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Dear Parents,

Welcome to Northstar School of Innovation & Leadership—Home of the Eagles! Since opening our doors in 2002, we have strived to provide a safe, secure learning environment for K-8 students in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood and surrounding areas of Cleveland. We are known for our caring & disciplined school culture where students are encouraged to be self-aware, possess empathy, and develop a strong work ethic.

At Northstar School of Innovation & Leadership, our mission is to empower students to reach their fullest potential by implementing a comprehensive curriculum facilitated by highly effective educators in collaboration with families and the community, and supported by progressive technology.

Sincerely,

Melonese Winston
Principal

Melonese Batson Melonese Winston, Principal

Melonese Winston joined Accel Schools in 2016 with experience as a Service Coordinator with Help Me Grow and The Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities. She began her educational career as a Master Teaching Artist with Cleveland Playhouse and her own Theater company where she directed and produced 30 stage productions throughout the Midwest. Her creativity allowed her the opportunity to excel in various leadership roles as she acquired experience in and out of the classroom as a championship winning Coach, Teacher, and Administrator. Winston served in many roles upon leaving the classroom including a Behavior Intervention Specialist as well as Director of Academics.

Her vast educational experiences have afforded her the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of community partners to meet the common goal of increasing student achievement and supporting the emotional and mental well-being of her students. Her educational philosophy is based on her uncompromising belief of “Leading with Love.” She prides herself on working with agencies to provide resources for those in need.

Willie Banks, Regional Vice President

We are excited to add Willie Banks III to our leadership team as Regional Vice President. With over 20 years of leadership experience in private and charter schools, he has a proven track record of fostering inclusive learning environments that drive student success. As the current Executive Principal/RVP of STEAM Academy of Warrensville Heights, Banks will continue to lead while focusing on high expectations, clear goals, and strong partnerships with parents and educators at both schools.

Sherree Dillions, Senior Vice President

Mrs. Dillions joined ACCEL Schools in 2018 with over 25 years of experience as a K-12 educator and principal. Prior to joining ACCEL Schools, Mrs. Dillions worked for Cleveland Municipal School District where she served as Head Principal for over 10 years and systematically turned-around low-performing schools into schools of academic success and achievement. Mrs. Dillions holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Master’s degree in Education – Adult Learning & Development, and completed the post graduate Educational Administration Program, all from Cleveland State University. She has also completed the post graduate Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University. In February 2020, Mrs. Dillions was awarded by Radio One as a “Future History Maker of the City of Cleveland”.

Staff Directory

Community School

Northstar School of Innovation & Leadership is a public, community school. We are our own school district sponsored by the Charter School Specialists, which provides oversight and enforces academic, fiscal, and legal accountability. We are managed by ACCEL Schools, a high-performing network of over 50 charter schools located throughout the United States.

Community Schools (Charter Schools) offer families an alternative to the local public school. Community schools are tuition-free, open to all students in the county, and focused on meeting student needs for success. Community schools are among the top-performing schools in the nation. Read more about charter schools.

Founded in 2014, ACCEL Schools is a K-12 public charter school management organization (CMO) serving students across the United States in brick-and-mortar, virtual, and hybrid school settings. We focus on improving academic outcomes of students regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic factors. The leadership team at ACCEL Schools has a combined 1000+ years of experience as global school management operators with expertise in curriculum research and design, assessment, student support services, and education consulting. Our entire team fundamentally believes that all children deserve a great education and students should be supported as they pursue a wide variety of post-secondary options. Our robust technology increases engagement, access to resources, efficiencies, and academic results helping our students become productive global citizens.