The Founder
For more than 40 years, Mr. Jose Acevedo has been walking alongside students — listening to their stories, helping them find their footing in high school, and guiding them toward college and beyond. As a guidance counselor in Morristown for 23 years, he came face to face with both the incredible promise students carry and the entrenched barriers standing in their way. He worked tirelessly to ensure their potential grew into success.
Upon retiring, Mr. Acevedo offered his services pro-bono to continue assisting capable students who routinely lack the access and support needed to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education.
For 13 years, he has remained committed to ensuring that every motivated student has access to the resources they need to succeed, guiding over 250 students from diverse backgrounds toward higher education and personal growth.
.png)
I like to think of Mr. Acevedo as the angel sent my way to help me realize my worth and my capabilities. Today, I am a college graduate and now an ESL teacher. Not only do I work at the school where our journey began, but I also dedicate my time to helping Mr.Acevedo mentor students who are walking in the same shoes I once wore. He is a man who vows to change students’ lives academically, professionally, and personally—expecting absolutely nothing in return. Mr. Acevedo is the person who changed my life, and I will always be grateful to him. It is an honor to work alongside him and help grow a program he has worked tirelessly to build and maintain.
- Jenifer Escobar Class of ‘20
A's Academics and College Counseling Program is now a registered nonprofit led by a board of directors made up of Mr. Acevedo's former students, as well as parents, teachers and community members.
Our credibility is not a resume — it is a shared lived experience. We are the outcome of this program, and we are committed to ensuring that every future student who joins the A’s program has the same opportunity we did.
Jose Acevedo
John Castro
Mateo Cardona
Jenifer Escobar
Cristina Umanzor