ABOUT US
South Florida Fashion Academy is an elite full-time, private middle and high school (grades 6-12) located in Lauderdale Lakes, FL dedicated to educating students with an academically stimulating core curriculum. What makes SF/FA special is our dynamic and flexible dual-enrollment speciality programs in the fashion, beauty and business industries. Students use their elective course credits to study in one of our creative specialty programs which include fashion design & merchandising, cosmetology, nail technology, barbering, makeup artistry and digital media. Our innovative and expansive creative programs are led by industry experts and professionals who have extensive experience working in these industries on a global scale.
Founded in 2019 by Taj McGill, SF/FA is committed to helping students achieve academic excellence that develop the necessary critical thinking skills that will lead to a fulfilling and successful life into adulthood. Founded with compassionate, faith-based values committed to community and service, our team of educators and administrators are passionate about preparing students for an ever-changing and competitive world.
SF/FA delivers personalized learning, small classroom sizes and a creative outlet for bright students ready to explore their passion for fashion, beauty or art.
Our counselors, administrators and educators work closely with our students and parents to identify their career goals and then develop personalized learning plans that can lead to long-term success beyond high school graduation. Whether a student needs guidance selecting their best core academic courses or needs help deciding which creative elective program, our educators are equipped with the best tools, resources and knowledge to enable SF/FA students to achieve academic excellence.
Our administration is also dedicated to positively uplifting the. psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being of every student. With licensed counselors and psychologists available on campus, we understand the importance of providing a welcoming, safe, culturally inclusive and supportive environment that supports student success.
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MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS
MISSION
South Florida Fashion Academy is dedicated to providing a rigorous and academically focused education that nurtures the intellectual and creative growth of students. Through a dynamic curriculum, industry-relevant instruction, and experiential learning, SF/FA equips students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and academic foundation necessary for higher education and professional excellence.
VISION
South Florida Fashion Academy prepares students for professional excellence backed by a superior academic curriculum and practical, real-world experiences in niche industries including the art, business, fashion and beauty sectors. SF/FA’s rigorous and adaptable academic programs, experiential learning and ingenious partnerships enable students to tap into their potential and become the next generation of bright and passionate professionals and entrepreneurs in the fashion and beauty industries.
South Florida Fashion Academy is recognized and celebrated as an institution in which students and instructors transcend traditional margins to stimulate leading edge innovations. South Florida Fashion Academy employs experienced professional artists from around the world to develop and educate contemporary concepts backed by cutting-edge training. Students receive instruction on how to become proficient in the arts, business, fashion, and beauty industries with a strong focus on excelling in all necessary required academic areas mandated by the state. South Florida Fashion Academy fosters creativity and career focus while also embracing inclusivity, sustainability and a sense of community. Academic programs are designed for high school students to enter their post-secondary eduction or the workforce with advanced knowledge and the ability to succeed in their preferred industry with core entrepreneurial skills.
Key Pillars
By focusing on three key pillars, South Florida Fashion Academy is shaping the next generation of industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators:
1. Academic and Creative Excellence
South Florida Fashion Academy provides students a rigorous learning experience built on the highest standards of excellence and a nurturing, inclusive and safe environment that promotes creativity and experimentation. Additionally, our academy provides diverse provisional learning backed by a variety of industry partnerships.
2. An Innovation Facility
South Florida Fashion Academy’s staff continuously work within the art, fashion and beauty industries worldwide to help address key challenges, ultimately building a stronger community empowering culture, innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration that ultimately translates creative ideas into action. Our facility and equipment mirror industry standards.
3. An Empowering Student Community
South Florida Fashion Academy will build and maintain an inclusive community in which students engage with, learn from, and inspire each other—discovering how their differences and similarities promote creativity, intellectual and personal growth, and understanding. Essentially formulating the foundational skills necessary to become efficient in the workforce and/ or life.
FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS
Our faculty and staff consist of experienced, knowledgeable, innovative and talented individuals. The success of South Florida Fashion Academy is a direct result of our distinguished culture that values diversity of thought and people, groundbreaking educational opportunities for our students, encouraging an inclusive environment of unrivaled creativity, innovation and integrity in everything we do. South Florida Fashion Academy’s teachers have a Bachelors degree or higher, over three years of teaching experience, special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in 6-12th grade subjects.
Taj McGill, Founder & Executive Director
South Florida Fashion Academy was founded in 2018 by Taj McGill, who originally rose to prominence as a celebrity fashion stylist. As a Fort Lauderdale native, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the Art Institute and has used her dynamic, multifaceted expertise to build the region’s leading fashion, beauty, and business dual-enrollment, private school for creative students in grades 6th through 12th. As a state of the art high school dual-enrollment program, Taj has been able to build a team, culture and study body that offers the industry’s best tools, strategies and courses that enable students to unlock their potential and harness their crafts in the fashion, beauty, arts and business sectors.
SF/FA was originally conceived when Taj tapped into her natural entrepreneurial instincts and merged her love for impressionable, creative kids and fashion to create an innovative academy for middle and high school students. As a mother of two and lover of the Arts, the concept of creating an innovative educational institution that nurtures creative kids and their love for fashion, beauty, and business was something she knew could empower the next generation of creatives in the various fields of fashion and beauty. Instead of asking for a seat at the table, Taj did what she has often been known to do– she created her own table and started her own school. Since then, she has scaled the academy from the ground up with a passionate and dedicated team and staff into a successful school offering a variety of specialized programs. In fact, Taj has always valued and believed in entrepreneurship so much that she developed and launched the SF/FA Business and Entrepreneurship program in 2023. Taj’s primary goal with the academy is to provide students at an early age with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to develop their fashion or beauty passions into businesses from concept to creation and become knowledgeable, profitable business owners.
Taj’s expansive career isn’t limited to just one industry– she also has a background as a media personality and digital radio host having previously founded and hosted Talk is Chic Radio. Through her own media platform, she often spotlighted emerging artists and interviewed iconic figures dominating the fashion and beauty industries. In addition, Taj previously hosted Style in the City, a networking gala and fashion showcase annually held at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Impressively, she has always found a way to consistently tap into her creativity and build businesses that deliver unique value and offer a positive staple in the industry and local community.
Overall, Taj is a firm believer in continuously and proactively cultivating an inclusive culture and educational atmosphere in which students of all backgrounds and walks of life feel confident and safe enough to embrace their creativity. Taj is also an advocate for enforcing programs that uplift mental health wellness, emotional intelligence development, and fitness with the belief that these core fundamentals enable students to receive the best education possible.
Taj is continuously recognized for her dedication, hard work and impact on the South Florida community, especially when it comes to education and fashion. She has received a variety of humble recognitions including being named 40 under 40 Leaders of Today & Tomorrow by M.I.A. Media’s Legacy Magazine.She was the Innovator of the Year recipient of the Annual Thelma Gibson Awards and currently serves on the Presidential Advisory Board for Women’s Chamber of Commerce (WCC) of Miami-Dade County. In addition, she was given her own official “Taj McGill Day” on April 18th, 2023 by Broward County Commissioners for her positive and uplifting impact within the community. Taj was also a recipient of the Robert Roscioli Heritage Award.
Taj is a major advocate for giving back to the local community and supporting others through proactive initiatives, which is why she launched the McGill Scholarship Fund in 2021. Through this scholarship fund, Taj awards hard-working, qualifying Black, Brown and Latino SF/FA incoming students in the South Florida region with scholarships to cover additional tuition expenses. The annual McGill Scholarship Fund was created by Taj in honor of her parents, John and Marie McGill, who helped positively shape her perspective on life at a young age. Under Taj’s leadership, SF/FA is now entering the new 2024-2025 school year and will award various McGill Scholarships for the fourth consecutive year.
In the beginning of SF/FA (2018), local South Florida kids interested in fashion and beauty attended weekend programs developed for creative teens. Fast forward four years later and Taj is proud to continue scaling the academy into a fast-paced, ever-growing full-time, private, dual-enrollment middle and high school. SF/FA is known as a premiere secondary school, providing students with an exceptional core curriculum and specialization in fashion or beauty as required by the state of Florida.
Current students enrolled at SF/FA receive an exceptional education in core subjects such as math, science, history, etc. while studying fashion design| merchandising or a specific beauty specialty while obtaining college credits towards a fashion and/or business degree. Additional options include obtaining a diploma and state of Florida license in barbering, cosmetology, nail technology, or skin care. SF/FA teachers hold Bachelor degrees and/or Master’s degrees and offer their students extensive experience and insight.
Taj continues to combine her esteemed experience in fashion with a keen business acumen and electric persona to break down barriers and set an example in the education space. She remains committed to uplifting young, talented students with the very best education and unique opportunities through programmatic courses and practical, real-world internships. Overall, SF/FA is an innovative fashion and beauty academy that is dedicated to birthing the next generation of creative professionals in the South Florida region.
To learn more about Taj McGill and SF/FA, please follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn. Follow South Florida Fashion Academy on Instagram for regular updates from teachers, students and more.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
South Florida Fashion Academy maintains a current and visible group of industry professionals that consist of business professionals, fashion insiders, beauty experts, community leaders, and passionate educators who provide guidance and feedback on the academic delivery method, latest equipment, and product services utilized within our programs. These external members provide SF/FA information, advice and assistance to our academic departments on issues of importance that improve our programs. Persons appointed to an advisory board have relevant knowledge or subject expertise in the field or hold positions with related to the field of their expertise. This ultimately enables our creative students an academic environment they can achieve a competitive advantage now and in their future careers within industries that are fast-paced and ever-changing global markets.
Keya Martin
Luxury Fashion Shoe Designer & Entrepreneur
Member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
www.keeyahri.com
Lathosha Alexander, MSW, LCSW, CPC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Entrepreneur,
Healthy Minds, Happy Hearts Therapeutic Services
Core Values
