 The Academy is a partnership with the Houston Independent School District, the Houston Community College Central Campus, Houston A+ Challenge and the Asia Society’s Network of International Studies Schools.The school's principal, Melissa Jacobs-Thibaut, is a professional administrator, educator and community-development specialist with 13 years of urban and international teaching, teacher training and leadership experience.Between 1996 and 2001, she worked for the United States Peace Corps on assignment in Cape Verde and Mozambique.