The History of Hong Kong Academy

In February 2000, the co-founders of Hong Kong Academy Primary School, Benjamin L. Frankel, a U.S. attorney, and Teresa Armellino Richman, Educator and School Psychologist, met to discuss the educational alternatives in Hong Kong. The outcome was a decision to launch a new school that would be community based, truly international in its perspective, and based on the principle that all students have the right to a outstanding education that supports and extends their learning style as well as their natural strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, Hong Kong Academy would serve as both a model and support, for the local education system as it launched a far-ranging education reform program.

Five months later in July, The Hong Kong Academy Educational Foundation Limited (“HKAEF”) was registered as a charitable company under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Efforts to find suitable premises for the school were arduous, and it was not until mid-July that agreement was reached with the Hong Kong Government to lease one floor in a former secondary school building on the former Lingnan College campus on Hong Kong Island.

Extensive renovations were undertaken, documents were filed with the Education Department to secure provisional registration for the school, and school supplies were ordered. With renovations completed at the end of August, and provisional registration awarded on 11 September 2000, Hong Kong Academy Primary School opened with three students, in a 4-5 year old class, taught by Teresa A. Richman.

It was during its first year, the school realized its constructivist educational philosophy and goals were closely aligned to those of the International Baccalaureate Organization’s Primary Years Programme (PYP). Applications were made for HKA to become a candidate school which was granted in 2002.

Enrollment grew. By December 2000 there were 28 students enrolled for the term beginning in January. Two teachers were recruited from New Zealand, and January 2001 began with one pre-kindergarten class and two kindergarten classes. By the end of winter there were sufficient enrollments to add up to fourth grade in academic 2001-02.

In 2001 HKA decided to make class space available to another, independent nonprofit organization, the Rainbow Project. Rainbow was in the process of setting up a pilot class for children with autism and, ideally, sought to house this class in a mainstream school environment. Hong Kong Academy felt that, in the absence of the resources to build a special needs unit so early in its existence, the school could in part fulfill its commitment to special needs by welcoming the Rainbow Project onto its campus.

This relationship proved to be mutually rewarding, with Rainbow students being mainstreamed as appropriate in Hong Kong Academy activities and classes and, conversely, Rainbow specialists sharing their expertise with Hong Kong Academy staff.
Academic 2001-02 began with an enrolment of 108 students in 8 classes. The curriculum during the second year was supplemented by visiting teachers which included an art teacher who conducted four weeks of classes on Picasso and Matisse; a martial arts instructor who conducted P.E. classes in Mandarin; and a Chinese calligrapher who also conducted classes in Mandarin.

Educational leadership of the school at this time was in the hands of Teresa A. Richman, who served as the school’s Educational Director, and Rosanne Kurstedt, who held the position of Director of Curriculum. Ben Frankel served as Administrative Director of the school.

By spring 2002 the school was well established and approached the Education Department with the idea of providing parent literacy education. The Education Department organized a visit by the heads of three local schools. One principal, Ms. Betty Ho, saw this as an opportunity to implement a literacy-based English language program at her school. HKA began working with Ms. Ho and her staff, which resulted in a HKA team – comprising Teresa Richman, Roseanne Kurstedt and Paulette Disher - undertaking to teach the English language program at Wanchai School for two years commencing in fall 2002.

In March 2002 the school was accepted for candidacy by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and in December 2004 was authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

Enrolment continued to grow with the primary school reaching capacity in 2006. Each year an additional class was added as the founding class grew older.

In 2006 a permanent Head of School position was created and the Founders moved into a governance role assuming positions on the Board.