About

Renaissance Academy is a thriving charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade students in Mt. Pleasant and surrounding communities. There is no tuition charge to attend our school. As a Public School Academy, we receive the same state funding and follow the same state and federal guidelines as traditional public school districts.

Our Mission

The mission of Renaissance Public School Academy is to engage every student in becoming confident, creative, and collaborative builders of their future.

Our Vision

Renaissance students will find their passion to live fulfilled lives and make a difference in the world.

Our Defining Practices

  • We value connections with students to inform our personalized practices at varying levels of complexity depending on the individual.
  • We honor student voice and encourage student choice through self directed, individual student selected projects.
  • We use inquiry based approaches to guide students through Project-Based Learning experiences as well as content deep dives.
  • We believe in the power of ongoing, innovative, rigorous, professional growth.

Our Values

  • Safety and respect are the foundations for a positive learning environment among all members of our diverse school community.
  • We foster collaboration for students and staff while guiding them to take responsibility for their individual contributions.  
  • We empower our students and staff to be independent thinkers, problem solvers, and lifelong learners.
  • We engage in rigorous learning opportunities for students to apply in real life experiences.

Our Board of Directors

Lisa Diaz-Sytsema, President

Mark Smith, Vice President

Jessie DeHaan, Secretary

Bart Blystone, Treasurer

Erik Rodriguez, Director

Savannah Balcom

Preschool Teacher

Janeen Maday

Kindergarten Teacher

Christina Schafer

Kindergarten Paraprofessional

Jason Wilson

Kindergarten Teacher

Erika Clarke

Kindergarten Paraprofessional

Jacquelyn Jalbert

Voyager Teacher

Sage Matties

Voyager Teacher

Darcy Molina

Voyager Teacher

Alexa Zarr

Voyager Teacher

Megan Conn

Islander Teacher

Jessica Harman

Islander Teacher

Bethany Koefoed

Islander Teacher

Jessica Molyneux

Islander Teacher

Jade Jablonski

Trailblazer Teacher

Stephanie Papenfus

Trailblazer Teacher

Tara Reger

Trailblazer Teacher

Brian Whitman

Trailblazer Teacher​

Blake Buzard

Middle School Teacher

Autumn Gairaud

Middle School Teacher

Dave McCausey

Middle School Teacher, Athletic Director

Dr. Amber Schneider

Middle School Teacher

Courtney Doyle

Media Specialist

Stephen McConnell

Physical Education Teacher

Kassidy Thompson

Art Teacher

Joel Wiseman

Music Teacher

Fia Roebuck

Theater Director

Jessica Bean

Special Education Coordinator

Emma Galliher

Resource Room Teacher

MacKenseye Guza

Resource Room Teacher & 504 Coordinator

Monica Pulver

Speech Teacher

Yolanda Sanchez

School Social Worker

Jacqueline Berthelot-Aldrich

Literacy Interventionist Teacher

Sara Egloff

Literacy Interventionist Teacher

Heather Pastotnik

Literacy Interventionist Teacher

Natalie Snyder

Literacy Interventionist Teacher

Marilyn Lindsay

Literacy Coach

Anna Doyle

Math Interventionist Teacher

Sara Byers

Paraprofessional

Jennifer Cummings

Paraprofessional

Thomas Eckman

Paraprofessional

Jeri Hansen

Paraprofessional

Pamela Hook

Paraprofessional

Tracy Kercher

Paraprofessional

Kassandra Long

Paraprofessional

Mike Pulverente

Paraprofessional

Elizabeth Scott

Paraprofessional

Julie Techlin

Paraprofessional

Meriah Wilder

Paraprofessional

Sheryl Free

Substitute Teacher

Anna Molina

Substitute Teacher

Jon Koster

Assessment & Technology Director

​Rachel Brandeberry

Community Connections Coordinator

Jordan Curtice

School-Based Outpatient Therapist

Veronica Mitchell

Custodian

Jim Reihl

Maintenance & Transportation

LaMario Floyd

Food Service

Ean Palmer

Food Service

Anna Walton

Office Professional

Henry Mayer

Dean of Instruction

Brandy Reihl

Business Manager

Megan Nix

School Leader

Contact Staff

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Name(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.