One-On-One with Dr. Okoye-Johnson Founder Eagle Collegiate Academy

Eagle Collegiate Academy (ECA) in Agua Dulce is the first and only International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Candidate School in both the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley. The Academy was borne out of a combination of perseverance, experience, and a desire to do more than simply provide a basic education. As ECA’s founder puts it, the Academy aims to become an institution of learning that produces lifelong learners who are authentic, egalitarian and excellent workforce and leaders.
ECA was founded by Dr. Ogo Okoye-Johnson, who has accumulated over two decades’ worth of experience as an educator, school administrator and, of course, a parent. The idea for ECA came as a result of several different factors; she wanted to ensure that the concerns of her fellow parents were being heard, but also wanted an academic institution that provided more to students than just another set of classrooms to spend the day in.
There are many things about ECA that stand out. Some of its most exciting features are its small class sizes that ensures personalization of instruction, rigorous college prep classes, free before and after school programs, and trained International Baccalaureate (IB) teachers, just to name a few. From the beginning, Dr. Okoye-Johnson put her heart and soul into ensuring that there was an excellent institution readily awaiting students who were primed to pave the way towards a better tomorrow.
“I’m very passionate about eliminating the achievement and opportunity gaps that impede the academic progress of students,” she says. “I intend to provide rigorous, cutting-edge 21st century education to ensure that pre-K through 12 students graduate college- and career-ready.”
Dr. Okoye-Johnson herself comes from a background of leadership and service. As a child, her “grown up” dream was to become like her mother who was an industrious teacher, entrepreneur and her family’s nurse. Her mother’s influence extensively shaped her life’s trajectory and obligation to serve and guide others.
“From a very young age, I have always had the passion to serve, empower, and entertain,” she says.
Now, after four years of fighting for the school to become authorized by the California State Board of Education, the Academy’s doors are officially open, and Dr. Okoye-Johnson and her faculty are ready to begin preparing the next generation of forward-thinkers and problem-solvers.
“ECA is designed to provide rigorous college prep education while supporting a strong family unit, through programs that strengthen families such as our free before and after school program, and our prekindergarten program,” says Dr. Okoye-Johnson.
Dr. Okoye-Johnson has worked as an English teacher, a college assistant professor, and a school administrator – indeed, she’s well versed in the ins and outs of every level of the educational journey. Now, the time has come for her to take her experiences and build the foundation for a better future by guiding today’s young minds and molding them into the best version of themselves.
For information on admissions and enrollment, visit https://www.eaglecollegiateacademy.org/admissions, or send an email to eaglecollegiate@gmail.com. You can also call the academy on weekdays at (661) 347-6016.

photo by Joie de Vivre photographie

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