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Dear Parents,

Welcome to Northwest Academy—Home of the Sharks! Since opening our doors in 2004, we have strived to provide a safe, secure learning environment for K-8 students in the Edgewater, Cudell, Detroit Shoreway & Lakewood neighborhoods. We love our community and are proud to serve students who are children of Hope Academy graduates!

As principal, I am a huge proponent of parent involvement, honesty, equity, doing what is best for students, and having fun. I welcome your partnership–together we will provide outstanding educational opportunities and academic excellence for our all of our students.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nicole Dykstra
– Principal

Principal Nicole Dykstra

Mrs. Nicole Dykstra, Principal

Mrs. Dykstra joined Northwest Academy as Principal in 2019 with over 13 years of experience as an educator and school administrator. Mrs. Dykstra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Young Adult Education, with an emphasis in History and Humanities, from Ohio Wesleyan University. She is licensed to teach by Baldwin-Wallace College and is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Education Administration at Grand Canyon University. In college, Mrs. Dykstra was a student athlete on the swim team and studied abroad in Australia.

Dr. Rodney Bly, Superintendent

Dr. Bly joined ACCEL Schools as Regional Vice President in 2018 with over 20 years of experience as an educator, principal, administrator, and educational consultant in the Midwest. Dr. Bly holds an Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois, Master’s degree in Science Education from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Wisconsin as well as additional certifications.

Staff Directory

  • M. Roman

    1:1 Aide

  • R. Gaffney

    1:1 Aide

  • J. Liotta

    1:1 Aide

  • L. Dulay

    SPED Aide

  • J. Abdullah

    1:1 Aide ,  Grade 8th Grade

  • Nurse Baker

    Nurse ,  Grade K-8 bbaker@acanwest.com

  • R. Szymczak

    Instructional Coach

Community School

Northwest Academy is a public, community school. We are our own school district sponsored by the Ohio Council of Community Schools (OCCS) which provides oversight and enforces academic, fiscal, and legal accountability. We are managed by ACCEL Schools, a high performing network of over 50 charter schools located throughout the United States.

Community Schools (Charter Schools) offer families an alternative to the local public school. Community schools are tuition-free, open to all students in the county, and focused on meeting student needs for success. Community schools are among the top-performing schools in the nation. Read more about charter schools.