BROOKLYN – Beginning with Children, a non-profit that manages a small but growing family of charter public schools in Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant, has named Esosa Ogbahon as the network’s Superintendent as well as Founding Principal of a new high school that opens next month.

“Mr. Ogbahon has demonstrated that he has the skills, talents, intellect and heart needed to run schools where children learn and grow,” said Beginning with Children Foundation Chair and CEO Nancy Lewson Kurz. “We’re pleased to have him step into this larger role because we know it will have a tremendous impact on the children and families we serve.”

In his new role, Mr. Ogbahon will continue to oversee academic and instructional practices for Beginning with Children’s two K-8 schools — Community Partnership Charter School (CPCS) in Clinton Hill/Bedford-Stuyvesant and Beginning with Children Charter School 2 in Williamsburg – and be additionally responsible for the new Community High School that will welcome students for their first day of 9^th grade August 15.

Community High School, located at 250 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, will offer traditionally underserved students a robust year-round academic program and comprehensive college and career advisory services that will help graduates enter and navigate college and post-collegiate professional life.

“This is an exciting time for our schools and the families we serve,” Mr. Ogbahon said. “With a full pre-K through 12 continuum, our young people can experience rich, high-quality programs that will set them up for living independent and informed lives whether they attend college or head right to a career.”

Earlier this month, Mr. Ogbahon led a group of rising 9^th graders and founding staff on a four-day summer bridge program at Bucknell University. For most of the students, it was their first exposure to a large, residential liberal arts college campus.

“The students had been to urban campuses before, so this was a novel experience for many of them,” Mr. Ogbahon said.

Mr. Ogbahon was the founding Principal of Beginning with Children Charter School 2 (BwCCS2) and has worked as an elementary school teacher and school leader. He was part of the founding teaching team at Achievement First Crown Heights Charter School. He has also served in the capacity of Assessment Coordinator, Curriculum Director and Adjunct Professor.

Mr. Ogbahon earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bucknell University, as well as master’s degrees from Brooklyn College and Columbia University Teachers College.

Community High School builds upon the successful K-8 programs run at BwCCS2 and CPCS, as well as the Foundation’s work with high school and college students through its Legacy Network, which provides mentoring, academic enrichment, and a supportive social network to help students make the critical transition to high school, college, and career.

 Support through the Legacy Network has helped alumni excel at such competitive high schools as Brooklyn Tech, Millennium, Brooklyn Latin, and Phillips Academy Andover, as well as at Harvard, Wesleyan, Fordham, Tufts, and numerous SUNY and CUNY schools.

The new high school will predominantly serve students in the Brooklyn community who have historically lacked access to high quality educational opportunities. At BWCCS2, more than 96 percent of students live in poverty and 95 percent are Black or Hispanic.  At CPCS, more than 93 percent of students are in poverty while 95 percent are Black or Hispanic. At both schools, more than 20 percent of the students receive special education services.

The year-round high school program will provide academic rigor with real life skills to prepare students for both college and career paths. This program will include an array of college credit-bearing courses and electives, a full advisory program as well as post-secondary planning to ensure students not only explore all options but also develop a specific individualized plan.

For more information about the schools, visit: www.beginningwithchildren.org.