Written by Cameron Runyan, CEO and Superintendent at the Charter Institute at Erskine
“I will learn the True, I will do the Good, and I will love the Beautiful.” These are the goals written in every classroom at Carolina Classical Academy (CCA) in Rock Hill, SC. These aspirations encapsulate the heart of the classical education model. Classically educated children are taught the virtues and values that are time-proven to produce excellence and human flourishing in all aspects of life – both in and beyond the classroom.
The story of CCA is not only one of the flourishing of children, but also a story of adults persevering in the face of great adversity for the benefit of CCA’s students. At its founding, CCA (then known as Ascent Classical Academy) was managed by an outside company that promised to deliver educational excellence and operational competence. A series of decisions by the then management company led to a mass exodus of nearly half of the school’s families in the middle of the school year. The precipitous loss of students led to a collapse of the school’s economic viability because, unlike tax rich traditional public schools which receive local tax revenues regardless of student enrollment, charter schools only receive state funding for children who are actually attending the school. Faced with these realities, the Charter Institute, as the school’s authorizer, began the unfortunate but necessary process to close the school.
With an apparent realization that the Institute’s accountability protocol was prepared to bring an end to the problems, the management company that had worked with the school since its founding chose not to solve the challenges and instead abruptly terminated its contract with CCA over spring break. Simultaneously, the school’s teachers were terminated by the company and critical academic and security systems were rendered inaccessible to the school. At the same time, all but one governing board member resigned, leaving the school without a legal governing body. However, with overwhelming support from the remaining parents and community members, the Institute immediately stepped in and stabilized operations before children returned at the end of spring break week. Teachers who had been terminated were rehired; critical academic and technology systems were restored; and three new members were appointed to reconstitute the governing board. Working collaboratively, the Institute, school leadership, and community members corrected longstanding structural problems and established the foundation for a sustainable future. Today, Carolina Classical Academy is preparing to welcome hundreds of eager families and children in August for the new school year. This effort now stands as one of the greatest turnaround stories in the history of public education.
The remarkable transformation of Carolina Classical Academy is a testimony to the impact of strong accountability coupled with competent support and dedicated parents and community members who refuse to quit despite seemingly insurmountable problems. This rare combination of factors is unique to the school choice sector where schools are not allowed to fail for decades like many in the traditional system.
The school’s remarkable recovery also earned the praise of local Senator Wes Climer, who worked closely with the Institute to support the children and families at the school during its most challenging days. In a letter to the Board Chair, the Senator wrote, “Carolina Classical Academy’s rapid turnaround is truly extraordinary and demonstrates the power of parental choice and control in education. With the Charter Institute at Erskine’s support, they now have a thriving school that delivers exceptional classical education for their children.”
The story of Carolina Classical Academy is only one of success because everyone involved with the school’s salvation was committed to the continued flourishing of children rather than the perpetuation of failing systems, processes, and motivations that prioritized the welfare of adults over students. I am honored to serve as the Superintendent for this great school and look forward to welcoming hundreds of eager children back to their school this fall where they will once again learn a love of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
