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CEO’s Corner

Dear Keystone Academy Community:

Welcome to our spring edition of the Keystone Academy newsletter! This may be one of our smaller issues, but it’s a special one indeed.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT
In this edition, we are proud to feature two wonderful members of our staff: our long-time instructional coaches, Michelle DelBuono and Amy Hess. Theirs is a story of a professional partnership and friendship that has benefited Keystone Academy in so many ways over the years. Each has her own dedicated feature in this issue, so be sure to read both. And if you’d rather listen to their stories while you go about your day, we’ve provided audio versions as well.

ALGEBRA I ADVANTAGE
We also have some exciting news about our Algebra One students. I won’t spoil the details here, but we will say this: they’re heading into high school with a distinct advantage. You’ll want to read that story below.

KACS IN THE NEWS
Keystone’s media streak continues, too—NBC 10 covered our Earth Day activities, and we couldn’t be more proud of the attention our students and staff are receiving.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY!
Finally, a request for our families: please take a moment to share your Keystone stories. We especially want to hear from families whose Keystone students are heading off to high school. A link is provided below — there’s nothing to download. Simply say your name at the beginning, hit the record button, and share. When you’re done, your recording will transmit right back to us.

We have a little more than a month to go before summer vacation arrives. There will be a lot of exciting activities in those remaining weeks, and we look forward to sharing them with you in our few remaining issues.

Yours truly,

Dr. Claudia Lyles, CEO

Staff Spotlight: Meet Keystone Academy Charter School’s
Instructional Coaches

This issue’s “Staff Spotlight” is on two special educators whose work has a positive impact on each Keystone Academy faculty member, student, and administrator:

Instructional coaches
Michelle DelBuono (grades K–3)
Amy Hess (grades 4–8).

For more than two decades, the pair has supported teachers, strengthened instruction, and helped shape the school’s daily life—from lesson planning and classroom management to Mrs. DelBuono’s logistical prowess in textbook procurement and staff culture and Mrs. Hess’s Title I leadership.

Their professional paths began in the same charter school network and have run side by side ever since. They have traveled between schools together, raised their families alongside one another, and become close friends in the process. Today, their combined experience and steady guidance help ensure that Keystone’s teachers—and students—have what they need to succeed.

Mrs. DelBuono Spotlight (K-3)

Amy Hess Spotlight (4-8)

Prefer to Listen?

Mrs. DelBuono Spotlight Audio

Mrs. Hess Spotlight Audio

Keystone 8th Grade Algebra
Students Gain a Significant High School Advantage

An increasing number of Keystone’s 8th-grade students are successfully completing Algebra I before they enter high school, and their dedication is yielding significant benefits now and in the future.

Under Pennsylvania’s graduation requirements, students who pass the state’s Keystone exam fulfill the math requirement for high school graduation. This allows them to meet a crucial requirement early, paving the way for a more comprehensive and flexible high school math curriculum.

By completing Algebra I at Keystone Academy, these students can follow a “math path” that includes Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus throughout their high school years. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for those who have a passion for mathematics or are considering careers in STEM fields. It empowers them to engage in more advanced coursework, explore electives, or maintain a balanced schedule while remaining on track for college and career readiness.

Keystone students have demonstrated their preparedness for this level of study. Last year, all 19 KACS 8th-grade students who took the state Keystone Algebra exam passed. This outstanding success rate underscores the dedication of Keystone Academy’s staff, students, and families.

In June, we will provide a more detailed overview of the Algebra I program. For now, we extend our congratulations to our current Algebra I students for embracing this challenge, and we express our gratitude to our teachers and families for their unwavering support.

Keystone In the News

There goes that news van again…To Keystone Academy!

Earth Day 2026 at Keystone Academy Charter School

Before You Head Out for Summer….

Please Share Your Keystone Academy Charter School Experiences!

Keystone Academy is seeking family testimonials—and we would like to hear your story!

We’d like to capture as many stories as we can before heading out for the summer break.

Please record a brief video in our testimonial app about how Keystone Academy Charter School has positively impacted your child.

Your story can cover any topic—classes, clubs, or inspiring teachers—from any time during your Keystone experience.

The browser-based program works on any device, so there is no downloading or setup required.

Camera shy, but still have a story to share?

For any questions or assistance, please message Keystone’s charter school marketing partner, Ken Kilpatrick, at ken@sylviamarketing.com. He will respond promptly.

Here’s the link to the video testimonial app