Meet the Founders

Pride Academy Charter School began with four educators who shared a vision for what a school community could be. Fiona Thomas, Amanda Quinn, Jodi Wilson, and Rose Mary Dumenigo met while teaching together in Newark, New Jersey. Through their experiences, they identified the practices that helped students, educators, and families thrive and began imagining a school of their own.

They started with the foundation they believed mattered most: the core values and a strong mission. With the support of family, friends, and community leaders, they turned their vision into a charter application. Pride Academy Charter School was one of only six schools approved that year from 33 applications.

The journey from an idea to opening a school came with many challenges, including finding a place to call home. With the support and partnership of Imani Baptist Church, Pride Academy Charter School secured its facility and opened its doors to scholars and families.

Since then, Pride Academy Charter School has continued to grow through the creativity, leadership, and contributions of its scholars, staff, families, and community leaders and supporters. This was always part of the founders’ vision: to build a community rooted in peace, respect, integrity, determination, and empathy, where scholars are empowered to recognize their own potential and shape their futures and the world.

Our Founders

Ms. Rose Mary Dumenigo – Vice Principal / Founder

Ms. Rose Mary Dumenigo considers being the first person in her family to graduate from college as her greatest achievement. Ms. Dumenigo is a daughter of Cuban exiles and graduated from William Paterson College with a Bachelors in History. After graduation, she joined Americorps, the National Service Program and later returned to Newark where she taught language arts, Spanish, and social studies to middle school and high school students over the course of thirteen years. Along with a talented group of urban educators, Ms. Dumenigo co-founded Pride Academy Charter School and serves as Pride Academy’s Vice Principal. Her passion is creating opportunities for community service, leadership, and empowerment. “I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow along side our Pride scholars and families. They make me a better person every single day. Email: rdumenigo@prideacs.org

Mrs. Jodi Wilson – Dean of Academics / Founder

As a distinguished urban educator, Jodi Wilson began her journey as a teacher in 2001 on the founding belief that education is liberation and the African proverb, “each one, teach one.” Through the nationally acclaimed program, Americorps and EPICS- Educational Partners in Catholic Schools at Seton Hall University. Jodi Wilson instructed students in the area of science in the beautiful city of Paterson, NJ for two years, and after acquiring a Master’s Degree in Education, continued her science teaching career in the rich city of Newark, NJ at Link Community School and Lady Liberty Academy Charter School. In 2008, she, alongside a group of educators who saw the need to foster the achievements of scholars through empowering educational experiences, founded and opened the doors of Pride Academy Charter School in East Orange, NJ. The middle school instills core values rooted in peace, respect, integrity, determination and empathy, while pursuant on a consistent basis to uphold a mission that further ensures every scholar recognizes the power they have to shape their futures and change our world. Email: jwilson@prideacs.org

Mrs. Amanda Quinn – ELA Teacher / Founder

After spending time home with her young children, Amanda Quinn is back with Pride Academy serving as a full-time teacher. A co-founder of Pride, Mrs. Quinn began her teaching career in Newark as a language arts teacher via the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. During her subsequent 14-year teaching career in Newark and East Orange, she has served as a 5th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA teacher, Director of Curriculum, Coordinator of Professional Development, and Coordinator of Outdoor Education. She graduated from St. Joseph’s University as a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society, and the winner of the Clinton Presidential National Service Award. She is thrilled to be able to support the Pride family of students, parents, and teachers on site once more. Email: aquinn@prideacs.org

Mrs. Fiona Thomas – Founder, Advisor, and Former Principal

Mrs. Fiona Thomas is a co-founder of Pride Academy Charter School and has dedicated more than 25 years of service as a teacher and leader in the field of urban education. Mrs. Thomas has been privileged to work with an outstanding group of educational leaders who share a vision of education grounded in social justice, academic achievement, leadership, service, and the practice of core values. Mrs. Thomas values the opportunity to invest and collaborate in the building of a learning community that places unconditional belief in our children to develop the habits of mind and skills to be critical thinkers, confident problem solvers, creative innovators, and ethical citizens prepared to be leaders in our world and give back to our community. Email: fthomas@prideacs.org