Anna Julia Cooper School Founder Retires as School Expands in Richmond
Mike Maruca, the founder of the Anna Julia Cooper School in Richmond, has retired after leading the institution for 17 years. The school, which began with 25 students in a two-story house, has grown into a significant educational institution offering tuition-free, faith-based education to students from impoverished neighborhoods. Recently, the school opened a new $14 million building, allowing it to expand its student body to 300. The school was initially a project of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, aiming to address educational disparities in the East End of Richmond. 
