A Look at
Charter Schools by Emily Webb
Some kids were born to be performers. Some love playing outside and taking care of animals. Some may love mathematics or learning a new language. A charter school may help your child grow his talents. Here’s a snapshot of some charter schools from a parent’s perspective.
Specialized Focus At DeKalb Academy of Technology and the Environment, students manage and take care of chickens, goats and gardens. They’re engaged in technology through programming, coding, websites and blogs. For six weeks, every grade focuses on a specific environmental theme, such as pollution or endangered animals, and they’re also taught outside the classroom by environmental specialists. “It’s a different feeling to see so many students always excited about coming to school and to feel like they’re making a difference by teaching their parents and peers in community what they’re learning at school,” says Maury Wills, the CEO. Marlena Lundie’s son, Nicolas, has been enrolled at DATE since first grade. He’s now an eighth grader. Lundie considered charter schools when she wasn’t satisfied with the options in her area, but private school was too costly. She knew other parents had moved to charter schools, so she researched what would be a good alternative for her son. She chose DATE for the diverse student population, its reputation with parents and the sense of community. She also knew the focused curriculum would fit her son. “He’s always been interested in taking things apart. He liked to build stuff. If something was broken, he would try to figure out how to fix it. He was inquisitive about the mechanics of stuff,” she says. “He likes the STEAM program because his mind works like that. With the career path, he gets to be more hands-on in the engineering aspect.” The freedom afforded to charter schools allows teachers to design curriculum around what students are interested in. “We help them understand how they can help their community and become stewards, giving them a global and competitive edge,” Wills says. “It’s different from prescribed curriculums, as parents, teachers and students get to collaborate.” n DeKalb Academy of Technology and the Environment. Start-up
charter. STEAM, environment and agriculture. Enrollment: 745 students. 1492 Kelton Dr., Stone Mountain. dekalbacademy.org
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74 Atlanta Parent January 2020
[ Focus on Education ]
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