Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Brumfield.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Altadena and I was educated within the Pasadena Unified School District. Shortly after graduating from college, I began teaching at a middle school (7th and 8th grade) in Pasadena. After entering the teaching profession, education not only became my career, it became my passion. As a middle school teacher I noticed that many students were coming to my class under-educated. They didn’t have the foundational skills that they needed to be successful not only at the middle school level, but moving forward into high school. I realized that I would be unable to affect change in a large bureaucratic system, so I decided to start my own school.
I opened Pasadena Rosebud Academy Charter School in 2007. I began with a kindergarten and first grade class and added a grade each successive year until we reached 8th grade.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Anytime you start a business there are going to be obstacles. One struggle that we were faced with was finding a location. Once we found a location, we out grew the space after a few years and were challenged with creating more space at our previous location. Eventually, we had to find a new location to accommodate our growth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pasadena Rosebud Academy Charter School – what should we know?
Pasadena Rosebud Academy is a charter school that provides students with a quality education. We pride ourselves not only on our high academic standards, but also on the experiences and opportunities that we afford our students and families. We strongly believe that education encompasses more than just academics. It’s about providing students with the knowledge and experiences that are going to cultivate and foster a love of learning and to give them the tools and confidence they need to successfully navigate in society as young adults.
We have a financial literacy program that teaches students about money at an early age. Our students participate in a range of field trips, locally and abroad. Through our field trips students have the ability to connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world. Through our global education our students have an opportunity to travel abroad. We take students to Costa Rica and China. We host Chinese students at our school through our Chinese Immersion Program.
Students also learn about other cultures throughout the school year. Through global education students grow socially and develop a maturity that can only be learned through these experiences. They learn how to build tolerance and peace in the world. They learn to celebrate cultural similarities and embrace cultural differences. Global education expands our students’ awareness and global thinking and broadens their perspective of the world.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Over the years, there have been many angels, supporters and advocates for Pasadena Rosebud Academy. I definitely have to attribute a large part of our success to awesome teachers and support staff who believe in the mission and vision of the Academy and are constantly working towards that vision. We have a great group of parents who consistently support the school and their child/ren. We have also received a lot of support from the community.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3544 N. Canon Blvd.
Altadena, CA 91001 - Website: www.rosebudacademy.com
- Phone: (626)797-7704
- Email: [email protected]
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