Harmony School of Innovation
Meet Our P.R.I.D.E.​ Team

Mr. Esref Celik M.Ed.

Campus Principal
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Kelly Burnham

Dean Of Students
"Wisdom does not come from books, it comes from a an individual’s shared experience with humanity, culture, community, and society at large.  Wisdom, however, is deplete without a balance of that which fills the head and that which guides the heart.  A head full of knowledge will only help us make the right decision if our heart encompasses a sense of what is morally just, ethical and good. So my philosophy is guided by these beliefs and that character education must be an aggregate of the affective, cognitive and behavioral attitudes that compel us towards what is righteous.  If we dare to anticipate that students exhibit good character, we have just held ourselves accountable to epitomizing it as educators."​

Ms. Heather Vacker

P.R.I.D.E. Team Leader Math Interventionist
"​I believe character education is an integral part of everyday life, not something to be taught just a few minutes a day.  As teachers, we have a unique opportunity to help develop and strengthen the moral character of our students, not just through modeling desired behavior, but through thoughtful discussions with our students, providing opportunities for self-reflection when mistakes have been made, and the very immersion of character into our academic lessons."

Mrs. Ifeoma Adegun M.P.A.

​ELA Department Chair 
​My philosophy on "Character Education, is that it cannot be taught in isolation; it should be embedded in all that we do. As an educator, I owe it to my students to demonstrate the character traits I want to see in them."

Mr. Jeremy Wartko

Social Studies Department Chair
"It’s all about character. When students work on developing quality character values, everything else fall inline. Character ensure good grades, discipline, and future success. At Harmony, students have the opportunity to learn and practice good character values. Their teachers serve as exemplars. Students leave school each day a better person. "​

​Mr. Jesus Marin  MBA 

Leader Resident
"Martin Luther King Jr once said, “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” My philosophy for character is based on the foundation that good morals, respect, and manners are all that will be needed to make a place for oneself in this modern world. Teaching the youth of today about virtue and happiness will better enable them to grow up living well. Most high achieving adults today did not reach success by chance, but rather through a variety of character attributes such as courage, empathy, and honesty.  Assembling these qualities in our students through character education will help them reach a cultural level worthy of praise by Martin Luther King Jr himself where society sees beyond our student’s physical appearance and looks to the moral character of the individual." 

​​Mrs. Hulya Polat  M.Ed.

Math Interventionist
"Character education is important for me because it promotes the ethical, intellectual, social, and emotional development of individuals by teaching them about the real values that an individual should have.
It is a continuous learning process that will enable our students to become moral, caring, critical, responsible individuals. It is going to help our students understand the values of caring about other people by practicing purpose, responsibility, integrity, determination, and empathy that will make them productive citizens."

 Mrs. Dawn Broussard M.Ed.

ESL Teacher
"I believe character education is just as important as other basic academic essentials (Math, English, Science, and Social Studies). Academic education addresses the head while character education caters to the heart. Students learn more from what they see adults do versus what they hear them say. I am so glad that HSI puts in maximum effort at becoming a character school. It is a true honor to serve with everyone who values the same vision for our students, our campus, and  our community."
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Ms. Nicole Kessler

Social Studies Teacher
"I have had first hand experience in the positive changes Character Education has brought to this school and its students. Character Education is more than just teaching students about how to act and react, it’s giving them opportunities for growth and change. Teachers must be role models for behavior just as much as students should be learning and implementing the practices taught at school. By combining the P.R.I.D.E values at this school, meaningful Character Education, and real world opportunities for involvement, students have the chance to not only make a real difference in their lives but also in the lives of others."

Miss Claire Burke

ELA  Teacher
"II believe that as a teacher my first job is to teach students what being a global citizen is and looks like. I have always believed that students actions should be motivated by what is right and not what is easy. As a member of the P.R.I.D.E team I have the privilege of helping shape the way our students get to learn how to be a global citizen, by modeling behaviors and thinking patterns for them, by being a role model. My hope for our campus is that we produce a class of adults that UNDERSTAND and VALUE what we teach them here and show the rest of the world what it means to be a global citizen.

Miss Ayse Yigit

Math Teacher
"Character education is a vital part in the pillars of education. It is our duty to be a prime example for our students through our actions and words. This will create a ripple effect in the school environment and everyone will treat each other with our P.R.I.D.E. traits."