Shelly Saltzman

“What inspired me to start CLA was the desire to start a school just like the successful independent schools where I spent my teaching career."

- Shelly Saltzman

A Hero

Mrs. Saltzman is a hero, and she has a huge impact on my life and every other student here at CLA. I am thankful each day for what she is doing to help me become a successful leader in my community and school.

Founder and Head of school at Citizens Leadership Academy

by Jada Williams, crew 1

Who is Shelly Saltzman? Shelly Saltzman is the founder of the Breakthrough charter school Citizens Leadership Academy and huge contributor to not only the school but the community of Cleveland, OH. Mrs. Saltzman is an inspiration to me because each and every day she shows true grit. She strives to make Citizens Leadership Academy a better high performing middle school.

"I am who I am no matter whom I’m in front of”. This is what Shelly told me during our remarkable interview. Each day she is not only changing lives for 6-8th graders, but she is also changing lives for their families and the people in Cleveland, Ohio are a momentous accomplishment. This is a huge opportunity for children who can’t get this kind of extra curriculum at their local schools. Shelly is a huge inspiration to me and many others that attend my school. We all are very thankful for her and her commitment to making us better as young adults.

My main focus understood what was her goal she was talking to achieve? Her inspiration was her drive/desire to open a school that will be successful and independent as the schools she attended. She also wanted a school that would be free of a tuition free open to the public and in the city of Cleveland. She first started out with only 6th grade with 97 students, six teachers, two intervention specialist and a P.E teacher (Mr. Haffey) in August 2011.

I think Shelly plays a huge role in the life of students that attended CLA. This job still has responsibilities and tough choices that have to be made. Shelly loves her job and everything she does to help it expand, but there are still some disadvantages. The main advantage of her job is seeing the students and teachers grow and learn from each other. Shelly believes that students learn better from teaching each other and going out in the community then a teacher talking at them in a classroom. I think one of the best ways to learn is by interacting with others and doing hands on projects.

The future for CLA is full of change and growth. In the future there will be new things added to the schools circular such as foreign languages. “I hope the CLA model grow more in the community and to see my students have jobs and going out in the community.” Shelly has high hopes for us to thrive in the future. She really would love to see us all be great leaders and great adults someday.