Jennie Dean Elementary School.

The school design is the 14th iteration of an elementary school prototype that RRMM has refined and constructed for multiple school divisions. The new school will replace the existing Jennie Dean Elementary School.  Jennie Dean Elementary School was originally constructed as a Middle School and an extension of the Manassas Industrial School (MIS) for Colored Youth. The new school design, both interior and exterior, is focused on the taught curriculum and the history of the MIS.

RRMM worked closely with the Curators at the Manassas Museum to learn about Jennie Dean’s legacy. Born into slavery, Jennie Dean pursued her dream to educate ‘the hearts and hands’ of young African Americans after the Civil War. After almost a decade of fundraising, she founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1893. The school was designed as a private residential institution that provided both academic and vocational training within a Christian setting. This school created opportunities for African Americans to advance in society at a pivotal time in American history.

The biggest challenge of this project was gaining consensus from both the School Board and the City of Manassas. A joint task force explored the outcomes of renovating the existing building versus constructing a new facility. A replacement school was determined to be the best option to meet modern instructional needs amid the outdated state of the current building. The new school will be built on the same site, adjacent to the current elementary school.