A Story Worth Telling

      A small town nestled deep in the national forest was once alive and full of spirit. One school, one church, one-stop sign, and many homes are not visible because they are at the end of old dirt roads. The heart of the community was rooted in traditions, the children, the ballgames, and the sense of family. Generations for decades attended Paron School. You could see your grandparent's class pictures hanging on the walls. Students were comfortable learning and school was their second home. Everyone in town came out to show support at the basketball games. When you walked into the gym, the place was alive. The smell of burgers cooking at the concession stand, purple and gold popped everywhere. Kids were laughing and playing. Adults from every generation were catching up. The players played with their whole hearts. A sense of community ran through their veins.

 

The Consolidation

2004- the year the Paron School campus began to battle for its existence. The very lives of children and everything they knew were starting to fall apart. Families were forced to move from a town they were deeply rooted in. Ballgames ceased to exist, which took the breath out of the lion. Children were and still are bussed for over an hour. Childhood friends and neighbors were forced to attend schools scattered over Saline, Perry, and Pulaski counties. The community fought hard to keep the school. The campus was salvaged. It has been waiting for a new innovative school to bring back the children and retell the story. Now here we stand. The children of this town are speaking out. A Paron School graduate comes back. The community rises from the ashes.

The Lion Returns

The children that were forced out of their school are now in middle and high school, and they are speaking out. The former graduates from Paron School are now adults with their own children and they are coming forward. The people who fought to keep their school and their town have returned. They are awoken by the roar. They are driven by the children's voices. It is time to revive the heart of a ghost town. It is time to tell the story. It is time for the lion to return.

Moving Forward

Through the efforts and voices of many, the idea of Paron Charter School is born. There is a golden opportunity to tell the story of what was, and create a new story of what is to come. Some aspects are untouchable. The Lion will remain, scarred but strong. Purple and gold will be brighter than ever. The community will grow and heal together. The campus will be authentic in nature.

 

Some aspects will be molded to fit the current need. A campus of innovation, discovery, and exploration is being intricately planned for the children and families that rose from the ashes. Campus highlights include agriculture, skill-based classrooms, community teachers, student-led events, outdoor classrooms, integrated learning opportunities, learning labs, stem activities, field lessons, a holistic approach, and instructional strategies based on the modalities of intelligence derived from Howard Gardner.

 

The curriculum will be rich in agriculture, stem, and the arts with each student's interest and learning style woven into every lesson. There will be a systematic approach to learning while ensuring the student's interests and needs are at the core. This will be a charter school unlike any other. We are making a stand, join us on our journey.