On Friday, Sept. 27, parents, students, supporters and board members of Resurgence Hall Charter School gathered to celebrate the school’s new building on Washington Road in East Point. During the grand opening ceremony, the K-8 public charter school celebrated the move from its original building in College Park to its current location this fall. The new property includes a gymnasium, a dance studio, a visual art studio, a turf field, and a walking trail. 
During the touching event, Tori Jackson Hines, the Founder and Executive Director of Resurgence Hall, recognized members of the founding team and the school’s eighth-grade class. Jackson Hines says the test scores of the school’s current eighth graders are what convinced the bank to loan Resurgence Hall the money to purchase their new school building.
“You bought this building,” said Jackson Hines. “It was your performance that made the bank say, ‘we believe in this school.’ This is your last year, but you made it possible so that your younger teammates have a school. I am inspired every day, and I’m so incredibly proud of the work you have done for the last three years. I want you to know that at age 12, you have accomplished more than many of us will do in a lifetime.”
Eighth graders then took part in a ceremonial signing to commemorate the purchase of the new facility.
Lauren Holcomb, Executive Director of the State Charter Schools Commission, congratulated the school for all that it has achieved since opening three years ago.
“I’ve seen the growth of Resurgence Hall from the very beginning to where you are now. We are just so proud of you,” said Lauren Holcomb, Executive Director of the State Charter Schools Commission. “…Last year, Resurgence Hall outperformed its attendance zone on every academic indicator for six different measures … so you can be very proud of the education that your students are getting here.”
Deana Holiday Ingraham, Mayor of East Point, commended the school on its new building and said her goal is to work with Resurgence Hall and of the city’s other public schools to help close gaps and support students.
“I firmly believe that our children can and will excel in everything that they do as long as we continue to work collectively,” said Holiday Ingram.
The ceremony ended with a daily affirmation recited by students in all grades and remarks given by Ed Chang, Executive Director of redefinED Atlanta and the school’s first funder.
“I’m just proud to see the progress and the growth that you’ve shown from a couple of classrooms in a church space, with gracious hosts, to now your permanent forever home,” said Chang. “However, to be honest, I’m not surprised.”
Tori Jackson Hines, Founder of Resurgence Hall
Chang credits the school’s success to the commitment of Resurgence Hall Founder and Executive Director Tori Jackson Hines and the hard work and dedication of teachers and students.
According to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Resurgence Hall Charter School’s overall performance was higher in 2018 than 75 percent of the schools in the state. The public charter school was founded on the belief that all children can achieve regardless of economic circumstances, zip code, race, or home language.
Photos courtesy of Resurgence Hall.
