February 13, 2026 |City Arts and Sciences Academy (CASA), Education, Lynn Public Schools, News, Resources

Lynn Educators and Leaders Celebrate CASA Library Opening

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From the City of Lynn:  City officials joined Lynn educators and leaders from the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts to celebrate the opening of a new library for students at City Arts and Sciences Academy (CASA) on Friday, February 13. This was held at CASA’s location along Lynn Common at 33 N. Common Street.

CASA’s new library was made possible through a $10,000 donation from the American Federation of Teachers and AFT Massachusetts as part of the AFT’s multi-year, multimillion dollar “Reading Opens the World” initiative, which has distributed more than 11 million free books to students, families and educators serving in Title I schools and programs.

In addition to the library opening, CASA students will have the chance to pick out books to take home for personal use. CASA Principal Chris Norkun provided a tour of the school following the dedication and book donation. In attendance were Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang, Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Molly Cohen, & Lynn Teachers Union President Phil O’Connor. CASA students, educators, and leadership team were also on hand.

CASA’s Current Mission Statement is “CASA inspires designers and artists to use creativity, critical thinking, and experimentation to imagine and cultivate a future vested in community.”

CASA is a new STEAM Academy for Lynn Public Schools.  STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) is an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning and our staff work together to offer students unique opportunities.  CASA is a growing project-based learning school where students learn through working in groups and completing projects.    CASA teachers, in this first year, have prioritized a project’s “launch,” that gives all students the same background knowledge.   This year CASA teachers also prioritized the “exhibition” of student learning at the end of a class, week, or more formally at the end of a trimester.   CASA teachers also prioritize “community partners” in the project experience so students get to meet and interact with various stakeholders throughout the greater-Lynn community.

As CASA grows, so will the project-based learning model.

Photos from the event, courtesy of Mayor Nicholson’s office