ELWA Academy's purpose is "to train the mind and character of children in preparation for life and leadership in the church and society." That purpose is accomplished through a Christ-centered educational experience, from the curriculum to the interactions of teachers with their students. The priority of the ELWA Academy is to provide affordable, quality education for families who are involved in full-time Christian ministry.
History of the New ELWA Academy
For 5 years after the 1996 crisis in the Liberian civil war, the ELWA Academy campus sat idle. No one swinging on the swings, no one singing praises to God in early morning devotions, no school bells ringing and children’s voices in the school yard.
The buildings had once housed a school for missionary children, but more than a decade of civil war, the school was no longer in operation. In 2001, three local mothers asked to used the preschool building to host a childcare program for 2-3 year olds.
The children showed such benefit from the care and attention and teaching, that the parents were soon asking if the childcare could become a school. In 2003, just months after the civil war ended, the ELWA Academy opened the Kindergarten division. In 2004, grades 1-4 were added. Another grade was added each year so that by 2009, the Academy is a complete preschool, elementary and junior high school, up through 9th grade.
Rev. Benedict Nagbe is the Principal, and Director of Education. He and James Kesselly also administer our Scholarship Program.
Number of Teachers/Other Staff:
• Instructional Staff – Twenty-One (21)
• Administrative staff – Three (3)
• Extra Curriculum Staff – Two (2)
• Support Staff – Two (2)at
Classroom Sizes -
Class #of Male # of Female Total Enrollment per Class Class Sponsor/Home Teacher Age Range
Nursery 15 30 35 Miss Alice P. Yeah 2.5 – 3 yrs.
ABC 25 21 46 Miss. G. Beatrice White 4 – 5 yrs.
Pre-K1 18 19 37 Mrs. Annie Morgan 4- 5 yrs.
Pre-K2 28 27 55 Mrs. Ellen J. K. Talery 5 – 10 yrs
Grade 1 25 28 53 Mrs. Sarah G. Yoko 6 – 10 yrs.
Grade 2 24 30 54 Miss Ophelia J. Chowolo 8 – 10 yrs.
Grade 3 15 27 42 Mrs. Cecelia Jarpah 8 – 12 yrs
Grade 4 18 39 57 Miss Nanah N. Nyemah 9 – 12 yrs
Grade 5 22 35 57 Mr. James Doah II 9 – 14 yrs
Grade 6 29 29 58 Mr. Stanley Bono 11 – 16 yrs
Grade 7 11 39 50 Pastor Arthur T. Williams 11 – 17 yrs
Grade 8 10 18 28 Mr. Calvin O. Teage 12 – 18 yrs
Grade 9 16 16 32 Mr. Moses W. Wesseh 15 – 18 yrs
Total 256 348 604
Grades Taught: Nursery through grade 9
Equipment Needs:
• LaserJet Printers (2 pcs) - for mass production of test and other documents
• Desktop Computers (54 pcs) – fifty (50) to set up the school computer lab, three (3) for various offices and one (1) for Library.
• Laptop Computers (3 pcs) - for administrative use
• A/C Split Unit (4 pcs) – for the library and computer lab
• Science Apparatus - the science lab such as microscope, etc
• Book Shelves – to shelf textbooks and other teaching materials in the various classrooms
Educational Supplies Needed:
• Reference & Resource Materials – assorted books for the library and classroom use such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, World Book, etc
• Teaching Aids – such as flashcards, color pictures, coloring books, clay, toys for playroom, color pencils, posters
• Furniture – arm chairs for elementary and junior high. Also desks and chairs for kindergarten and lower elementary.
• Textbooks & Bibles – for teachers in all subjects including Bible
• Office & Teaching Supplies – crayons, sheets, pencils, pens, writing pads, paper clips, glues, stick on pads, masking tapes, chalks [white and colors], poster sheets, construction papers, etc.
Training needs:
• In-Service Teacher Empowerment (I-STED) – to provide quarterly training for teachers during the academic calendar that will help to upgrade their skills. Voluntary trainers are needed to work along with our current trainers.