Aurora West College Preparatory Academy

Principal Ryan Adams

Hello Spartan Nation!

I have so much PRIDE in being the principal at AWCPA. The 2024-2025 school year will be my 22nd year in education - I spent 14 years in the classroom as a social studies teacher, and I am beginning my eighth year in leadership. This is also my 14th year at this amazing school!  I taught at AWCPA for 12 years, and was a part of the committee that helped transition the school from a traditional middle school to a 6-12 school.  I love our community and am so happy to be back and leading AWCPA.

We have PRIDE in being a community school and offering many programs that support our students and families.  Our goal is to provide opportunities for all of our students so they can be college- and career-ready upon graduation. In order to achieve this, we have spent the last year defining our values and expectations. The result is SPARTAN PRIDE. SPARTAN PRIDE drives the work that we do and the expectations we set for all of our students. I strongly believe that this is the best approach to help our students be successful, and I am full of SPARTAN PRIDE.

In addition to all things AWCPA, I am an avid soccer fan and super passionate about music. I was the first boys' varsity soccer coach at AWCPA, watch way too much soccer in my free time, and still play on adult rec teams. I love music, play multiple instruments, have been in various bands most of my life, and have played guitar for over 30 years. I enjoy going to concerts and performing for others. If I am not on the soccer pitch or a stage, I cherish my time with my wife and two children. 

It is such a joy to lead AWCPA and we are excited for all the great things happening this year.

Principal Ryan Adams

Assistant Principal Holly Schafer

Dear Families and Friends,

   I love how, even after two decades in education, I still can't sleep the night before the first day of school. The energy of our AWCPA community is contagious, and I am proud to be a member of Spartan Nation. 

    My professional background includes teaching Social Studies in public and private schools to middle school and high school students. I have also worked as a high school assistant principal, a high school building principal, and the Director of Human Resources. I currently teach classes at Youngstown State University in addition to my role as an Assistant Principal at AWCPA. 

    Outside of school, I enjoy running, hiking, traveling, and attending music festivals. I am a fan of live music and recently had the chance to see one of my favorite bands play at Madison Square Garden on a recent visit to New York.  

     Every day, I learn something new from my husband and four daughters. I appreciate the ties that bind families together. They remind me of the strength in our AWCPA family and how, together, we bring out the best in each other.  

     I am honored to be part of our AWCPA family and I look forward to an amazing school year.  

Holly J. Schafer

Assistant Principal 

Assistant Principal Jeana Russell

AWCPA welcomes Jeana Russell, our new middle school Assistant Principal, to Spartan Nation!

Jeana is joining us from Denver Public Schools, bringing with her a strong commitment to student success and relationship building.

She has experience teaching and leading at preschool through 12th grade levels, most recently as the Assistant Principal at Montclair Elementary—where she has assumed many additional roles and duties since the Principal went on leave in January.

Jeana has a strong history of supporting students to help them succeed in their school years and beyond.