Elite Academic Academy Celebrates Telly Award Win!
In a remarkable achievement for educational innovation, Elite Academic Academy, a California-based public charter school, has been honored with a 2026 Bronze Telly Award. This accolade was awarded for their captivating video that was aired on the popular television series All Access with Andy Garcia. The segment provides a rich look into the academy's commitment to personalized learning for students from TK to 12th grade.
About Elite Academic Academy
Elite Academic Academy embraces a flexible, student-centered educational model that caters to the diverse needs of its learners. Not only does the Academy offer traditional classroom experiences, but it also includes homeschool and virtual learning options, ensuring accessibility and adaptability in education for all students. This year, the Telly Awards recognized schools and other institutions that have made significant strides in video content, particularly in the educational domain, emphasizing the impact of effective storytelling in video production.
Telly Award Significance
The Telly Awards, in their 47th season, celebrate excellence in video and television content. The recognition reflects the combined efforts of the Academy's communications team and the foundational leadership of CEO Ashlea Kirkland-Haynes and former CEO Meghan Freeman, along with the creative drive of Social Media Brand Manager Justin Diaz. Kirkland-Haynes expressed pride over the recognition, stating, "Winning a Telly Award illustrates not only our story's strength but also the exceptional work taking place within our learning environment every day."
The video presented the academy's mission, showcasing the academic achievements of its students and detailing their distinctive learning philosophy. The segment aired nationally, allowing Elite Academic Academy to reach an audience typically reserved for major media outlets.
Academic Excellence
The accolade follows a significant achievement earned earlier this year when Elite Academic Academy became one of the few schools to achieve Level 3 certification through the Marzano High Reliability Schools™ (HRS) framework. This prestigious certification requires rigorous assessment of an institution's curriculum and instructional methods, confirming that all learning models align effectively to foster equitable educational outcomes.
As collected data from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) indicates, students at Elite Academic Academy are making notable academic progress. At the Lucerne Academy, English Language Arts (ELA) scores saw a remarkable 8% increase, with 54% of students meeting or exceeding standards, surpassing both state and county averages. Mathematics performance also showed an impressive 14% growth compared to the previous year.
Moreover, at Mountain Empire, 56% of students met or exceeded ELA standards, again outperforming state and county benchmarks.
A Model for Future Success
The recognition from the Telly Awards and Level 3 certification from the Marzano framework not only underscore the school’s commitment to excellence but also highlight the effectiveness of its innovative learning methodologies. The comprehensive data further validates that the flexible model operates effectively across various learning environments, yielding significant results. Elite aims to continue advancing and embracing educational excellence while fostering strong relationships between educators and students.
In her concluding remarks, Freeman noted, "This award isn't just about recognition; it’s about sharing our story and passion for student-centered education with a broader audience."
For more information about Elite Academic Academy and their award-winning approach to education, visit
www.eliteacademic.com.