Trailblazers in the Media

Members of the Beacon Academy community talk about reopening this fall. “We’re going to have a great year because we choose to have a great year. We’re not going to let COVID define it,” says Marja Brandon, Beacon’s head of school.

Beacon Academy is pleased to announce the hiring of Marja Brandon as Head of School. Beacon will be the fourth headship for Brandon who previously founded and led Seattle Girls’ School.

Beacon Academy has launched an innovative e-learning experience that includes classes, clubs, engaging explorations for seniors, and all-school community meetings. “Beacon is all about building community, whether virtual or actual, and that is our highest priority during this difficult and uncertain time."

Eli Stone, a senior at Beacon Academy, is working on his eighth political campaign, managing communications for Rep. Yoni Pizer, who is running for a permanent seat in the Illinois House. Stone says he couldn’t do it without his parents’ support and a flexible school schedule that allows him to balance his coursework and passion for politics.

Head of School Jeff Bell talks about how Beacon Academy competes for students in a marketplace filled with free public school alternatives. In contrast to the “pressure cooker” environment of the selective public high schools, “Beacon emphasizes to its prospective families how every student voice is heard and valued, and every student known and cared for."