Last week, our founding class at Invictus Academy of Richmond graduated from high school. It was a surreal and emotional moment for me after founding Invictus over 8 years ago, and first meeting many of these students back when they were in 5th grade. I loved reconnecting with colleagues, students, and families to mark this incredible milestone.
I’m so proud of how far the school has come. We overcame a painful first year, the pandemic, a move clear across the district, and numerous other challenges along the way — the journey was not for the faint of heart. This made it all the more gratifying to see our students speak with such confidence about their achievements, own their growth, and express great pride their legacy. They were the founding class that led Invictus to rise the ranks as one of the top performing schools in the area.
For me, it was especially meaningful to reconnect with many of my former students from back when I was a teacher over a decade ago—former students who later became my colleagues at Invictus as teachers, deans, office managers, aides, and more. When they were students, they inspired me with their character and achievements. Seeing them now, as educational leaders, proud of their own impact on a new generation of students within their community, was profoundly moving.
Throughout the ceremony, I couldn’t help but think of how many people, seen and unseen, made these students’ positive experiences at Invictus possible. Early supporters like Brian Greenberg, Caitrin Wright, Robert Schwartz, BES, Sue Walsh, Stephanie Patton, Minnie Bhattacharyya, Scottie Smith, and the late great Linda Brown, who provided the resources, expertise, and belief that got us off the ground. Invictus wouldn’t have existed without their support. Jeff Manassero, Ashwin R., Jesse Madway, Christine Kelley, Karen Norwood, Charles Oshinuga, and Rhonda Burton RN, MS, PNP, who helped us earn authorization at CCCOE as founding Board members. The brilliance, mental toughness, and teamwork of our founding team members - Melissa Beck, Sheeva Halati, Pamela Palomares, Emily Joye, Julianna Docking, Joshua Rourke, and Sarah Rhee. This will always be one of the highest caliber teams I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. The students, families, and staff who continue to build and shape Invictus in its next chapter.
This is, at best, a partial list of the folks who enabled the pride, joy, relationships, and achievements Invictus students spoke to on their graduation stage. When you really zoom out and think about all the people who invested their time, energy, and resources in these students, you can’t help but feel a unique sense of unity and hope about the future. I’m deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to found and lead such an incredible school community, and to see it still thriving today. Congrats to the graduating class of 2024!
