In the September 2022 edition of SRQ Magazine, we interviewed Dr. Chuck Fradley, Principal of Rowlett Academy as part of our In Conversation feature with educational leaaders about current trends in education. Below is an excerpt published in the magazine in which Fradley shares his insights with SRQ readers.

Dr. Fradley, when Rowlett was founded, was the original foundation around the Seven Habits philosophy and the Lighthouse philosophy and arts? Were those from day one, or have those evolved?

Rowlett has a very interesting background. The school actually opened in 2000 as a public charter school in Manatee County. The magnet draw was communication and arts, and the leadership at that point in time brought in the Seven Habits philosophy for our kids. Over the course of the years, it just got super strong. And then in 2014, the Manatee County School District was looking at making all their schools offer the same programs, which would've really hurt the programs that Rowlett offered. That's why we became a charter school– to continue to offer those programs. And hence, that's where the Lighthouse School designation came through. Every day, our kids get 30 minutes of what we call lead time, deal time--drop everything and lead. They work on different projects that make the community better or the school better. I get petitions all the time to do different things, so our kids are showing leadership in lots of ways. But yes, it's actually been since the school was a normal district school, and we've just been able to continue to fund it since we've gone charter. We had the autonomy to do so. As a district school, you had to do what you were told to do. As a charter school, I control where our resources go, and that's very important to us. 

To read the full article, click here.