Timbuktu Academy’s U-Turn

About the Book

This is a story about the Academy’s rich history, encompassing its successes, challenges, the impact of location changes, growth, issues with teacher certifications, and schoolwide assessment results. It also highlights the Academy’s value to the community. This school serves "underserved, deserving" students living in a poverty-level community, with many children experiencing chronic toxic stress conditions that adversely affect their brain development and learning.

About the Author

Bernard F. Parker, Jr. Bernard Parker, CEO of Magnum Educational Management Company, which manages the Academy, is a former community activist, director of Operation Get Down (OGD), and Wayne County Commissioner. He has deep roots in the community, having grown up on the east side of Detroit. Bernard attended Catholic schools and pursued higher education at Highland Park Community College and the University of Michigan. Hired by the United Methodist Church as a Black Community Developer, Bernard became passionately committed to improving his community. In 1970, he co-founded Operation Get Down, an organization that allowed him to engage in all aspects of community work and build partnerships with businesses, government, education, and faith-based institutions. His dedication to families on Detroit’s east side led him to collaborate with Dr. E. Malkia Brantuo. The late Dr. E. Malkia Brantuo, who joined OGD after working with Detroit Public Schools (DPS), was profoundly influenced by her more than 36 visits to Africa. These experiences gave her a cultural baptism into her African heritage. As a Pan-Africanist, Dr. Brantuo was convinced that African American children would benefit greatly from an African-centered educational environment and curriculum. Bernard hired Dr. Brantuo to oversee OGD’s adult education program. In 1980, OGD opened the Ujima Childcare Center to serve local children, providing an African-centered, child-focused program grounded in the seven principles of Nguzo Saba and a commitment to academic excellence. The success of these ventures led to the founding of Timbuktu Academy as a private school in 1996. However, the school soon closed due to a lack of funds, as many parents were unable to pay tuition. Determined to continue their mission, Commissioner Parker and Dr. Brantuo sought to reopen Timbuktu Academy as a charter public school. Brenda A. Parker, BA, MFA Head of Timbuktu Academy, and Superintendent (2009-2013) Education: University of Michigan – Bachelor of Arts in Education with Distinction Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA – MFA in Fibers University of Pittsburgh – Graduate Studies in Education and Art History Administrative Educational Experience: Brenda has over 27 years of experience as a school principal and administrator. She served as principal for 16 years at two different private independent schools in Los Angeles, CA. During her tenure, she was responsible for designing and developing highly successful, diverse, and child-centered educational environments. Classroom Teaching Experience: Brenda’s teaching career spans over 25 years, working as an instructor across various educational levels. She has taught students from preschool through ninth grade, covering early childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary education in both public and private schools. Additionally, she is trained as a reading specialist. Publication Still Waters, published on Amazon, June 2024. Warrington S. Parker, Jr., Ph.D. Organizational Psychologist Education and Experience: Warrington has over 30 years of experience in education and business. He earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and an MA in Psychology from the University of Michigan. He also holds a BA in Sociology and a Michigan Teaching Certificate. His teaching experience spans the elementary, secondary, and adult basic education levels. Additionally, he served as a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Management (Dearborn Campus) and as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Business Experience: Warrington has extensive experience in the business world, having worked for Rockwell Corporation as an internal organizational change agent for over 25 years. Rockwell, a high-technology company serving the aerospace, defense, communications, and automotive industries, provided a platform for his expertise in organizational change and executive leadership development. His contributions to the development of high-performance organizations were featured in Industry Week in the article “Rockwell’s Bold New World” (1987). Additionally, he led the redesign of Bellflower High School in Bellflower, CA. Academic and International Experience: Warrington also served as an adjunct professor at the Korean University for Brain Education in Mokehon, South Korea, and was Vice President of the International Brain Education Association. He has worked and presented at the United Nations in New York. Together with his wife, Brenda, he helped organize and present at the International Brain Education Conference at the United Nations. They also played a key role in establishing a Korean NGO at the UN and spoke with ambassadors from El Salvador and Africa about gang violence and the potential of Brain Education training. Current Role: Recently, Warrington was the Program Director and a professor for an online master’s degree program in The Science of Regenerative Earth Management, based in Arizona. He has also lectured in the People’s Republic of China. After Rockwell: Following his retirement from Rockwell, Warrington and his wife founded a consulting company, The Warrington Group. Publication and scheduled for publication Strength of Will: A Memoir, published on Amazon in January 2024. Cracking the Rock, scheduled for publication in November 2024, which details his experiences as an internal organizational change agent at Rockwell Corporation. U-Turn, Timbuktu Academy an African-Centered Public Charter School in Detroit. To be published in November,2004.