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Media Contact: Aimee J Lewis at aimee.lewis@gmail.com or (585) 414-9838
E3 Rochester Announces New Name, Leadership and Charter School Focus
Rochester, NY– June 15, 2023 — For more than a decade, E3 Rochester has worked to change the narrative for children in Rochester, tirelessly advocating for school choice and better academic outcomes. Today, E3 Rochester announced it has adopted the name EDceptional, reflecting its focused mission to specifically support charter schools in Rochester to achieve educational excellence.
EDceptional will be led by Rev. Sebrone Johnson as chief executive officer. Johnson was hired by E3 Rochester in late 2022 as vice president of operations after serving as senior vice president of operations for the Urban League of Rochester. He is also the senior pastor at Greater Harvest Church in Rochester. Bryan Hickman, E3 Rochester co-founder, will continue in a leadership role as executive vice president.
“We’re committed to making a real and sustainable change in Rochester’s education system,” says Johnson. “Charter schools offer families a choice in their public education and provide a path for students to achieve their goals in a free and public setting. By supporting Rochester’s 27 charter school locations, we’ll provide resources that ensure high-quality performance in supportive environments. It’s a game-changer for our city.”
Over the past 18 months, Hickman, along with Jim Brush, board chair, have worked with staff and board members to refocus the organization from recruiting charter schools to offering critical support to existing Rochester locations.
“More than 8,000 students—or about 26% of Rochester’s K-12 students—are enrolled in a charter school,” said Brush. “Data shows that when more students enroll in public charter schools, all students benefit. EDceptional is working with schools and partners to improve
educational quality for all children.”
Studies report that the higher the percentage of students in charter schools in a city, the higher the performance of all students, even those in district schools. (Read the latest research from the Fordham Institute and Stanford University.)
EDceptional will continue to spearhead existing collaboration efforts among Rochester charter schools, including the application portal GoodSchoolsRoc.org, which makes it possible for parents and caregivers to apply to all local charter schools with a single online application.
The name change comes as EDceptional moves offices to 16 Main St., where it will host charter schools meetings and events. For more information, visit EDceptional.org.
