Higher Ground Academy


CHARTER SCHOOL GETS MILLIONS IN TAX MONEY WITH UNLICENSED TEACHERS; March 30, 2011; KSTP-TV news broadcast (St. Paul, MN) 
At the top of the list of unlicensed teachers we found the name of the guy in charge, school principal Dr. Samuel Yigzaw. He told us he had been just too busy to get his teaching license this year, but is planning to do it for next school year. Dr. Yigzaw did admit that he knew of one unlicensed teacher on his staff of 34 faculty members, other than himself. When I asked him about the other two teachers we found, he said one fo [sic] them really wasn't a teacher, even though the school had her listed as such. Dr. Yigzaw told us she really was a paraprofessional who assisted teachers, but did not actually teach a class. The last teacher on our list was unfamiliar, at first, to Dr. Yigzaw. Then, he told us he remembered she was a regular substitute in his classroom. But, state records indicate that teacher is also unlicensed.

The Minnesota Department of Education reviewed our information and told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that it would start an investigation into the school's compliance beginning Wednesday morning.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

this school feed kids frozen milk and unwashed dishes there cafe is dirty the school teachers dont noe antthing

Anonymous said...

i agree, i used to go there for three years and there lunch is nasty and its dirty but above all that the school doesnt know much they think the kids are really learnin and doing what they should pose to do but there really just cheatin on ever test and in fornt of there face i just think they dont give a fuck or they just some lazy old people

Anonymous said...

You should check out Dugsi Academy in Saint Paul- multiple unlicensed teachers and very poor food and supervisory settings.

Anonymous said...

I know of one teacher in particular who has been hitting students on top o f their heads and using rulers and yardsticks as punishment for what is termed unacceptble behavior. Since when is it ever appropriate to discipline a child physically and in front of the entire class, and nothing being done about it, although it has been going on for quite some time at Higher Ground Academy in St Paul, Minnesota? Those who are aware are afraid to step up for fear of what?? Is not the child the most important person to be acknowledged here and not the teacher? Anonymous

The Perimeter Primate said...

The article is no longer available, but for the time being can be seen on this cached page:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:sHWBAV7E5iAJ:kstp.com/printStory.cfm%3Fid%3D2041320+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Anonymous said...

This school is the best
the teachers teach good and the lunch has been becoming better
they also provide many great extracurricular activities
teachers there are the best

Anonymous said...

As a former HGA student, I can say that the school has horrible ethics and teaches poorly. Also more investigation should be done at the school and its "high" test scores.

Anonymous said...

They are horible. They get rid of good teachers and bring unlisenced teachers and any teacher who cares is gone. a business not a school.

Anonymous said...

first of all the school is great the teachers are so friendly and are very smart you can not accuse them of anything and yeah their food might have been a bit of lately but not 2014 this and every year have been amazing i should know i have been going here since kindergarten so yeah think again

Anonymous said...

Funny, this school only has kids from one religious background, isn't that odd? Kids, and parents are constantly being disrespectful to the people at Concordia University...entitled much the HGA students/parents are!
Hopefully, these people figure out to be respect of others, they aren't the only "kids on the block."

Anonymous said...

well..... i have been in this school since kindergarten i'm in 5 grade now i hate this school i'm so......... glad im gonna go to sanford middle school next year.

Anonymous said...

Higher Ground is amazing! You guys don't know anything.

Anonymous said...

higher ground is boss you cant do nothin bout that

Anonymous said...

highr grond is a bad scool they dont teech me aw too spel and mak me bad at math

Anonymous said...

It is awesome I go there stupid.

Anonymous said...

higher ground isn't bad it just doesn't have enough money for new supplies and other nescisary items

Unknown said...

When I went to higher ground, teachers were sleeping together, principal was a whoremonger, one so called teacher was a drunkard, who hit me, (I'm a female, he's a male), and pushed me out the classroom. They begged my mother not to call the police, etc. Favoritism, and using outdated systems, and using strange teaching methods...it's funny how this stuff is still happening

Unknown said...

plz stop lying about our school you have no right to just say stupied things about the loving things they do?they dont have good supplies but they open a schol so kids can learn i love that school hbu

Anonymous said...

Higher ground academy is a great school

Anonymous said...

Higher ground Academy is an amazing school and anyone who thinks differently is wrong and instead of looking up things on lines about higher ground academy come and see the school for yourself

Anonymous said...

If anybody is wondering the new school year starts on August 15 And open house is on August 12

Anonymous said...

Higher ground is a very bad school the teachers torture students and hurt them to the point they need to go to the hospital the principal is fat and ugly he also has a baby in his belly waiting to be born into higher ground authority.they give students horrible food such as frozen dry spaghetti and rotten milk and also make kids work shifts after school if they refuse to eat the nasty food.#Join the people