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Neil Thao, Noble Academy

Neil Thao was 9 years old when he and his family moved from Laos to Thailand due to the conflict of the Vietnam war. Five years later, they made another monumental move from Thailand to the United States. There he enrolled in the 9th grade without knowing one word of English! He remembers sitting in the back of the classroom feeling totally alienated and confused with all that was happening there. He realized that he wouldn't be able to survive without the ability to read, write and speak the English language. So then and there he made a personal goal to stay the course. His first priority was to stay in school! He started building his vocabulary and communications skills with incredible discipline and lots of hard work. He made his dream of a college education a reality. He was the first person in his family to attend college. His parents were farmers back in Laos.

Neil saw it as a privilege to be in this country and have the opportunity to pursue his dream of going to college. He graduated from college with a degree in engineering. Right after college, he was recruited from the Minneapolis school district to teach in a Hmong school. He saw this as a unique opportunity knocking on his door and enrolled in Hamline University where he completed another degree... this time one in bilingual teaching. After teaching for four years, he was again recruited to be in a charter school.

He soon was promoted to assistant principal while he worked on his administration license. After much hard work and great support from the community, he started a Charter Hmong school called Noble Academy in the fall of 2007 When it's doors were opened, they had 230 students, the next year 300 and this year, they have a total of 450 students!

Every classroom is well equipped with everything they need to be successful and to learn their second or third language – English. Neil inspires his students to push themselves to learn as much as they can so they can achieve their career goals and be a productive citizen of America. He will settle for nothing less. He strongly believes he has an obligation to pass on the same opportunities he was given. He has made a commitment to the good work of his school! Truly Neil has come full circle from his first classroom experience as a young student. Today, he is an inspiration to others to achieve unlimited possibilities!

For more information, please visit http://www.nobleacademy.us/ceo-founder-principal.

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