Achievement Academy

Congratulations to our Achievement Academy graduates! We are so proud of these remarkable little ones and can't wait to see what they will accomplish next. Kindergarten, here they come!

Congratulations to Kristin Aiken, Achievement Academy's President/CEO, on graduating from Leadership Lakeland Class XLII! Over the past nine months, Kristin, along with 27 other classmates, embarked on a journey of civic engagement and growth. During that time, they learned about major areas of community interest and concern, including government and politics, economic development, the environment, criminal justice, business, the arts, education, communications and the media, and health and human services.

Pedal powered and Pre-K proud! Leo is coasting into the final week of school with a big smile and growing independence.

Summer, here we come!

Emilia is hard at work with Ms. Katie in Physical Therapy as she practices weight-shifting from side to side while singing “The Ants Go Marching!” Through fun, movement-based activities like this, she is building the coordination, balance, and strength needed for stepping over obstacles and navigating stairs more independently. We love celebrating every step toward greater confidence and independence!

This week, staff were treated to delicious Staff Appreciation Lunches sponsored by our incredible Parents Group. Their kindness and generosity were such a meaningful reminder of the strong community that surrounds our children and programs.

We are so grateful for all of our wonderful staff members and for the remarkable year we’ve shared together. Thank you for helping create brighter futures for the children we serve!

Xander is building strength, confidence, and independence in Physical Therapy with Ms. Katie! What seems like play is actually designed to support gross motor development, helping him improve balance, coordination, and muscle strength in a fun and engaging way!

Julian and Karter are exploring the magic of watercolors with Ms. Jen!

Activities like this do so much more than create beautiful artwork. Watercolor painting helps strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and grip control which are essential for early writing development. It also encourages creativity, self-expression, and confidence as our students experiment and see their ideas take shape.

We love seeing these little ones learn and grow as they achieve their goals!

Congratulations to Ms. Sabrina, our Teacher of the Year, and Ms. Wendy, our Support Staff of the Year! These special honors are determined by a vote of their peers and recognize staff members who consistently go above and beyond throughout the year to support our students, families, and mission.

Ms. Sabrina has been teaching at the Lakeland campus for four years and Ms. Wendy has been a para for a combined 30 years, starting out with Ms. Cindi and currently in Ms. Susan's class.

Congratulations and thank you for the care, encouragement, and heart you bring to Achievement Academy each and every day. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom and helps create brighter futures for the children we serve!

During speech therapy, Ms. Carrie is working with Charlie as she uses an eye-gaze assistive communication device to express herself, building language, confidence, and connection. Tools like this open doors to communication, helping Charlie share her needs, wants, and her personality in ways that feel natural and empowering.

At Achievement Academy, we believe every child deserves to be heard and moments like this make our hearts happy!

What a fantastic night with the Lakeland Flying Tigers Baseball! We were thrilled to be recognized during their "We Care Wednesday" and had a blast at the ballpark. Thank you to the Tigers for a great night and a fantastic opportunity to highlight our mission!

Roman is building his skills one layer at a time!

Hard at work stacking, balancing, and problem-solving, Roman is strengthening his fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. He's also learning important cognitive concepts like size, sequencing, and cause-and-effect. Activities like this help build focus, persistence, and confidence!