What’s our mission?
Global Leaders Academy is committed to creating an educational experience that meets the individualized needs of each student. Guided by an experienced team of teachers, our students develop foundational leadership skills and confidence in their own abilities. We strive to make our courses rigorous and accessible to all families.
Our focus, our methods, and our entire approach is founded on the idea that every child has the right to an education that suits their interests, their strengths, and their needs.
Why GLA?
GLA gives you the choice about what and how your child learns. Students and parents have a say in what classes they take, the level of the classes, and the teachers who teach them.
- Flexible hours
- Affordable prices
- High quality mentors
GLA is a virtual supplement to top tier private education that aims to enrich traditional learning for all children who require additional, challenging coursework.
Students are grouped with similar academic level peers and guided by experienced mentors.
Students will be challenged to participate in class and find their voice. Whether by sharing a paper they’ve written or showing how they’ve solved a math problem, students will thrive in a safe environment that encourages them to use their voice.
Our teachers approach learning in creative ways and you can expect to see techniques that meet the needs of your child.
We know about and care about each individual student. We know their strengths, we know how to help them grow.
Team
Mr. Jordan
Middle School ELA Head Teacher
As the head of the Middle School ELA program, I work closely with the instructors to develop a curriculum that is filled with a variety of activities, exciting readings, and applicable life skills. In crafting our English department, I wanted to be sure that our students gained skills that would help them succeed in high school and beyond. But more importantly, I wanted them to look forward to class, to build their curiosity, and to love learning. I think that we have managed to create a learning environment that will accomplish those goals. I am currently in the final year of my Masters at Columbia, Teachers College, where my degree will be in English Education. I began teaching a little over five years ago. All of my classes are based around the emotional and mental health of the students. I start every class with a “check in” where students get the opportunity to share what is on their minds or how they are feeling. I want them to know that I care about who they are beyond what they do on an academic level. I have found that when students feel that trust and that security, that they are willing to work harder.
Ms. Califf
Elementary ELA Head Teacher
Ms. Califf has been teaching with Global Leaders Academy for three semesters, working closely with students and parents to ensure a vigorous and individualized education for all. Additionally, she works closely with the English and Writing teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through 5th grade to ensure teacher development and a high level of standards are met in each classroom. She works with teachers to develop a curriculum that is rigorous and builds upon content, cultural, and contextual knowledge. Before joining the Global Leaders Academy team, Clara graduated from Columbia University Teachers College and was an educational Peace Corps volunteer for three years, teaching reading to elementary school students. Clara is also a full time public high school teacher, who loves to work with younger ages due to their energy and love of reading.
Grandmaster Mac
Chess Club
Grandmaster Mac is a chess Grandmaster and the three-time New Jersey State Chess Champion. He graduated from NYU in 2011 and has dedicated himself to playing and teaching chess since then. He has taught chess to students ranging from brand new to students who are competing in national and international level tournaments. He enjoys sharing his passion for the game with students of all ages and skill levels. He is currently a coach with a top private school in New York City, a school which has won more scholastic National Championships than any other school. He is now helping Global Leaders Academy build its chess team.
Mr. Willem
Music and Theater Club
I’m a New York based composer, and music educator. I am music director at the Queens College Musical Theater Summer Camp, and a teaching artist with the Disney Theatrical Group, TADA! Youth Theater, and The New York Pops. My original musicals include #MARS (NYFA; Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab), Prodigy (CCU; NYU), Two Bugs Are Better Than One (New York City’s Children’s Theater), Cinderella (Spotlight Youth Theater), To Have And To Hold (Prospect Theater Company; Barrington Stage), and short operas, The Watering Hole (NYU), A Visit to Baba Yaga and Tin Heart, Tinsel Rose (DSU). I hold an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, and am a member of the BMI Musical Theatre Advanced Workshop, and the Dramatist Guild.
Mr. Denny
Public Speaking and Debate Club
Mr. Denny was a Grand-Finalist at the 2019 World Universities Debating Championship and the best performing US team that year at the world championship. As the person in charge of outreach for the Cornell Speech and Debate Society, he designed their curriculum and oversaw partnerships with multiple high schools and middle schools. He has taught public speaking workshops and camps in Korea, Dubai, South Africa, and New York to students of all ages. As a child, Denny struggled with speaking due to a severe stutter and overcame it through hard work and practice. Because of this, he knows how important it is for children to master these skills early. His teaching philosophy focuses on giving students the space to speak, teaching them the skills and tools of speaking through practice and concrete feedback. Denny graduated from Cornell University this past spring and was accepted into Harvard Law School – he has deferred admission and will start in 2022.