Academy Charter principal a 'Life Changer'

PALMER — Academy Charter School principal and founder Barbara Gerard has been named a “life changer.”

Every year, the National Life Group receives hundreds of nominations for its “LifeChanger of the Year” award, which honors teachers and school employees for “making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership,” according to an Oct. 8 press release.

Academy Charter parent Calaway Thatcher is credited for Gerard’s nomination.

“She exhibits a tremendous amount of loyalty, selflessness and community leadership. Her school is her baby and has been a 5 star school since the rating system began. Her faculty love her, 100 percent of her students graduate high school and a large percentage continue on to college,” the nomination reads in part.

Thatcher cited school trips to Juneau and China — directed by Gerard and made possible by the financial support of parents — as a couple merits of the 20-year principal and the school.

Gerard and her husband Joe, a school psychologist, have lived in Alaska since 1980. In 1984, after the birth of their first child, Gerard left her position at Butte Elementary and the couple opened Profiles in Excellence Preschool in their home, adding on a daycare the following year. This outfit essentially became the launching pad for Academy Charter, as many of the school’s first students came from Gerard’s preschool.

The preschool now has two buildings in Palmer, and Academy Charter, which started with 20 kindergarteners in 1996, currently serves 241 students in grades k-8.

“It just evolved,” Gerard said in a Tuesday interview.

Becoming a teacher or principal of a charter school hadn’t been a lifelong dream of hers, she said, but a career in education did seem to play to her strengths.

“I always knew I wanted to help kids have better lives,” she said. “This school really helps them for their whole life.”

At least one parent has vouched for that, according to Gerard. She said one parent called her a year or so ago to tell her that her 20-something son had graduated from college and just bought his first house and a new car. The mother said it was thanks, in part, to her son’s early education at Academy Charter.

Kelly Miller, who had Gerard as a teacher at Swanson Elementary before Gerard went to work at Butte, has had three children go through Academy Charter, the oldest of whom is now in high school. Miller also worked as a substitute teacher at the school often prior to having kids, giving her an all-around perspective of Gerard and the school.

“I got to see what a great thing they had going before I even had children myself,” she said.

One thing that influenced Miller to bring her children to Academy Charter was its requirement of parent volunteer hours.

“I like to be really involved in my kids education, so for me it was a perfect fit,” she said.

Gerard herself drew Miller to the school, too.

“She just has a way with the little ones especially,” Miller said. “They really look up to her and admire her.”

Even though her youngest daughter doesn’t seem to fully comprehend what a school principal is, Miller said, it’s clear she’s had a positive experience with Gerard.

“My Kindergartener is enamored with Mrs. Gerard and she is excited to be greeted by her each morning,” she said. “I remember having that experience as a student, too.”

Gerard and longtime volunteer Donna “Grandma” Adams also go way back. Adams, who is the school’s secretary this year, had only good things to say about her boss and Academy Charter.

“We call her Wonderwoman,” Adams said. “She’s a great mentor, the children love her — I just can’t say enough. She really is a great boss. Very understanding.”

This school year is the first since Academy Charter opened that Adams has not had a grandchild attending, she said — though all the students call her Grandma — but she just couldn’t bring herself to leave.

“I’ve worked a lot of jobs, and she is just not a typical boss,” Adams said. “She’s very appreciative.”

Gerard didn’t want to take all the credit for her school’s success, however.

“It’s because of my staff,” she said. “I’m good at picking good staff.”

Perhaps keeping things in perspective has also helped.

“I am third,” Gerard said. “God is first, friends and family are second, and I am third.”

And where does Academy Charter stand?

Gerard had to laugh.

“My kids and my family would probably say that there have been many times … that Academy is right after God.”

As one of six Alaska nominees and 64 total nominees nationwide vying for 10 LifeChanger awards, Gerard still has a ways to go to win funds for herself and her school. Initial winners take home $1,500 for personal use and $1,500 for their school, with more prize money awarded to the top four. The overall national winner is awarded $10,000 (again split 50/50 with the school).

A LifeChanger Spirit Award of $5,000 will be awarded to one teacher/school who receives the most community support via social media or directly in their hometown with pep rallies, posters, etc.

For more information on the awards, visit bit.ly/1NHMBaR.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.