(AUDIO): Columbia CALE school co-founders Deakins and Brown appear on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable"

Columbia’s CALE school on West Nifong was founded by Dr. Susan Deakins and Dr. Jill Brown three years ago, starting with ten students. Dr. Deakins and Dr. Brown joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They say the school now has 81 students, because parents know there is a need. CALE is officially called Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment, and it’s open five days a week. Dr. Deakins and Dr. Brown describe it as a microschool, noting the school takes a multi-age approach. Dr. Deakins grew up in Columbia and earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Central Methodist in Fayette. She graduated from Mizzou with a specialty and earned her doctorate at William Woods in Fulton. Dr. Brown grew up in mid-Missouri’s Fulton, and graduated from Westminster in Fulton. She earned her doctorate from Mizzou. Dr. Brown has taught in Jefferson City and in rural Prairie Home and has been a principal at Russell Boulevard elementary school in Columbia and at South Callaway. She’s also worked as a broker at Edward Jones in St. Louis. Mr. Parry, a former Boone County commissioner, describes the school as an excellent educational opportunity in our community. Dr. Deakins and Dr. Brown tell listeners they have an excellent faculty. They also say one of the main challenges Columbia Public Schools (CPS) faces in size. CPS’ Michelle Baumstark says CPS’s August first-day enrollment was 19,157. CPS is currently Missouri’s fourth-largest school district, with enrollment skyrocketing by more than 2,000 students in the past 12 years: