Learn more about Movement Pre-K Today
Movement’s Pre-K vision is to be recognized as a high-quality kindergarten readiness program that prioritizes rigorous academic content, social-emotional development, physical development, and developmentally culturally appropriate practices to ensure a seamless transition into kindergarten.
Movement Schools has three Pre-K Programs in the Charlotte-area located alongside their Eastland, Southwest, and Freedom Campuses with a fourth program opening at Movement Northwest in August 2024. Our Pre-K Programs offer quality childcare, teaching and learning in a safe, nurturing atmosphere. Our programs are designed to foster an environment that encourages exploration and independence.
Our Campuses
Northwest Elementary (Opening Fall 2024)
Southwest Elementary
A Letter From Our Pre-K Director
Dear Families and Friends,
I am truly humbled to have the opportunity to serve as the Network Pre-K Director. It is a role that I hold with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility. I have been in early education for 15 years in many different capacities. One of my most proud opportunities was serving as the Founding Site Director of Movement Freedom Pre-K. As the Network Pre-K Director, I am committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. I believe that each child is unique, with their own set of strengths and abilities. My aim is to ensure that our Pre-Kindergarten program embraces and celebrates this diversity, providing a tailored and enriching educational journey for each and every child. I also want to emphasize the importance of parental involvement in our Pre-Kindergarten program. Your participation and partnership play a vital role in your child’s educational journey. I am dedicated to fostering strong connections with our families, listening to your feedback, and working together to create an exceptional experience for our scholars. I am confident that, with our collective efforts, we will create an environment where our Pre-Kindergarten scholars can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Network Pre-K Director, and I look forward to partnering with the community as we prepare a new generation of leaders through our extraordinary Pre-K Program.
With Gratitude,
Erica Polk
Network Pre-K Director, Movement Schools
Why
Movement
Personalized Learning
We use small-groups and personalized instruction to help your child grow at their best pace, every day. Our structured literacy and conceptual mathematics approaches are the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Amazing Teachers
We hand-pick teachers to bring out the best in your child. They fill each classroom with instructional expertise, character, and love. Our teachers shine and are the heart of our school.
Character Education
We are building children with strong minds and strong character. Children who will succeed in life and help others do the same. We teach character every day to help you raise children who are kind, honest and brave.
Meet the Charlotte Superintendent
Dedicated and results-driven education professional, Jenika M. Mullen, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the realm of academic leadership. With a proven track record spanning over a decade, Jenika has excelled in various roles. Jenika has successfully coached school leaders across diverse districts and cities, including Charlotte, NC, St. Louis, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Bronx, NY, and New Rochelle, NY. Her leadership has been instrumental in implementing Achievement First’s exercise-based math curriculum, contributing to the academic growth of students and educators alike.
Throughout her career, Jenika has demonstrated adaptability and versatility, serving in various capacities such as Senior Math Coach, Principal, Academic Dean, Dean of School Culture, Instructional Coach, and more. This diversity of roles has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of educational dynamics, from curriculum development to staff mentorship.
Armed with a Master of Education in Special Education from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The Pennsylvania State University, Jenika combines academic rigor with practical experience.
Recognized as an Achievement First Stage 4 Distinguished Teacher and a finalist for the Teach for America Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, Jenika Mullen continues to make significant contributions to the field of education. Her nomination for the Sue Lehman Award for Excellence in Teaching further underscores her commitment to shaping the future of education.
Jenika is not only an education professional but a catalyst for positive change, consistently leveraging her skills and knowledge to elevate the standards of education and inspire both students and colleagues.
Meet the Raleigh Superintendent
Jermaine Gassaway is a native of Washington, DC. He began advocating for quality education at a very young age which ultimately led to him deciding to leave DC at the age of 15 to attend a boarding school called The Piney Woods School in Jackson, Mississippi—a decision that changed his life and trajectory. Jermaine went on to become a proud graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jermaine is a strong advocate for equity in public education, with a particular focus on increasing teacher diversity in public schools. He recently published Unopened Books: Multiplying the 2%, which documents “the unfathomable rate of black males in education” and details the transformative power of building a teacher workforce that more closely resembles the diversity of the students in our schools. Jermaine taught 3rd through 8th grades and was a 2010 Teach For America corps member in Detroit, where over 90 percent of his students scored “advanced” or “proficient” on the state standardized assessment (MEAP), and where he also served as Curriculum Coordinator.
Jermaine was previously the principal at Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School for 4 years and has helped lead his school to achieve Reward status— the highest performance rating in the state of Tennessee. In addition, Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School grew 3 times faster than any other elementary school in Nashville on the state standardized assessment for the 2018-2019 school year. Jermaine also served as Rocketship’s Director of Schools for Nashville.
Jermaine is passionately committed to ensuring the success of all students. He fervently believes that all students deserve an excellent education and the quest to reach and complete college and achieve lifelong success starts now with every book read and every equation solved. He is excited to work closely with teachers, school leaders, and community members to ensure students are making the academic gains necessary to achieve this success in school and life. Jermaine is a proud husband and father to two amazing kids and his hobbies include running, traveling, and reading.
Meet Movement School's CEO
Kerri-Ann T. Thomas was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and her master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She became a teacher, dean/assistant principal, principal and superintendent for the Achievement First Network in Connecticut and New York. As a principal she made history at Achievement First as the first turnaround school to make the most growth and outperformed the district within one year and leading the number 1 elementary school in Hartford, CT. As a superintendent at AF she led the New York Elementary schools in East NY and was the entire NY ES lead. KTT relocated back south and took the role of CAO at Movement Charter schools in Charlotte, NC. Months later she became the CEO of Movement Schools partnering with school teams towards the Movement mission and its expansion. Kerri-Ann is also the author of two children’s books called “Roll Call” and “The Coffee Shop.” Another fun fact is that she owns a tea shop called Brooklyn Tea in Atlanta, GA. As an educator, pushes students and peers to believe that “although you are a product of your environment you do not have to become a duplicate of the majority.”
