Our Mission

Tené Layman, a passionate educator, first-generation college student, and business owner. As a first-generation college student turned business owner, she has an unyielding determination to defy the odds. Mrs. Layman has not only achieved personal success in her educational career over the last 18 years, but she has also become a beacon of inspiration for others.

 

Through her journey, she has embraced challenges, harnessed her passion, and imparted invaluable knowledge into her staff and students, proving that with dedication and perseverance, dreams can become a reality. As she shares her remarkable insights and lessons learned, she empowers those around her to overcome obstacles and reach the pinnacles of their own potential. With unwavering dedication and a tireless work ethic, she has built successful schools, led collaborative teams, and transformed toxic work environments. She is a forward thinking educator, working to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion in schools across the state of Arizona.

“I believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion can only be achieved in school communities when school leaders, staff, and community members work collaboratively to foster a culturally-responsive school experience.

 

This happens by not lowering the bar of excellence, but by defending the bar of excellence with high-quality academic instruction and high expectations for all students. High expectations for students means dismantling marginalizing practices, and replacing them with the belief that all students can, and will achieve at high levels when the appropriate supports, resources, and interventions are accessible.”

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With nearly two decades spent in the field of education, Tené has served as a preschool owner and operator, classroom teacher, Adjunct Faculty Member, Instructional Coach, Director of Leadership and Learning, and most recently spent the last seven years in School Administration. She has witnessed students thrive in effective learning environments, and she has also seen the disparities of students in underserved communities, and inadequately funded classrooms.

 

Her mission is to work towards leveling the educational playing field with her current endeavor, as she prepares to launch Meridian Preparatory Academy in the Fall of 2025. Meridian Preparatory Academy will serve High School students in Grades 9-12, as a publically owned and operated charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. Students will have the opportunity to explore college and career trades while earning a high school diploma, engage in a project-based learning model that is deeply rooted in serving our local community, and all students will learn financial literacy practices to combat the effects of systemic and generational poverty.

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Tené earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Arizona State University in Human Communication in 2005, and her first Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix in 2008. She would later return to school to pursue a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership, K-12 Principalship from Northern Arizona University in 2016.