Bonus Podcast: Diving Deep into New Village Academy

New Village Academy is turning the old Lord & Taylor space at Annapolis Mall into something completely different: a project-based, internship-driven public charter high school where the city itself becomes the classroom. Now that they've broken ground, we sit down with founding Head of School Romy Pittman and future student Kimberly Gomez Posada to talk about how this long-imagined idea is finally moving from exposed concrete and steel beams to a living, breathing "new village" for teens across Anne Arundel County. [ad AS] Kimberly shares why she plans to transfer in as a junior, what she sees when she looks at that unfinished space, and how opportunities like internships at places such as Paws at the Mall line up with her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Romy walks us through the bigger vision: a school built for students who haven't always fit in traditional settings, grounded in real-world projects, weekly internships, and deep connections with mentors, businesses, and community partners. If you've ever wondered what a different kind of high school could look like—or how you might plug in as a student, partner, internship host, or supporter—this conversation is a great place to start. Have a listen! LINKS: New Village Academy (Website) New Village Academy (Facebook) New Village Academy (Instagram)