, they choose to work longer and harder, and they choose to climb the mountain to college. If I can help them achieve their goals, then my time and effort are well spent. I love watching our kids grow into young adults who will have a positive impact on their families, their communities, and their world. — Mike Lucas, Ujima Founding Teacher
- KIPP taught me to be more of a gentleman than I was before. — Randolph Taylor, Alumnus
- I learned all I need for high school from KIPP! — Darian Wilson, Alumnus
- If there is a problem, we solve it. If there is a better way, we find it. If a teammate needs help, we give it. If we need help, we ask for it. — KIPP Credo
- What strikes me most about KIPP Baltimore is the dedication and passion that the teachers and staff members brings to their jobs. It makes my job as a board member that much better to know that I am helping to support such an amazing group of educators. — Hugh Cole III, Board Member
- KIPP Baltimore is positively effecting change in the lives of school children by producing extraordinary results. From my perspective, KIPP is Baltimore's brightest light! — Mitchell Whiteman, Board Member
- The public - private partnership of the KIPP model provides a high return on investment for the private supporter KIPP funds go far both in number of students served and in their outstanding performance. — R. Hutch Vernon, Board Member
- As I look back on why I choose KIPP Ujima Village Academy it was because of what KIPP had to offer. My daughter needed a school that was challenging and better than the average middle school. I was sold on the slogan Knowledge Is Power - and their commitment to prepare her for high school and college. — Janet Alford, 7th Grade Parent
- Our future leaders are our children and it is my privilege to work with the team at KIPP Baltimore to help prepare our students for success in college and in life. We teach our students the value of an education and teach them the importance of building their character and academic skills in order to succeed in college and beyond. We hope to help build a better future together to teach children to be happy, self sufficient, successful adults in this global competitive world. The greatest reward from volunteering at KIPP Baltimore is to see the tremendous joy on the faces of our students as they work together as a team, read, learn, grow, and help build a better world for themselves and for all of us. — Wendy Perrow, Board Member
- "I am so excited to see KIPP Baltimore opening a second school to serve children in my district. KIPP has made great contributions to the lives of young people in Baltimore, and I am proud to be an Honorary Board Member of this important organization as it expands its impact in our city." — Congressman, Elijah Cummings
- "With every new high-quality school we open in Baltimore, we raise the bar for what our students can achieve. KIPP Baltimore has been raising the bar since it opened its first middle school in 2002, and now with the opening of KIPP Harmony Academy, City Schools looks forward to continuing to work with KIPP for many years to come to keep raising the bar for our children and their families." — Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Schools
- I work at KIPP Harmony Academy because I believe in our school’s mission! Our kindergarteners are already talking about what they plan to study in college. I believe they will ALL get there because they choose to work hard, be nice and be safe each and every day. I have never been happier driving to school every day. Watching these little KIPPsters come grow into READERS in kindergarten is more than exciting! — Jamie Sienko - Founding Interventionist, KIPP Harmony Academy
- When you become a Team and Family member here at KIPP Ujima Village Academy you truly realize the movement you are a part of. KIPP holds their students and teachers to high expectations which creates an environment that empowers all to be the change they wish to see in the American Public Educational System. — William Stapleton - 5th Grade Science, KIPP Ujima Village Academy
- I love working at KIPP because I get to work with students who have a passion for learning and teachers who have a passion for teaching. I love how everyone - students, teachers, administrators, and staff - is willing to do what it takes to meet our high expectations. — Jason Farber, English Teacher
- I am excited to go to work every day because I know I will be surrounded by a team that is passionate about the work that we do and is driven to provide the best education for our students. Teaching Spanish at the elementary level is incredibly fulfilling because our kindergarten and first grade Kippsters are already able to have conversations en español! This will open so many doors for them as they climb the mountain to college and beyond. — Danielle Anderson, Spanish Teacher
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I love working at KIPP because I enjoy interacting with families and children. It exciting to work on activities that not only make a difference in our school, but in our community.
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I love working at KIPP because I know from personal experience that your circumstances don’t have to determine your future. At KIPP, students are given opportunities to believe that success in life is a real possibility and they are surrounded with teachers that believe in them!
