By Antonio Henriques
At Sherman Thomas Charter School, it’s all about atmosphere. Compared to public institutions, the school puts emphasis on a more community, family-based approach to students as a way to enhance their learning experience.
Since opening in 2003, school founder Roger Leach has emphasized the need for kids to feel at home and feel they are part of a family.
“Kids at big schools sometimes get involved in things as a result of peer pressure and have a bad time at a large campus,” Leach said. “I wanted to develop a country-school attitude where the teacher really gets to know the student and parents can be involved as well in helping out in classrooms or coordinating field trips.”
For Leach, 65, the inspiration for the charter came from teaching at schools such as Tulare High, Mt. San Antonio College and Merced College. While at Merced, his father suffered a heart attack, leaving him to take over the family ranch. At this time, Leach felt a calling from the ministry and founded Valley West Christian Center in Madera where he continues to serve as pastor after 28 years...