Our Mission

The mission of William A Kirlew Junior Academy is to provide a Seventh-day Adventist Christian Education, K – 8, in which students may develop and mature spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially.

Who We Are

Our school opened its doors in August 1993 at the request of several parents with Mrs. Olive Hyatt serving as the first principal and teacher. During this first year, sixteen parents entrusted the education of their kindergarten and first-grade children to the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School as it was named then. The name was changed in 1997 to William A. Kirlew Junior Academy to honor Pastor William Kirlew for his dedicated service to the church. In August 1994, the school added third through to eighth grade.

Mrs. Hyatt retired in 1995 and Mrs. Myrna Alexander served as principal for that year. Mrs. Alexander was succeeded by Mrs. Claudette Harding who served 14 years (1996 – 2010). In 2010, Mrs. Hermine Thompson took over the leadership of the school and served as principal for 9 years, retiring in 2019. Mrs. Valrey Francis is currently the new principal.

Over its 27 years of existence, WAKJA has established a reputation of excellence and has created an atmosphere of achievement. Most of the graduates have gone on to do extremely well both in public and private high schools and colleges and in lucrative careers.

The school moved into a new building on August 1, 2006, representing the completion of Phase 1 of a 3-phase project. William A. Kirlew Junior Academy will continue to be a beacon guiding students “high and yet higher.”

William A Kirlew Junior Academy is accredited by the following organization:

  • Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventists Schools, Colleges, Universities
  • National Council for Private School Accreditation
  • Florida Association of Academic Non-Public Schools

What Makes Us Unique

  • Small Class Size
  • Dedicated Teachers
  • A technology right curriculum
  • A strong focus on building Godly characters

Non-discrimination Policy

Florida Conference Seventh-day Adventist schools admit students of any race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and sexual orientation. Our schools do not discriminate on the basis of any of the aforementioned categories in decisions for admission, discipline, or application of education policies. We promote a sharp focus on learning and caring while requiring all students to adhere to behavioral expectations set out in a strict code of conduct supported by the Biblical beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.