The Jabali Academy is preparing to open its doors in fall of 2026, and specializes in providing Black and Brown youth ages four to 14 (preschool – 8th grade) with an educational model based on Pan-African values and cultural enrichment. The origin of the name Jabali means ‘strong as a rock’ in Swahili, a message that both founders want to implement into their students’ cultural and educational enrichment.
Dr. Jon Carroll, Ph. D is an educator, husband and father who is also currently a middle school dean at Harvard Westlake School and a Philadelphia native. His wife, Nkechi Okoro Carroll was born in Nigeria and raised in New York. She is also a prominent writer, producer and tv showrunner known for tv series such as “All American”, “Found” and “The Resident”.
In collaboration, the couple is opening the Jabali Academy. They also kicked off their first inaugural fundraiser event “Empowering Minds” in September of last year. Both spoke to Our Weekly about their vision of the Jabali Academy, the specialized curriculum offered, and its significance for Black youth in the Inglewood community.
1. What inspired you both to create the Jabali Academy and how does your shared vision shape the way the school approaches education and community building?
Dr. Jon Carroll: I’ve been an educator for the last 20 years. I knew there was going to be a time where I’d want to do something that was dedicated more to Black and Brown students because that is my lived experience. Jabali became that opportunity for me because I’ve been blessed to serve on admissions committees and in my current role for the last decade or so.
It really would sting me every time we would have a wonderful Black family in particular, that we could not admit, for any given reason. But particularly, it was always hurtful to see that the student wasn’t academically ready. And so, Jabali becomes, for me, a vehicle to make sure that students are prepared early in the pipeline.
Nkechi: First and foremost it is about supporting my husband’s dream. Also, when we specifically looked at some of the statistics around young Black boys, we noticed that overtime they tend to sort of disassociate from the education system. Some of that happens as early as third grade (8 years old) , when society stops seeing them as young boys, and they start being seen as men. All of a sudden, their education takes on a bit of a different spin, because they’re not given the benefit of the doubt. They’re not seeing themselves reflected in the material they’re studying. We thought to ourselves, ‘How do we get them at that age? How do we intervene at that age in order to keep our youth in school, keep them engaged, excited about school and what education means for them in their futures?
Our goal is to get them excited about literature and science and history, and not just the kind you get in your traditional sort of elementary school curriculum, but studies that really reflect us in different career paths such as scientists, inventors, etc. We also want to remind our youth that their history comes from more than just the narrative of “we were slaves.” We expanded our summer program into a more full fledged curriculum. Out of that, Jabali was born.
2. Can you discuss the “looping model’ educational method you’re implementing at Jabali Academy, and what impact do you hope it will have on students?
Dr. Jon Carroll: The looping model is a method and idea of keeping students with the same teacher for more than one year. When I think about Black students in particular, we want to make sure that there is a healthy sense of identity that these students develop. It enables them to keep growing that relationship and not have to have to start over with a new teacher after one year.
3. When will the Jabali campus open and the admissions process begin?
Dr. Jon Carroll: We bought the building last year and we have a tenant that is currently there running a daycare. We’ve kept the tenant for an extra year and as that ends, we will move in this summer to start getting ready for the admissions process for students, and then finally, opening the school in the fall of 2026.
We hired our first kindergarten teacher recently, Kenya Strong, so we will spend summer and fall getting all of the inner workings down for admissions. We will then showcase our vision to families.
4. In your experience, what are some of the most powerful ways that education can transform the lives of Black students, and how does your academy nurture that potential from an early age?
Dr. Jon Carroll: From a young age, it’s the exposure, that is how I believe education really changes your trajectory… the exposure to what’s possible. It’s not always about the books and all the things we typically talk about in regard to helping young children learn, it’s also about what they are seeing and who they are experiencing life with.
We plan on taking them to trips to experience things such as Alvin Ailey’s dance troupe, art exhibits, and more. We also want them to really understand the science and technological contributions of African Americans, and learn the history of Inglewood. We will also be in contact with the community, across the continent, from the Caribbean, from all the places that the diaspora has touched.
For Kenya Strong
5.-What does it mean to you to be the founding kindergarten teacher at a school that is grounded in Pan-African values, and how do you plan to set the tone for future students and their curriculum?
Kenya Strong: I intend to set the tone by just being authentic and showing up every day as my true self, as I identify as a Black American woman of the African diaspora. I want the children to see an example of what that can really mean without the glare of the rest of society.
My background in education, pedagogy and child development will help elevate all of those stages through the grades, and I feel confident being able to do that. If a child fails out of a system that was never designed for their success, I’m not mad at it because its our responsibility as educators to create a space where they can genuinely thrive and be children, not “short adults”.
I am just eternally grateful to have been connected with like minded people who had the same determination and wherewithal to see this come to fruition.
To learn more about the Jabali Academy, information about applications for enrolment and general questions please visit www.jabaliacademy.org.