Abstract of Proposed Charter School – Sports and Entertainment Marketing Academy:
The Mission of Sports and Entertainment Marketing Academy, SEMA, is to educate highperforming, entrepreneurial students who are trained in sports and entertainment marketing,
teamwork, leadership and responsibility using cross-curricular integration strategies, culminating
projects and real world activities that gives them a competitive advantage in college, career and
community. Our school will combine challenging academics with creative use of technology
and real-world experience to prepare a diverse student body for post secondary success and
productive citizenship. Two School-Based-Enterprises, SBEs, will be opened within the school
selling food and beverages to the student body. These SBEs will be working laboratories to
connect curriculum to real world experience. SEMA students will be excellent problem solvers
and communicators who contribute to their community through internships, service learning
projects, and other field experiences. SEMA will offer specialized attention to student-athletes
who need extra-personalized help in order to remain academically eligible to participate at their
home school in athletics and extra-curricular activities. SEMA students will receive guidance
and training to navigate the NCAA clearinghouse process, ACT and SAT test preparation, as
well as financial aide assistance and college application requirements.
The Sports and Entertainment Marketing Academy is a 9-12 grade school serving the
Albuquerque and Rio Rancho communities. Total enrollment will reach 350 students. Students
will have rigorous academic and co-curricular requirements including: leadership development,
service learning projects, internships and extra-curricular requirements. Students will earn
college credits while in high school. SEMA students will also receive industry-recognized
certifications in Final Cut Pro, IRS certification in Tax Preparation, Association for Retail
Industry, ASK, Certification and Microsoft Office Suite Certifications. These certifications,
combined with direct Internship opportunities, will allow SEMA students to outpace other
students in this highly competitive job market.
All students will take a fully integrated core program, including: mathematics, science, English,
social studies, Spanish, business and marketing classes. They will participate in regular advisory
and weekly Vocational Student Organizational meetings, scheduled opportunities for personal or
educational support, enrichment or business electives and a cooperative education internship in
the community. SEMA emphasizes several interrelated instructional approaches supported by a
flexible technology infrastructure: differentiated instruction, project-based learning, cooperative
learning, curriculum integration and presentations of learning, field studies and direct instruction.
All of these strategies will be employed in a context of team teaching. Each interdisciplinary
team of teachers will teach and advise a particular cohort of students over a two year period
starting with the IMPACT TEAM A, 9th and 10th grade, and moving to IMPACT TEAM B, 11th
and 12th grade, based on demonstrated mastery of requisite skill set and knowledge.
Partnering with organizations such as: DECA, BPA and VICA, People to People, and
Educational tours, SEMA will create professional development, competitive, leadership and
travel opportunities. SEMA will partner with higher educational institutions including: Central
New Mexico College, New Mexico Highlands University and The University of New Mexico to
provide pathways for our students to earn college credit and develop a seamless transition to post
secondary educational opportunities. The goal of SEMA is to articulate students to post
secondary education and high paying, challenging, fun and exciting careers.