Isabella Senzamici • Feb 24, 2026
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Through art, persistence, and individualized support, an Achievement First Brooklyn High School senior charts his path to the School of Visual Arts.
Kalel Saunderson has always been drawn to creating. Long before college acceptance letters or portfolio reviews, he was imagining characters, worlds, and stories of his own making. As a child, he found inspiration in Pokémon and in LittleBigPlanet, a video game that allows players to build, remix, and reshape digital environments. That sense of creative freedom left a lasting impression.
Now 18 and a senior at Achievement First Brooklyn High School, Kalel describes himself as an artist, music composer, and writer. Much of his time is spent developing original ideas in his sketchbooks, including character concepts inspired by Pokémon. He considers most of his work “still in progress,” ideas he sees as growing and changing rather than finished, alongside musical pieces he is composing and careful to protect.
When asked what kind of art he loves most, Kalel points to arts and crafts, “because you can create without any restrictions.”
This spring, Kalel reached a major milestone: he was accepted to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The early acceptance marks a significant achievement, not only for Kalel but also for Achievement First’s Empower Program, a New York–based initiative that supports a small group of students with the most complex learning needs. Housed at AF Bushwick Elementary, AF Bushwick Middle School, and AF Brooklyn High School, Empower is designed as a K–12 continuum, and Kalel is a member of the program’s first graduating high school class.
Unlike traditional special education services, Empower is not a single class or placement. Students remain fully included in school life while receiving an additional, highly individualized layer of academic, social-emotional, and postsecondary support tailored to their specific strengths and needs. A central part of that support is Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS), a New York State credential pathway focused on career readiness. Through CDOS, students connect classroom learning to real-world experiences, including career exploration, work-based learning, and internships. For Empower students, CDOS serves as a bridge between their interests and practical skills for life after high school.
“Never give up on your hobbies,” Kalel says. “Try other ventures like music and writing. They can influence your art in ways you don’t expect.”
For Kalel, that approach has meant both flexibility and structure. Through Empower, he participated in CDOS-aligned programming and paid internships through the Summer Youth Employment Program. These opportunities helped him explore his interest in music, build confidence in professional settings, and better understand the expectations of college and work environments, all while remaining supported by a consistent team of adults.
“Despite any adversity,” says Sonia Castleberry, Director of the Empower Program, “with proper support, it can be done.”
That support has been reinforced through close relationships with adults who know Kalel well. Over four years, his social worker, Ms. Fritzline Victor, worked with him to identify opportunities that felt both challenging and familiar, helping him take on new experiences while building confidence and independence.
“When you have someone who really believes in you and pushes you,” Ms. Victor says, “it makes you see something in yourself that maybe you didn’t see before.”
As Kalel looks ahead, he hopes to continue developing his art, music, and writing, protecting his work through copyright and finding ways to share it through fundraisers or creative projects that support his craft.
While Kalel is still considering additional college options, his acceptance to SVA represents something powerful: the ability to imagine a future shaped by his own interests and ambitions.
“I’d really like to be independent,” Kalel says.
It’s a simple statement, and one that reflects both his artistic spirit and the kind of possibility that emerges when students are supported to grow on their own terms.
Interested in learning more about Achievement First’s Empower Program? Reach out to Sonia Castleberry, Director of the Empower Program, at [email protected]. Families interested in enrolling in Achievement First New York schools can visit this page.
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