2024-0253: WHEREAS, The Urban Academy has a rich legacy as the region’s oldest charter school, founded in 1997 by African American community leaders and educators, chief among them being Esther L. Bush of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. The school traditions are deeply rooted in our founders’ belief that ALL children, especially black children, deserve to be immersed in a high-quality, rigorous, culturally relevant, and responsive learning environment. Under the leadership of Dr. Janet Bell, Dr. Gail Edwards, K. Chase Patterson and Principal Dr. Angelique Drakeford, the school has become a model of academic excellence for Black students in the greater Pittsburgh region; and,