History of Emerson School

1973
Jean Navarre opens Emerson School in Plymouth, Michigan.  Ms. Navarre and two staff members offer an educational program to nine gifted and talented students whose needs were not being met at their previous schools.

1974
The school moves to a new site at the Westside Methodist Church in Ann Arbor.  There are approximately eighteen students enrolled in the school.  The application to incorporate and designate the school as an educational institution for students in grades K-6 is approved by the State of Michigan.  Articles of Incorporation and an application for accreditation were filed with the State of Michigan.

1982
The student population grew from 18 to 130 between 1974 and 1982.

1983
The school moves into a new building on Scio Church Road in Ann Arbor.  The building has eight classrooms, two special rooms for art/music and science, a central open area for student groups and all-school functions as well as a small area for school offices.  There are 160 students enrolled at the school.

1987
Jeanne Navarre, School Director, leaves Emerson to pursue other opportunities.  Tim Wilson, former Emerson science teacher, is appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as Headmaster.

1988
The school opens the new “specials wing” offering separate rooms for art, music, science and computers.  There are ten K-6 classrooms of approximately twenty students each.  Ann Arbor Public Schools restructure by removing sixth grade students from the elementary schools and placing them into the middle schools.  The school now takes a closer look at its program and discussions revolve around the possibility of adding a Middle School for grades 6-8.

1991
The school submits a self-study to the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) as part of its application for accreditation.  A visiting team spends three days at the school to review the self-study documents and to talk with all constituents.  The visiting team recommends approval of the school’s application for accreditation and membership.
The school opens a new addition to its building.  The addition includes a gymnasium and new Middle School facility with four classrooms including a science lab.  Enrollment in this first year of the Middle School is forty-two with a full-time staff of six and a part-time staff of six teachers.

1993
Mr. Wilson leaves his position as Headmaster to return to his position as a science teacher for grades 6-8.  Dr. James G. Leaf is appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as Head of School.

1997
Enrollment at the school reaches 368 in grades K-8, with a faculty and staff of forty-nine.
Middle School students move into a new addition that was built to accommodate continued growth.  This addition provides a second science/math classroom and a math/art classroom.

1998
Dr. Leaf leaves his position as Head of School.  Patricia C. Adams is appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as Head of School.
ISACS Team visits the school as part of the seven-year accreditation review cycle. ISACS accepts the submitted report and offers re-accreditation.

2003
The school’s Annual Fund reaches its greatest level to date and exceeds $120,000.00.  The Board of Trustees approves a capital campaign.

2004
The Middle School addition opens with one classroom, one drama room/black-box theater, a state-of-the-art science lab with a greenhouse, a pottery room, new student bathrooms, and a faculty workroom and bathroom.

2005
The Board of Trustees approves a $4.5 million goal for the Campaign for Emerson:  Building Bright Futures.  The purpose of the Campaign for Emerson is to construct six new classrooms, renovate the library/media center and complete necessary site work.
The Campaign for Emerson reaches close to $2 million.  The preliminary site work commences and construction begins on the six new classrooms for K-2 students.

2006
February – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for new K-2 wing and kick-off for public phase of the Campaign for Emerson.

2009
Campaign for Emerson declares victory and completes the renovation of the library/media center.
Patricia Adams resigns in order to relocate to Texas and the board appoints Jerry Loewen as the Head of School.