KALAMAZOO, MI -- Washington Writers’ Academy was once in danger of closing due to low test scores.

The school was among 38 Michigan schools the state threatened to close in 2017 due to low performance on state tests. The school was released from an improvement partnership with the state in 2020.

That’s no deterrent to new Principal Amira Mogaji. Her goal is to transform Washington Writers’ Academy into one of Kalamazoo Public Schools’ high performing elementary schools, she said.

Mogaji is no stranger to Kalamazoo. From 2011 to 2019, she was principal of Northglade Montessori Magnet School. After leaving Northglade, Mogaji worked as a school administrator in St. Louis, then as an assistant superintendent in Battle Creek.

But Kalamazoo called her back.

“What did it for me was all t

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