Movement School Eastland
Movement School Eastland is a tuition-free public charter school in East Charlotte. We offer small classes and personalized instruction in an environment built to love and value your child.
5249 Central Avenue,
Charlotte, NC 28212
Driving Directions
Eastland Distinctives
Small-School Setting
We are a welcoming community school that will grow with your child. With our small group classroom settings, we develop personal relationships with every student and family.
Lead with Virtue
We weave virtue education throughout the day. We nurture an understanding of dignity, a context greater than one’s self, and the belief in giving of self to a greater cause.
School of the Nations
We are a community of the nations, celebrating the diversity of East Charlotte and the world. Students understand themselves within the context of the broader world.
Become a Maverick
Admissions
Are you interested in becoming a Maverick? New scholar applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be accepted from November 1, 2024, to February 6, 2025, for kindergarten through 5th grade.
Are you interested in becoming a Maverick? New scholar applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be accepted from November 1, 2024, to February 6, 2025, for kindergarten through 5th grade.
Request Information
Meet the Principal
Dear Families and Friends,
My gratitude runs deep for our Eastland community and it is truly an honor to serve our scholars, families and team members. I have been in education for 10 years now and have had the privilege of working in many capacities, the first being teacher, lead teacher, mentor, curriculum facilitator, assistant principal and now the role I hold with the most pride, principal.
The reason this is my proudest title is because of what it means to be a principal at Movement and the deep sense of alignment I have to our mission and vision. Movement Schools exist to love and value your scholar. Everyday we strive to ensure we are growing them socially, emotionally and academically. It is so important to us that we grow the WHOLE scholar so they can see success not only inside our four walls, but beyond. We truly operate in what is best for our scholars day in and day out.
Since the beginning of the year, we have done this through intentional work. We make it our mission to ensure high quality educators are in front of your scholars. We make it our mission to involve our scholars in an unapologetically rigorous curriculum that will grow them into critical thinkers. We make it our mission to involve our scholars in building a strong community at Eastland through character development and community circle. We make it our mission to have strong family partnerships because we know with a strong partnership with our incredible families, the sky’s the limit. At Eastland, we will continue to make it our mission to give our incredible scholars and families the educational experience they are entitled to. I am looking forward to continuing to serve alongside the community and come together to make a large impact on the east side of Charlotte at Movement Eastland!
Chelsea Hobbing
Principal, Movement School Eastland
Dear Families and Friends,
My gratitude runs deep for our Eastland community and it is truly an honor to serve our scholars, families and team members. I have been in education for 10 years now and have had the privilege of working in many capacities, the first being teacher, lead teacher, mentor, curriculum facilitator, assistant principal and now the role I hold with the most pride, principal.
The reason this is my proudest title is because of what it means to be a principal at Movement and the deep sense of alignment I have to our mission and vision. Movement Schools exist to love and value your scholar. Everyday we strive to ensure we are growing them socially, emotionally and academically. It is so important to us that we grow the WHOLE scholar so they can see success not only inside our four walls, but beyond. We truly operate in what is best for our scholars day in and day out.
Since the beginning of the year, we have done this through intentional work. We make it our mission to ensure high quality educators are in front of your scholars. We make it our mission to involve our scholars in an unapologetically rigorous curriculum that will grow them into critical thinkers. We make it our mission to involve our scholars in building a strong community at Eastland through character development and community circle. We make it our mission to have strong family partnerships because we know with a strong partnership with our incredible families, the sky’s the limit. At Eastland, we will continue to make it our mission to give our incredible scholars and families the educational experience they are entitled to. I am looking forward to continuing to serve alongside the community and come together to make a large impact on the east side of Charlotte at Movement Eastland!
Chelsea Hobbing
Principal, Movement School Eastland
Meet the Charlotte Superintendent
Dedicated and results-driven education professional, Jenika M. Mullen, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the realm of academic leadership. With a proven track record spanning over a decade, Jenika has excelled in various roles. Jenika has successfully coached school leaders across diverse districts and cities, including Charlotte, NC, St. Louis, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Bronx, NY, and New Rochelle, NY. Her leadership has been instrumental in implementing Achievement First’s exercise-based math curriculum, contributing to the academic growth of students and educators alike.
Throughout her career, Jenika has demonstrated adaptability and versatility, serving in various capacities such as Senior Math Coach, Principal, Academic Dean, Dean of School Culture, Instructional Coach, and more. This diversity of roles has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of educational dynamics, from curriculum development to staff mentorship.
Armed with a Master of Education in Special Education from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The Pennsylvania State University, Jenika combines academic rigor with practical experience.
Recognized as an Achievement First Stage 4 Distinguished Teacher and a finalist for the Teach for America Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, Jenika Mullen continues to make significant contributions to the field of education. Her nomination for the Sue Lehman Award for Excellence in Teaching further underscores her commitment to shaping the future of education.
Jenika is not only an education professional but a catalyst for positive change, consistently leveraging her skills and knowledge to elevate the standards of education and inspire both students and colleagues.
Dedicated and results-driven education professional, Jenika M. Mullen, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the realm of academic leadership. With a proven track record spanning over a decade, Jenika has excelled in various roles. Jenika has successfully coached school leaders across diverse districts and cities, including Charlotte, NC, St. Louis, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Bronx, NY, and New Rochelle, NY. Her leadership has been instrumental in implementing Achievement First’s exercise-based math curriculum, contributing to the academic growth of students and educators alike.
Throughout her career, Jenika has demonstrated adaptability and versatility, serving in various capacities such as Senior Math Coach, Principal, Academic Dean, Dean of School Culture, Instructional Coach, and more. This diversity of roles has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of educational dynamics, from curriculum development to staff mentorship.
Armed with a Master of Education in Special Education from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The Pennsylvania State University, Jenika combines academic rigor with practical experience.
Recognized as an Achievement First Stage 4 Distinguished Teacher and a finalist for the Teach for America Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, Jenika Mullen continues to make significant contributions to the field of education. Her nomination for the Sue Lehman Award for Excellence in Teaching further underscores her commitment to shaping the future of education.
Jenika is not only an education professional but a catalyst for positive change, consistently leveraging her skills and knowledge to elevate the standards of education and inspire both students and colleagues.
Meet the Raleigh Superintendent
Jermaine Gassaway is a native of Washington, DC. He began advocating for quality education at a very young age which ultimately led to him deciding to leave DC at the age of 15 to attend a boarding school called The Piney Woods School in Jackson, Mississippi—a decision that changed his life and trajectory. Jermaine went on to become a proud graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jermaine is a strong advocate for equity in public education, with a particular focus on increasing teacher diversity in public schools. He recently published Unopened Books: Multiplying the 2%, which documents “the unfathomable rate of black males in education” and details the transformative power of building a teacher workforce that more closely resembles the diversity of the students in our schools. Jermaine taught 3rd through 8th grades and was a 2010 Teach For America corps member in Detroit, where over 90 percent of his students scored “advanced” or “proficient” on the state standardized assessment (MEAP), and where he also served as Curriculum Coordinator.
Jermaine was previously the principal at Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School for 4 years and has helped lead his school to achieve Reward status— the highest performance rating in the state of Tennessee. In addition, Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School grew 3 times faster than any other elementary school in Nashville on the state standardized assessment for the 2018-2019 school year. Jermaine also served as Rocketship’s Director of Schools for Nashville.
Jermaine is passionately committed to ensuring the success of all students. He fervently believes that all students deserve an excellent education and the quest to reach and complete college and achieve lifelong success starts now with every book read and every equation solved. He is excited to work closely with teachers, school leaders, and community members to ensure students are making the academic gains necessary to achieve this success in school and life. Jermaine is a proud husband and father to two amazing kids and his hobbies include running, traveling, and reading.
Jermaine Gassaway is a native of Washington, DC. He began advocating for quality education at a very young age which ultimately led to him deciding to leave DC at the age of 15 to attend a boarding school called The Piney Woods School in Jackson, Mississippi—a decision that changed his life and trajectory. Jermaine went on to become a proud graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jermaine is a strong advocate for equity in public education, with a particular focus on increasing teacher diversity in public schools. He recently published Unopened Books: Multiplying the 2%, which documents “the unfathomable rate of black males in education” and details the transformative power of building a teacher workforce that more closely resembles the diversity of the students in our schools. Jermaine taught 3rd through 8th grades and was a 2010 Teach For America corps member in Detroit, where over 90 percent of his students scored “advanced” or “proficient” on the state standardized assessment (MEAP), and where he also served as Curriculum Coordinator.
Jermaine was previously the principal at Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School for 4 years and has helped lead his school to achieve Reward status— the highest performance rating in the state of Tennessee. In addition, Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School grew 3 times faster than any other elementary school in Nashville on the state standardized assessment for the 2018-2019 school year. Jermaine also served as Rocketship’s Director of Schools for Nashville.
Jermaine is passionately committed to ensuring the success of all students. He fervently believes that all students deserve an excellent education and the quest to reach and complete college and achieve lifelong success starts now with every book read and every equation solved. He is excited to work closely with teachers, school leaders, and community members to ensure students are making the academic gains necessary to achieve this success in school and life. Jermaine is a proud husband and father to two amazing kids and his hobbies include running, traveling, and reading.
Meet Movement School's CEO
Kerri-Ann T. Thomas was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and her master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She became a teacher, dean/assistant principal, principal and superintendent for the Achievement First Network in Connecticut and New York. As a principal she made history at Achievement First as the first turnaround school to make the most growth and outperformed the district within one year and leading the number 1 elementary school in Hartford, CT. As a superintendent at AF she led the New York Elementary schools in East NY and was the entire NY ES lead. KTT relocated back south and took the role of CAO at Movement Charter schools in Charlotte, NC. Months later she became the CEO of Movement Schools partnering with school teams towards the Movement mission and its expansion. Kerri-Ann is also the author of two children’s books called “Roll Call” and “The Coffee Shop.” Another fun fact is that she owns a tea shop called Brooklyn Tea in Atlanta, GA. As an educator, pushes students and peers to believe that “although you are a product of your environment you do not have to become a duplicate of the majority.”
Kerri-Ann T. Thomas was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and her master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She became a teacher, dean/assistant principal, principal and superintendent for the Achievement First Network in Connecticut and New York. As a principal she made history at Achievement First as the first turnaround school to make the most growth and outperformed the district within one year and leading the number 1 elementary school in Hartford, CT. As a superintendent at AF she led the New York Elementary schools in East NY and was the entire NY ES lead. KTT relocated back south and took the role of CAO at Movement Charter schools in Charlotte, NC. Months later she became the CEO of Movement Schools partnering with school teams towards the Movement mission and its expansion. Kerri-Ann is also the author of two children’s books called “Roll Call” and “The Coffee Shop.” Another fun fact is that she owns a tea shop called Brooklyn Tea in Atlanta, GA. As an educator, pushes students and peers to believe that “although you are a product of your environment you do not have to become a duplicate of the majority.”
Available to All
We are a free, public charter school, excited to serve students across the city.
“The ultimate test of a moral society is
the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”
| Dietrich Bonhoeffer