About Us

Our Mission

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Faster. Higher. Stronger.

At NJ Success Academy, our mission is to empower students to achieve academic excellence and reach their full potential.

We provide a supportive and dynamic learning environment that fosters intellectual growth, critical thinking, and a passion for lifelong learning. Through personalized instruction, innovative teaching methods, and a commitment to holistic development, we strive to cultivate confident, knowledgeable, and well-rounded individuals prepared to excel in their future academic and professional endeavors. Our dedication to academic success is matched by our commitment to nurturing the character, resilience, and leadership skills essential for our students to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.

Our History

We have led the effort to permanently support and educate several high school students.

New Jersey Success Academy was founded in 2020 by Katrina N. Bailey, a Cornell alum and educator. She has tutored students within the greater Newark area in several disciplines for over 30 years and has dedicated herself to this passion. Katrina N. Bailey received her Bachelor's Degree in Government and History from Cornell University and went on to teach within the Greater Newark Area to support organizations looking to provide educational opportunities to diligent students. Her love for seeing students succeed has pushed her to create this organization.

Deeply affected by her work, Ms. Bailey reached out to her community and Cornell network to begin to address the challenge of providing educational opportunities for young people. In response, Tikkun Olam Foundation Inc. was founded with the mission to provide superior educational opportunities for young men and women nationwide to achieve academic excellence and personal development within their environment.

PILOT GORETTI, FORMER NJ SUCCESS ACADEMY STUDENT

What We’ve Acheived

  • An intensive summer program designed to keep students academically sharp and prepared for the challenges of the upcoming school year. Focused on building strong study habits, boosting subject knowledge, and giving students a head start on college readiness.

  • Ongoing sessions that strengthen critical reading and writing skills through targeted vocabulary development. Students expand their word knowledge, improve test performance, and gain greater confidence in academic communication.

  • Practical, step-by-step guidance for students and families navigating the financial aid process. Workshops cover FAFSA, scholarships, grants, and strategic planning to make higher education more accessible and affordable.

  • Specialized courses that prepare students to excel in Advanced Placement classes and exams. Instruction focuses on content mastery, test strategies, and the skills needed to earn college credit while in high school.

  • Our proven approach has helped several graduates gain admission to Ivy League schools. These successes reflect both the talent of our students and the strength of the support systems we provide.

Our Impact

  • Katrina is awesome at what she does! She has motivated my 13-year-old son to work hard and do his best. He loves working with her! I could write a book about how she has helped my daughter raise her SAT score by 200 points. She is not only her SSAT Prep teacher, but she has also developed a mentoring relationship with her that has blossomed into something beautiful.”

    — Cassandra Barr, Parent

  • Working with Ms. Bailey has changed everything for me. I used to feel super overwhelmed by all the testing, applications, and even just figuring out what I wanted. While I still feel the normal stress, she has made it all feel super manageable. She broke everything down in a way that made sense and always made me feel like I was capable. She believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thanks to her, I am going into the college application season prepared and knowledgable on how to manage my time, think clearly, and advocate for myself.

    Hector Tiru - Student

  • As a parent, I trust Katrina completely. She has the kind of presence that puts both kids and parents at ease. She’s organized, deeply knowledgeable, and cares about helping students become confident, prepared young adults. Katrina isn’t just a tutor for my child, but she’s the game-changer that’s preparing my son to become the most successful in his future.

    [Hector’s Mom - Name Needed]

  • Working with Ms. Bailey changed the trajectory of my life. I come from a low-income background; my mother is a single parent and an immigrant from Eritrea, and I attended a severely underfunded public high school with little access to academic resources. When I met Ms. Bailey at Link Community Charter School, she became my SAT tutor, but over time, she became my mentor, employer, and someone who truly invested in my growth. Her educational program has helped me to significantly develop my analytical thinking skills, discipline, confidence, and leadership. All of these traits helped me earn admission to the top school of my dreams and I later used those same skills to help other students from backgrounds like mine do the same. Today I’m a rising junior at Georgetown University majoring in Government and Black Studies with a concentration in Public Policy. Last summer I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and attended the Democratic National Convention with my university. This summer I am a Consumer Protection intern at the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. These are all experiences and achievements that would not have been possible if it werent for Ms. Bailey’s leadership and educational program. As a first generation college student who didn’t have the resources or insider knowledge on how to access or thrive in elite institutions, I desperately needed a mentor like Ms. Bailey to help me bridge the gap between me and my privileged peers. Today, I use that knowledge and many of those skills when I’m writing policy memos, helping Ms.Bailey’s students, or navigating academic life at Georgetown. Her mentorship didn’t just help me strengthen my admissions essays, it has also helped me launch a journey of public service, global learning, and professional achievement I once thought out of reach. I’m deeply grateful for her commitment to students like me and proud to say that her guidance continues to shape the work I do today. In many ways, my educational and professional achievement is a testament to the wonderful things that happen when you just listen to Ms. Bailey.

    Sara Eyob - Student