News ReleaseFor Immediate Release: October 19, 2004Contact: Patti Spencer, Public Affairs, (206) 252-0204 Rickie Malone Appointed Principal at African American AcademySuperintendent Raj Manhas today announced the appointment of Ms. Rickie Malone as Principal at African American Academy (AAA). Malone will lead the 460-student, K-8 school that she was instrumental in starting in the early 1990’s, when she held roles as teacher and Assistant Principal. “I am thrilled that Ms. Malone has agreed to take on the role of principal at the African American Academy,” said Superintendent Manhas. “Her enthusiasm, passion for student success, and demonstrated excellence in instructional leadership at the K-8 level will greatly benefit the students and families at the Academy.” Ms. Malone has devoted all of her 31-year career in K-12 education to the students of Seattle Public Schools. She worked as a teacher at Colman, Olympic View, Stevens, Seward, McGilvra, Decatur and M.L. King elementary schools prior to joining the team that opened AAA in September 1991. Ms. Malone taught at AAA for three years and was appointed Assistant Principal at the school in 1998. She left AAA in 1999 to lead Madrona K-8, where she held the role of principal until her retirement in July 2004. The African American Academy offers a unique, African-centered curriculum designed around a rigorous, highly structured instructional program. The school’s 460 scholars benefit from a new state-of-the-art building that opened in September 2000. The project was funded by the Building Excellence I levy (BEX I), approved by voters in February 1995, and is located at 8311 Beacon Avenue South. The $338 million BEX I capital levy funded a total of 19 school projects including renovation, reconstruction, and additions. ###