The governor and the state superintendent of education were in Lexington last week trumpeting a new tuition-free charter school as what’s needed in South Carolina public education.

Superintendent Ellen Weaver and Gov. Henry McMaster, both vocal school choice advocates, were among the speakers when the new Lexington location of American Leadership Academy, located off S Lake Drive off Interstate 20, held a welcome event for the first group of families enrolling at the school on Aug. 10.

The school has publically set its intention to create a moral and wholesome learning environment, building from a foundation of patriotism and RAISE (Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Service, and Excellence) leadership values.

Its lobby is set to feature a picture of George Washington kneeling along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The campus features two schools, one for grades K-6 and another for grades 7-12. It will welcome its first students Aug 21.

“You all are doing the most important work that could ever be done in preserving this America that we love, the greatest and freest nation on the face of the earth,” Weaver said. “And because of the students who are educated at this school, I have great hope for the future of South Carolina and for the future of America.

“I just want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire education community in South Carolina, to welcome you to the education family, the public education family, here in our state,” she added. “When I listen to the values that you all are built on here at ALA, I can't help but think that this is what public education was always intended to be.”

American Leadership Academy founder Glenn Way told the crowd that the Lexington school is not against other schools in the state but rather supports them. He added that the school has a right to exist and give parents the option to choose their child's education.

"If I don't fight, then they win,” Way said of what sparked the academy that sprawls increasingly far across the country, with schools in Arizona, North Carolina and Virginia in addition to its first in South Carolina.

“I’m telling you that we have to fight for what we have in this country. We have seen such an erosion on public discourse, an erosion on civility, and we've seen such an erosion on, ‘If someone doesn't agree with me, then I have to destroy that person just to sit there and give what I want,’ and we don't have to do that.”

The academy has announced plans to open locations in Greenville, North Augusta and Rock Hill in the next two years.

Those in attendance also heard from Bill Guttery, CEO for Charter One, the education management organization that backs American Leadership Academy and similar charter schools across the country, providing services including, operations, curriculum, accounting, academics and marketing, according to their website.

According to Guttery, the state has a pent-up demand for this type of education, as many parents want this for their children.

“This has been a long time coming,” he said.

During his speech, McMaster told those in attendance that there is no better place in the whole world to live, work and raise a family than South Carolina, positioning schools like American Leadership Academy as key to keeping it that way.

“This school has a good foundation,” he said, pushing beyond earlier comments about the literal strong foundations of the recently constructed buildings on campus. “We are building a good foundation for our children. They will go astray. … One thing that I am delighted to hear that you will be emphasizing here with these children will be understanding is the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence.”

The governor later posited that understanding the Constitution should make students wary of examples of overreach like “the coronavirus mandates required by the federal government. It did not make one bit of sense. Every state’s different. We in this state, we followed the Constitution and common sense and we didn’t shut down.”

“Be sure to tell your children this is the best place to be, and the future is theirs,” he said, “because of institutions like this and leaders like those you’ve built.”

Two parents, Jennifer and Johnathan Owens, told the Chronicle that they were attracted to the school's values and emphasis on leadership, with Johnathan saying that the structure of the curriculum was appealing.

“Everything seems to align with our morals and our faith,” Johnathan said, “even though it's not a faith-based school, it aligns with our faith.”

Three of the Owens’ children will be attending school, and they hope their youngest, who just began walking, will follow in their footsteps. Jennifer said that they are making the transition from public schools, saying they’re excited to get their students away from those institutions, and their emphasis on technology.

Their daughter, Karis, who will start middle school at American Leadership, seconded this, saying she is excited to use books rather than technology, adding that she is more comfortable with the environment.

According to Guttery, it’s important for parents to have the choice in their children's education, mentioning that his six children went to both public and charter schools.

“I would say to parents that if this is the best fit for your child, if your child would thrive in this environment, then I would say bring them, but if your child is thriving someplace else, let them thrive there,” he told the Chronicle.

“That's the beauty of choice in education is we don't think there's one recipe for every single kid,” he added. “We believe that families deserve a choice.” 

Last December, the school reported that it was adding 11th and 12th grade to its initial selection of K-10 in response to public interest.

Guttery told the Chronicle that this kind of interest is parents telling them they need help.

“I think in today's world that's filled with a lot of misinformation, a lot of different philosophies, I think reading, math, social studies and history, it's just important to go back to the basics and teach kids what they really need to be successful adults,” he said.