About Us
Ann Jerkins-Harris
Dessa Ann Jerkins-Harris, born on April 25, 1949, in Newtonville, NJ, was a passionate educator, visionary, businesswoman, minister, and vocalist. As the seventh of thirteen children, she grew up in a Christian household in Southern New Jersey. At seventeen, she moved to Toledo, Ohio, where she graduated from Libbey High School and earned both a B.S. in Education and a master’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Toledo.
Dessa devoted over thirty years to the Toledo Public School System as a kindergarten teacher, mentor, and reading coach, where she developed a deep passion for children. Upon retiring, she pursued her dream of preparing children for excellence by founding Learners for Life Child Development Center in 2006 and the Academy of Educational Excellence in 2012, both of which became pillars of the community under her leadership.
She is survived by her loving husband, Minister William (Bill) Harris Jr., her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Most recently our governing authority unamimously approved to change our school name in memory of our founder:
ANN JERKINS-HARRIS ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE
Rest in Peace (1949-2021)
About AJHAE
Established in 2012, our school has expanded to include grades up to the eighth grade. Throughout our growth, we have remained true to our core principles, making AJHAE a top choice for families seeking quality education. At AJHAE, we believe in the potential of every child to learn. We prioritize their social-emotional well-being alongside their academic needs. Our robust curriculum and enrichment programs, including leadership, music, arts, humanities, technology, and online learning, are designed to cater to our students' unique needs. We support English learners and students with special needs, ensuring personalized attention and standards-based academic goals for all. Our mission is to continually improve our support for all students, aiming for maximum academic achievement and personalized care. We hold ourselves accountable to providing the best education by adapting to the evolving needs of our students and their families.
Vision Statement
At the Ann Jerkins-Harris Academy of Excellence, we we support and stimulate an educational environment that nurtures the whole child and promotes individuals of excellence.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Ann Jerkins-Harris Academy of Excellence is to understand the social, emotional, physical and academic needs of our students while adopting a whole-child approach.
Our Core Values
Beliefs and principles that govern our organizational behavior and support the excecution of our educational model.
AJHAE Mascot: The Emporer Penguin
