Our Principal

Hello! I am Dominique Pugh, and I am honored to serve as the Principal of Middlebury Academy.

As a proud Cleveland native, my roots in this region run deep, but my purpose found its true north the day I became a mother. My daughter is my "daily why", she is the constant reminder that every child deserves a champion and a future filled with limitless possibility.

My journey in education began at the University of Cincinnati, where I earned my BA in African American Studies, sparking a lifelong passion for equity, history, and community empowerment. To further my commitment to the classroom, I obtained my Master’s in Education from Liberty University, fueling a career that has now spanned 20 incredible years.

I believe that to lead well, you must first serve. I spent six years as a teacher assistant and 11 years in the classroom teaching grades 1 through 9. Those years taught me that magic happens when a student feels truly seen. After serving as a Dean of Students for two years, I transitioned into leadership with a clear, unwavering vision: to provide our Akron scholars with a safe, nurturing environment where they don’t just attend school they thrive.

At Middlebury Academy, we live by a simple but powerful truth: Every scholar matters. Every family matters. Excelling is the goal. I am not just here to manage a school; I am here to build a bridge to the future. Together, with our dedicated families and talented staff, we are proving that through grit, love, and high expectations, our students can achieve anything they set their minds to.

Let’s reach for excellence together!