Friendly Academy founder turns personal perseverance into opportunity for North St. Louis students

Dr. Tesha Robinson has spent her career creating the kind of school she needed when she was a child. At 39, she has earned a doctorate, worked as a social worker, served as a principal and now leads Friendly Academy — a public charter school built on the belief that every student deserves to be seen, supported and loved.

Robinson, founder and CEO of Friendly Academy, said some of her own experiences as a student left her feeling overlooked. Instead of allowing those moments to limit her, she used them to shape a school where children feel connected to the adults responsible for their education. “I know the impact that feeling overlooked can have on people,” Robinson said. “Every student needs to feel loved and like they belong, and that they have people they can count on.”

Friendly Academy opened in August 2025 with 75 kindergarten and first-grade students. As the tuition-free public charter school prepares for its second year, enrollment has grown to more than 200 students. Robinson said 99% of families are returning — a sign of trust she does not take lightly.

“I feel honored,” she said. “My faith is very important to me, and I believe I am walking in obedience by serving people in this way.”

Robinson and school leaders celebrated that progress Wednesday, July 30, during Friendly Academy’s Uniform and Ice Cream Social at 1901 N. Kingshighway Blvd. Students received uniform shirts donated through a partnership with Clayco BRG — more than 300 shirts in total — helping families begin the school year with consistency and confidence. Families also received book bags, books, school supplies and information from eight community organizations offering support services.

The celebration came as many families in the surrounding community continue recovering from the May 2025 tornado. More than half of Friendly Academy’s families were directly affected, according to the school. Robinson said creating stability has required more than reopening classrooms.

“Our families definitely were impacted,” Robinson said. “The goal is to get them back to stability. We do that by giving them love, giving them a high-quality education and surrounding them with support from our community partners.”

Returning parent Sherrell Bibbs said Friendly Academy stayed present after her family was affected by the storm. “It’s been hard, but they have been there for me from the beginning to the end,” Bibbs said. “Resources have been nonstop here. That’s another reason we came back. We can depend on them.”

Bibbs’ daughter, Venus Woods, will enter first grade. Bibbs said she wants to see her daughter continue advancing academically while enjoying a school environment where she is treated well.

For Robinson, serving families begins with the school’s central message – love yourself, love others and love learning. She believes students perform at higher levels when they feel safe, supported and valued. “We are not looking at them as just a number,” Robinson said. “We’re looking at them for who they are — and who we believe they are called to be.”

Friendly Academy combines grade-level curriculum, teacher professional development, literacy instruction based on the science of reading and family support through community partnerships. Robinson said 89% of kindergarten students finished the first year performing on grade level. Students who entered two grade levels behind made enough progress to close significant gaps by the end of the school year.

Robinson earned her doctorate from Capella University in her 20s before building a career in social work and education. She said each stage prepared her to remove barriers for herself — and create opportunities for others. “My whole life has set me up to break barriers, starting with my own,” Robinson said. “This is my way of giving back to the community and being for students who I felt like I needed when I was a student.”

New parent Jaqelle Brown said she was initially drawn to the school’s curriculum and resources, but the relationships convinced her to enroll her children. She previously knew Friendly Academy student recruitment and retention specialist Te’Ara Arman, who had been one of her teachers at University City High School. “She was someone I could talk to and trust,” Brown said. “Once I got in the school and found out about everything, it was a win-win.”

Brown said the school’s investment in Black families and the surrounding neighborhood also influenced her decision. “They care about us,” Brown said. “They care about Black people and the community we are in. It’s a safe environment, and they care.”

As Friendly Academy prepares to begin classes Aug. 18, Robinson said the school’s growth will not change its commitment to knowing students individually and meeting families where they are. For her, the school represents what can happen when personal challenges are transformed into purpose.

“Students deserve a quality education,” Robinson said. “But they also deserve someone who is going to deeply care for them and give them what they need.”

For more information about Friendly Academy, visit friendlyacademy.org

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