Friendship Aspire Academy Pine Bluff Elementary
Slow growth plan
The Pine Bluff campus opened in August 2018 with an enrollment of 160 students between Kindergarten and Grade One. The school is projected to grow by 80 students over the next five years to full enrollment in Grades K – 5.
Campus information
3911 South Hazel Street
Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Phone: 870-395-7401
Fax: 870-395-7403
Email: [email protected]
School Hours: 7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Extended Day Options: 3:30 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Our mission
Preparing students with the academic and life skills needed to be successful in college and beyond.
The mission of Friendship Aspire Academy-Pine Bluff is to provide a world-class education that motivates students to achieve high academic standards, enjoy learning and develop as ethical, literate, well-rounded and self-sufficient citizens. Friendship Aspire Academy-Pine Bluff seeks to fulfill this mission by providing students a high quality, liberal arts education focused on preparing students with the academic and life skills needed to be successful in college and beyond.
Our school documentary
Energy. Excitement. Excellence.
This is Arkansas. This is Friendship. We pursue excellence so we can take students further!
Our principal
Jherrithan Dukes
Mr. Jherrithan Dukes is a 33-year-old native of Little Rock, Arkansas. As a product of the Little Rock Public Schools, Mr. Dukes’ passion for music paved the way for him to receive a full band scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. His most memorable experience as a student at UAPB was in 2009 when he was able to march with the university’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4 Band) for the inaugural parade for President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.
In 2012, Mr. Dukes graduated with honors from UAPB with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Following graduation, Mr. Dukes gained employment with the Little Rock School District where he served as a distinguished educator who led an award-winning elementary music program. As an LRSD employee, Mr. Dukes won two Teacher of the Year awards and completed the Aspiring Leaders Institute.
In 2016, Mr. Dukes’ love for children and families pushed him to co-found and lead a non-profit organization. The organization operates as a childcare and out-of-school time provider that offers educational services to infants, toddlers, school-aged students. In 2018, Mr. Dukes transitioned into School Leadership as the Assistant Principal at eStem Public Charter Schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Currently, Mr. Dukes is a devoted husband, father of two beautiful daughters, and a member of St. Mark Baptist Church. Professionally, Mr. Dukes serves as the Proud Principal of the #1 School in Jefferson County, Friendship Aspire Academy Pine Bluff, he currently holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has recently graduated Arkansas Leadership Academy’s Master Principal Program. In addition, in May of 2022, Jherrithan was awarded Principal of the Year at the Arkansas Charter School’s Conference. In his spare time, Jherrithan values spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors, sports and traveling.
Mr. Dukes’ dedication to education has allotted him many experiences and opportunities to learn from and collaborate with some of the most talented contributors to the field of education. Mr. Dukes looks forward to persistently applying his knowledge and skills to uphold his unwavering belief that, “Given a positive learning environment, an optimistic and focused educational support team, and a supportive family and community, all scholars can learn and perform at high levels.”
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