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Dear Families,

Welcome, and thank you for choosing Columbus Humanities Arts and Technology Academy (CHATA). We are all extremely appreciative and excited that you have joined our family. The road ahead of you will be difficult at times, it will be full of lifelong memories, and there will be seemingly impossible challenges. We will be there every step of the way to make sure that you, like many of our graduates, move on to lead rewarding and robust lives. If you follow our path, you will develop courage through confidence, creativity through practice, and compassion through experience. I expect that everyone gives their best when they can. Who dares wins!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Erin Johnson
–Principal

Erin Johnson, M.Ed, Principal

Mrs. Johnson was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas and moved from there to West Lafayette, Indiana to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Purdue University. Mrs. Johnson has served in numerous roles in the educational setting, serving in Accel schools since 2014. Mrs. Johnson holds a Master’s in Educational Administration from Ball State University. As Principal, Mrs. Johnson is responsible for leading our school academically and culturally, including the professional development and progress of our faculty.

Dr. Salim Ucan, Regional Vice President

Dr. Salim Ucan joined ACCEL Schools in 2021 with over 20 years of experience as a K-12 teacher, principal, leadership coach, and charter school network administrator. Prior to ACCEL Schools, he was the founding principal of Chicago Math and Science Academy (CMSA), one of the highest performing charter schools in Illinois, and after five years was promoted to Vice President of Concept Schools, a Chicago-based public charter school network. During this time, Dr. Ucan led the openings of 12 charter schools throughout the Midwest. He also served as spokesperson of the network and was involved in projects relating to community engagement, professional development, crisis management, public relations, and communications. Dr. Ucan holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology Education from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey, a master’s degree in School Leadership from Central Michigan University, and a PhD in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University. Dr. Ucan additionally serves as adjunct faculty at Franklin University.

Staff Directory

  • Erin Johnson

    Principal

  • Brendan Kolman

    Vice Principal

  • Jason Scragg

    Vice Principal

  • Jackie Leonard

    Office Manager

  • Lisa Tennyson

    Counselor

Community School

Columbus Humanities Arts and Technology Academy is a public, community school. We are our own school district sponsored by the Ohio Council of Community Schools (OCCS), which provides oversight and enforces academic, fiscal, and legal accountability. We are managed by ACCEL Schools, a high performing network of over 50 charter schools located throughout the United States.

Community Schools (Charter Schools) offer families an alternative to the local public school. Community schools are tuition-free, open to all students in the county, and focused on meeting student needs for success. Community schools are among the top-performing schools in the nation. Read more about charter schools.