New Beginnings Family Academy

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Bridgeport, CT
New Beginnings Family Academy

Pre-K - 6th Grade Public Charter School Positively Impacting the Lives of Bridgeport Students The refurbished facility offers 51,000-sq. ft.

New Beginnings Family Academy (NBFA) opened Bridgeport’s first elementary charter school in September 2002, serving 156 students in grades K-3. By 2005, NBFA had expanded into the city’s first charter middle school, serving roughly 260 students. In May 2005, NBFA transformed a century-old building and two adjacent parcels into a beautiful "urban campus" for New Beginnings Family Academy. of instru

ctional space, including bright, oversized classrooms; a Library and Media Center with computer stations; an additional second floor computer lab; a fully equipped commercial kitchen; and a 3,000-sq. annex for physical education. NBFA’s campus now serves 500 students from Pre-kindergarten through grade 8.

08/23/2026

🚨 Important school start dates‼️

08/22/2026

NEW LEARNING CENTER NAMED IN HONOR OF FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MRS. RONELLE SWAGERTY!

In Loving Memory of Mrs. Ronelle P. Swagerty 💐

For over two decades, Mrs. Ronelle Swagerty gave New Beginnings Family Academy far more than her leadership. She gave us her heart, her vision, her determination, and an unwavering belief in what was possible for every child who walked through our doors.

Those who knew her described Ronelle as a builder. She built people. She believed deeply in students, families, colleagues, and community, and had a remarkable way of leaving people better than she found them.

At NBFA, that belief became part of how we educate children. Ronelle understood that academic achievement and emotionally responsive practices were not competing priorities. Children could be challenged to achieve at high levels while also being deeply loved, understood, and supported.

Her legacy can be found throughout NBFA, but soon it will have a new home. During her Celebration of Life service, the NBFA Board of Directors announced that our new Early Learning Center will be dedicated and named in honor of Mrs. Ronelle P. Swagerty. The center she worked so tirelessly to bring to life will open on Monday, August 31, providing our youngest learners, whom she affectionately called “her babies,” a beautiful place to learn, grow, feel safe, and build a strong foundation for their futures.

We mourn an extraordinary leader, but we also celebrate an extraordinary legacy.

Thank you, Mrs. Swagerty, for building NBFA, for building people, and for showing us what it means to lead a life of significance. What you built will continue to inspire and help generations of Bridgeport children achieve their full potential. 💛

Your legacy lives on.

08/20/2026

Your New Beginning Starts Here! 🍎✨

NBFA is growing, and we’re looking for passionate educators ready to inspire young minds and help our students achieve their full potential.

👉 Comment “Career” to see a list of our current openings and learn more.

08/17/2026

Irene Logan Named Director of the Early Learning Center and Student Support for New Beginnings Family Academy

New Beginnings Family Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Irene Logan as the Director of the Early Learning Center and Student Support. Irene is the former District Literacy Coach and Lead for Scientific Research-based Interventions (SRBI) for the New Haven Public Schools. She has over two decades of experience in education and a proven record of accomplishment in designing and delivering professional development. Her expertise includes assessments, coaching, curriculum development, and instructional planning. Irene brings strong academic and professional credentials, including a master's degree in TESOL, a Sixth-Year Certificate in Educational Leadership, and certifications in bilingual education, remedial reading and language instruction, and teaching English to non-English speaking adults.

Her background as an early childhood teacher and literacy leader will support the school's commitment to play-based learning that promotes social-emotional well-being, strengthens early language and literacy development, and establishes a strong academic foundation for every child.

"We are excited to welcome Irene to the NBFA family. Her extensive experience and diverse leadership background will be instrumental in advancing our vision for high-quality early learning as we open the doors to our new Early Learning Center in the coming weeks," said Fearon, NBFA’s CEO/Director.

“I am excited to join the NBFA team as we open the new Early Learning Center. Contributing to a caring and engaging environment for our youngest learners is important to me, as these early years are critical to a child’s development. I look forward to collaborating with dedicated educators and leaders to build a joyful community where every child feels valued, supported, and prepared to grow,” said Logan.

Please join us in welcoming Irene Logan to New Beginnings Family Academy. We are looking forward to strengthening our mission and vision for the students and families of our Bridgeport communities.

08/12/2026

A big THANK YOU to Tashi from Sparkler for joining us at our Pre-K and Kindergarten Ice Cream Social! 🍦✨

We’re excited to partner with Sparkler to provide our families a FREE resource that offers developmental screenings, play-based learning activities, parenting tips, and connections to early childhood support.

🏫 As we continue gearing up for the opening of our NEW State-of-the-Art Early Learning Center in just a couple weeks, this partnership is another way we’re working together with families to support the whole child, both inside and outside the classroom. 💛

👉 Interested in learning more and getting connected with this free resource? Comment “SPARKLER” below and we’ll share the details directly in your inbox!

👉 Interested in one of the few remaining Pre-K seats at our tuition-FREE Early Learning Center? Comment “APPLY” to receive application details directly.

08/10/2026

❤️🏗️ Our new Early Learning Center continues to take shape!

🤗Our playground is officially complete!

✨ We still have a few remaining Pre-K seats available for the 2026-2027 school year.

👉 Enjoy FREE tuition, an extended-day schedule, and an engaging, play-based learning experience designed to help young learners grow, explore, and thrive.

👉 Comment “APPLY” and we’ll message you with application details.

08/07/2026

In Loving Memory of Ronelle Swagerty

🕊️It is with profound sadness that we share 🤍 the passing of our beloved Ronelle Swagerty this morning.

For 22 years, Ronelle served New Beginnings Family Academy with exceptional dedication to our students, families, and staff and an unwavering commitment to our mission. As Chief Executive Officer and Director, she championed initiatives that were always rooted in the best interests of children and empowered others to do the same. She cared passionately about helping children achieve their fullest potential.

Ronelle was a visionary whose transformational leadership guided NBFA’s growth and success. Her vision, wisdom, and student-centered approach helped transform our school into the caring, student-centered community we are today.

Ronelle was also a steadfast champion for school choice. She used her voice, her journalism skills, and her platform to advocate for the children of Bridgeport. She was a fighter in every sense of the word—courageous, determined, and unwilling to back down when there was an opportunity to improve the lives of others, especially children. When her community needed her, Ronelle showed up, lending her voice and leadership to civic and community initiatives. Simply put, Ronelle’s leadership and commitment to service transformed lives.

🕯️While we grieve the loss of this passionate educator and courageous leader, we also celebrate a life dedicated to service and the well-being of others. Ronelle’s legacy will live on through the lasting contributions she made to New Beginnings Family Academy and the Bridgeport community.

🤍Our hearts are with Ronelle’s family during this difficult time. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers as we remember and honor her remarkable life.

🕊️Rest in peace Ronelle. Your impact is forever woven into the fabric of New Beginnings Family Academy and will be felt for generations to come.

🌿With deepest sympathy and gratitude for a life of extraordinary service,

New Beginnings Family Academy.

08/04/2026

😊Imani Jones Named Principal of New Beginnings Family Academy

New Beginnings Family Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Imani Jones as Principal. Principal Jones is a seasoned educational leader with extensive experience in instructional leadership, school improvement, and the development of strong school communities. Jones joins New Beginnings Family Academy with a proven track record of advancing student achievement, strengthening school culture, and fostering collaborative partnerships among educators, families, and community stakeholders. She previously served as Principal of Mary T. Murphy Elementary School in Branford, Connecticut, and as Supervising Vice Principal of B.W. Tinker Elementary School in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Jones holds two advanced degrees and the following certifications: Intermediate Administration and Supervision (092), Elementary Education (K-6), Remedial Reading, and Remedial Language Arts (1-12). During her tenure as a school leader, she earned certification through the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) for her research focused on the practices of high-performing schools around the world.

Through her experiences as a principal, instructional coach, and teacher, Jones has developed a wealth of expertise in strategic decision-making, data-informed leadership, talent development, and organizational improvement. Known for building strong teams and fostering collaborative cultures, she effectively engages staff, families, and community partners around a shared vision for student success. She is widely respected for her collaborative leadership style, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to creating schools where students and staff feel valued, supported, and empowered.

"We are excited to welcome Principal Jones to the New Beginnings Family Academy family," said Collette Fearon, Executive Director. "Her proven leadership, commitment to excellence, and passion for student success will help guide our school into its next chapter of growth and achievement."

“I am thrilled to join the NBFA community,” said Principal Jones. “I look forward to supporting teachers, staff, students and their families as we all work together to create meaningful learning experiences that develop the skills and talents of our students and encourage them to grow and achieve with each new day and every new beginning.”

Please join us in welcoming Principal Imani Jones to New Beginnings Family Academy. We are looking forward to strengthening our mission and vision for the students and families of our Bridgeport communities.

07/31/2026

Day One of NBFA’s Leadership Retreat is in the books! 💡

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, our leadership team came together to REIMAGINE the learning experience we want every NBFA student to have.

This year’s retreat theme, “REIMAGINE: Remembering Our Legacy, Imagining Our Future,” challenged us to think boldly, collaborate intentionally, and envision what’s possible when student-centered leadership guides every decision we make.

This is just the beginning. The work continues, and we’re excited about what’s ahead for our learning community. Stay tuned.

07/28/2026

New Beginnings Family Academy Announces Collette Fearon as Executive Director

The Board of Directors of New Beginnings Family Academy (NBFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Collette Fearon as Executive Director, succeeding Ronelle Swagerty, effective July 1, 2026.

With more than 25 years of experience in education, Mrs. Fearon is recognized for her improvement-driven instructional leadership, student-centered approach, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education. She brings a deep sense of purpose to her work, grounded in the belief that all children deserve meaningful learning experiences and dedicated educators who go beyond the call of duty to help them reach their fullest potential.

During her tenure as Principal of New Beginnings Family Academy, Mrs. Fearon demonstrated strong instructional leadership, strategic vision, and a commitment to community engagement. Her leadership included the implementation of evidence-based instructional frameworks and the strengthening of school wide instructional systems designed to improve teaching and learning. These efforts contributed to the expansion of enriching learning opportunities and positive student outcomes.

Mrs. Fearon assumes the role of Executive Director at an exciting time in NBFA’s history. This fall, the school will open its brand-new, state-of-the-art Early Learning Center, expanding its Pre-K program to serve up to 160 students and families.

As Executive Director, she will partner with the Board of Directors, staff, families, and community partners to continue strengthening NBFA’s Emotionally Responsive Model. Grounded in child development theory and strong adult-child relationships, the model fosters a positive learning environment that supports students’ social-emotional well-being and strengthens their academic readiness.

“We are excited to have her lead the school as we open our new Early Learning Center and continue building an exceptional learning environment where every student can thrive," said Don Foley, Chairman of the Board.

“I am honored to continue working alongside our dedicated staff, families, Board, and community partners,” said Fearon. “Together, we will build on our successes, strengthen our collective commitment to excellence, and ensure every child in our Pre-K through sixth-grade program receives the meaningful, high-quality education they deserve.”

Please join the Board of Directors in congratulating Mrs. Collette Fearon on her appointment as Executive Director. We look forward to the opportunity to grow and serve our community with excellence.

Address

184 Garden Street
Bridgeport, CT
06605

Telephone

+12033842897

Website

http://www.nbfacademy.org/

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