Academy’s “Original Five” celebrate a decade of success

Cedar Hill—Ten years ago, Khawonda Crawford, Barron Coleman, Ashley Pierce, Shandria Russell, and Scarlett Williams were the five original teachers in the inaugural year of Collegiate Academy Middle School. 
The campus started with only sixth graders and added seventh graders in 2016, followed by eighth graders in 2017. 
A decade later, now located at a sprawling two-story campus, the five original teachers are still in the district – with one leaving after this school year. 
Pierce, a Cedar Hill High School Class of 2017 Graduate who’s taught in the district since 2013, is leaving to become a nurse. 
Pierce’s “Original Five” colleagues are happy for her, and they spent some time earlier this week reflecting on the campus’ early beginnings. 
“It has been good to know you can be somewhere where you can rely on your teammates,” Pierce said. “It’s helped to create a family environment. They accepted me for who I am, and I’ll always be grateful for that.” 
Collegiate Academy, which followed the opening of Collegiate High School, started at the former campus of West Intermediate School (the current location of the JoLynn Maddox Teaching & Learning Center). 
The campus moved to its current location in the 2020-2021 school year. 
“When we started the academy, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Coleman, a world class opera singer who’s taught for 34 years, including 12 in Cedar Hill ISD. “Coach Williams and I taught AVID. It was new to the district and to the campus. We relied on each other and asked questions as we built curriculum.” 
With the exception of Williams, who began her teaching career at Collegiate Academy, the other members of the “Original Five” previously taught in CHISD’s intermediate schools, which served grades 5-6 at the time. 
All five have been Campus Teachers of the Year at some point, most recently Russell, who teaches English, in 2024-2025. Russell has taught in CHISD since 2010. 
“We were like a puzzle, and then we clicked,” Russell said. “These four teachers taught my daughter (a Collegiate graduate), and I had complete faith and trust in them. They were amazing to my kid.” 
When Williams started with the district, Collegiate High School athletes couldn’t play varsity sports at Cedar Hill High School. Now, they can do so. Among her athletes were Jadon Cardell, a Collegiate graduate who’s now the starting punter for the Sam Houston State University Football Team. 
In addition to Physical Education, Williams taught health and AVID. 
Crawford, a math teacher with 15 years of experience in the district, said the “Original Five” continues to help her, up to and including this year. 
“You have a support system to help and guide you through everything you need,” Crawford said. “Having different people to provide ideas and to help make your idea a reality in the way you envisioned it.” 
The “Original Five” had a milestone moment 3.5 years ago when the original group of Collegiate Academy sixth graders graduated from Collegiate High School in 2022 with their diplomas and Associates Degrees. 
Because they began college as sophomores, or in some cases, juniors, some of those students have earned their Bachelor’s Degrees, or will very soon. 
“We served as their senior sponsors in 2022 and did field trips and activities with them,” Coleman said. “At graduation, they were all emotional. We all had a shared experience from the sixth through the 12th grade.” 

SOURCE Cedar Hill Collegiate Academy