On June 30, students, families, trustees, supporters, and friends of Anna Julia Cooper School gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of our beautiful new Lower School building at 2000 N. 29th Street. It was a joyful day as we marked a milestone years in the making.

Thanks to the incredible team at Kjellstrom + Lee Construction, we went from groundbreaking to grand opening in 13 months—just in time for our summer session, when we welcomed additional sections of both second and third grades, bringing our enrollment to 230 students.

We were honored to hear remarks from Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille, members of our Board of Trustees, Lower School Principal Michael Crane, and Mike Maruca, who closed the celebration on the final day of his 17-year tenure as Head of School.

Thank you to everyone whose generosity, partnership, and belief in our students made this day—and our continued growth—possible. As we look ahead to all that is possible, one thing is clear: Hope Grows at Anna Julia Cooper School!

While Mike Maruca's leadership at Anna Julia Cooper School has come to a close, the mission he launched continues to grow. As we celebrate this exciting new chapter, we hope you'll take a few minutes to read the news article below, about Mike's vision, dedication, and perseverance—and the journey that brought us to this moment.

AJC Founding Head of School, Mike Maruca. Photo Credit: Ned Oliver

Long before his official start date, our new Head of School Mr. Tommy Blain, began getting to know the people who make AJC so special—meeting with staff, families, and students and listening carefully to what they believe is sacred about our school and community of affection.

By his first day on July 6th, Tommy was already deeply invested in AJC and ready to step into his leadership role. He helped us welcome 60 new students and 11 new staff members for our four-week summer session and quickly embraced the opportunities and challenges that come with such a remarkable period of growth.

We are grateful for the care and energy Tommy has already brought to our community. The heart of AJC remains strong, and we are excited for the year ahead!

A former teacher, Mr. Blain visits a Kindergarten class.

Group and one-on-one family orientation meetings have been ongoing throughout the summer.

Daily connections help build relationships.

You might think middle school students would hesitate at the idea of a mandatory four-week summer session, but with so much happening at AJC, they had plenty to look forward to each day. We intentionally balance morning academics—where nearly 100 students strengthened their reading, writing, and math skills and stay connected to their progress—with afternoons filled with teamwork and opportunities to discover new interests.

From dissecting frogs in science class to playing chess, casting a fishing line, meeting a snake up close, or trying steel drums with our friends from Culture Encounters-a student favorite now in its third summer- the AJC summer experience provides an opportunity for students to stretch themselves in new ways and build confidence.

Each year, for more and more AJC students, summer means venturing out to a favorite sleepaway camp. Thanks to camp partnerships and generous supporters, students attended Camp Dudley in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Camp Kiniya on Lake Champlain in Vermont, Camp Alkulana in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, and Woodberry Forest Sports Camp just north of Charlottesville. No two camps looked alike. They waded through creeks, competed in new sports, bonded around campfires, and hopefully, discovered just how much they're capable of.

Summer session at Anna Julia Cooper School brings familiar faces back through our doors. This year, nearly twenty AJC graduates returned to participate in our 4-week summer work program. They answered phones, welcomed visitors, supported teachers, and worked with students across campus.

Part of our Graduate Support Program, these paid summer positions are intended to give graduates the opportunity to earn a paycheck and stay connected to the AJC community. 

Deremy (Class of 2026) is pictured here patiently guiding a kindergartener through her math activities. For AJC staff, one  of the highlights of this program is watching our graduates discover gifts they may not have known they have.

Reading a book can take you anywhere! Lower School Lions discovered new favorites in their bright classrooms, where cozy reading corners and classroom libraries put great books within every student's reach.

These inviting spaces—and the environment they create for young readers—are made possible through the generosity of our supporters. Thank you for helping our students discover the joy of reading!