Partnership Academy honors the tireless work and relentless commitment of our founders.  Rosa Herrera, Lena Stackhouse-Rogers and Lisa Hendricks have faithfully served the school community since 2002. Their grit, determination, and lifelong friendship serve as a foundation to Partnership Academy. Additional recognition goes to the many other parents, teachers and community partners who helped pioneer the early days of Partnership Academy.

For over 20 years, Rosa Herrera has served as a bridge for our families and the school. She has been a pillar in the community and has worked to form partnerships to support our families.  She has strong relationships with city officials and organizations like La Red and Clues Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio. She started as an Office Manager in the school, then became the Family & Community Outreach Coordinator. Rosa is now the Family and Student Support Director/Founding Director.  She is a rock for our families, who continue to look to her for guidance and support long after children graduate from our school.

Lena Stackhouse-Rogers has been a model of teaching excellence in her tenure at PA.  She started as a preschool teacher back in 2002 and has served as a kindergarten, 3rd, and 4th grade teacher and most recently as a literacy intervention teacher. In her later years at PA, she was instrumental in our race and equity work as an Equity Specialist and launched the school’s inaugural Black Affinity classes for students of black or African descent.  Lena retired in 2021, but now serves as a community member on the school board. 

Lisa Hendricks is the school’s founding Executive Director.  For two decades, Lisa has partnered with key stakeholders to establish mission-driven relationships to serve the students, families and broader community. Under her leadership, the school has grown from 115 students and 12 staff to 530 students and over 100 staff. Lisa has led Partnership Academy through two major construction projects, the building of 6500 Nicollet Avenue and subsequent expansion to extend programming.  After 20 years of service, Lisa moved from the Executive Director role to the Director of Finance at the school as she embarks on a new journey to plant a church in her community along with her husband.