THE HISTORY OF TIMBUKTU ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology was created to extend African-Centered learning experiences, which began at Operation Get Down’s Ujima Early Childhood Development Center.  Ujima’s parents wanted the children’s early educational experiences to be as rewarding as the pre-school ones had been.  Operation Get Down has always stressed and created quality educational programs for the east side community.

When charter school legislation was passed in 1995, Operation Get Down (OGD) began examining the possibilities of creating a charter school.  OGD learned through discussions and interviews that despite the community’s designation as the poorest in the city of Detroit, parents and caregivers consistently pursued the best educational options for their children. They sought to have the small classrooms and individualized instruction, the opportunities for field trips, the diversity in materials, committed teachers and innovative approaches to education that public academies provided.

Operation Get Down, specifically E. Malkia Brantuo and Bernard Parker, sought to meet this need by opening the doors of Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology in 1996 with a loan and a serious commitment to make it happen. After only 4 months in operation, Timbuktu Academy’s doors closed temporarily due to financial constraints. Sincerely committed, in practice, to bring this needed educational institution into perpetual existence, Mama Malkia, Baba Bernard, and others continued pursuit of a public charter. Their hard efforts were rewarded on September 23, 1997 when the Detroit Board of Education granted a 5 year charter as a K-12 academy.

The name of Timbuktu was chosen because Timbuktu is a city in Mali, West Africa, in which the University of Sankore stood as an ancient seat of advanced learning. 

imbuktu’s first year (1997 – 1998) serviced grades K-3.  Each year one grade was added until reaching the current level of 8th.  Timbuktu Academy initially enrolled sixty-seven (67) students, of which fifty-eight (58) were certified for attendance by Wayne RESA, the Intermediate School District of which Timbuktu Academy is a part.

Under Magnum Educational Management Company (MEMC), Timbuktu Academy successfully completed its first all year-round daily and Saturday school July 24, 1998 under the leadership of Dr. Blandina Rose and with the committed support of 6 educational staff, 1 family service worker, 1 administrative assistant, one 1 bookkeeper, our building maintenance supervisor and one management person.

For the next 4 years, Dr. Gloria (Aneb) House oversaw the expansion of Timbuktu Academy from a small early elementary school through grade 3 to a learning center where children through grade 7 could attend. Located at 9980 Gratiot in a renovated former community center, Timbuktu Academy utilized 11 classroom portables located adjacent to the main building.  Each portable held one grade of approximately 21 children.  They moved to the main building for science, technology and recreation.  
In 2003 Timbuktu Academy moved to 8085 Doyle, a former Detroit Public Elementary School, where Aaron P. Williams served as principal. This new facility, that included the use of a gymnasium, was the missing piece to the evolution of Timbuktu Academy into a full service African – Centered institution for higher learning.

After only 3 short years, Timbuktu Academy moved into its current location on East Canfield to accommodate the addition of an additional Kindergarten and 8th grade class. Presently there are two classes at each grade level. Timbuktu Academy is very proud of the achievement and progress of our students.  We look forward to even greater accomplishments as we further define our curriculum and methodology. Currently, Brenda A. Parker is the principal.