This story was updated to include accurate information.
Educators Shanai Lee and Dominique D. Lee are bringing a school model to Rochester that has been used in New Jersey communities.
Shanai Lee’s journey in education began in the Rochester City School District, where she served as a district clerk and special assistant for the Board of Education. With a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in finance and accounting, Lee initially sought a part-time role with RCSD. That plan quickly changed when she discovered a passion for education and community service.
“Within a week I was like, ‘I want to do nothing else besides K–12 education,’” Lee said. “I absolutely fell in love with it – everything from understanding the challenges of our systems to the opportunities that exist, and really understanding why decisions are made, how they’re made and by whom.”
BRICK Academy’s holistic model aims to transform underperforming schools
After learning about BRICK, a school model founded by Dominique D. Lee, Shanai Lee was determined to bring it to Rochester. Dominique D. Lee founded BRICK in 2010, partnering with chronically underperforming schools in Newark, New Jersey.
Through that work, Lee and his team developed a holistic approach to education designed to support students both inside and outside the classroom.
“No one has a silver bullet for education, but we are part of the solution,” Dominique D. Lee said. “We’ve built the infrastructure into how we operate our schools that allows us to look at children holistically, including having navigators on staff.”
Depending on a child’s needs, BRICK Academy navigators connect students and their families with outside resources related to housing, wellness and career support.
BRICK Academy coming to Rochester in fall 2026
BRICK launched its first academy in 2023 and is now expanding to Rochester and Buffalo. The Rochester location is scheduled to open in fall 2026 at 2 Austin St.
The public charter school will initially serve kindergarten and first-grade students and will grow into a full K–12 program. It will primarily serve families within the city.
“I always encourage families to choose the school that best fits their needs — whether that’s academics, culture or climate,” Shanai Lee said. “It’s very important that our children and parents feel comfortable with their educational experience.”
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: BRICK Academy bringing holistic education model to Rochester
Reporting by Genae Shields, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
