John Shanley

Adam J. Lewis Academy (AJLA) is an independent co-educational day school for grades PreK–8. AJLA was established in 2011 as Adam J. Lewis Preschool. The Preschool’s founders, longtime educators Patty Lewis and Julie Mombello, recognized both the profound life impact of a high-quality preschool experience and the staggering disparities in access and opportunity across Fairfield County. They were determined to build a more hopeful, equitable future. With an enduring commitment to its students and families, in 2018, the school relocated to an expanded Downtown Bridgeport campus and reopened as Adam J. Lewis Academy. Growing upward from its roots in preschool education, the Academy will continue to add one grade annually until it serves 200 students as a PreK-Grade 8th independent school. Our mission is to provide an enriched, nurturing, high-quality educational experience, which will set our students on a path of success in school and in life. With a unique program encompassing school, home, and future, AJLA delivers a high-quality classroom experience that strengthens both cognitive and character skills. By working intensively with a small class of students, we strive to acknowledge and support the tremendous potential within each child—and in so doing, to have a meaningful impact on the community. Adam J. Lewis Academy is defined and guided by its motto, Hope Rising. Through a program of rigorous academics, rich experiential and creative learning, and deep family engagement, AJLA nurtures the potential within each child—preparing students for a lifetime of intellectual exploration, personal growth, and moral citizenship. Children graduate from the Academy as leaders, empowered with the knowledge, skills, character, and confidence to succeed. AJLA was founded in memory of Adam Lewis, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Adam’s life was enhanced by hard work, perseverance, and an educational opportunity provided to him at a young age.