A high-quality rural education model

Challenge: A decade ago high-quality rural education models were nearly nonexistent in Oklahoma. While urban education reform had progressed, rural communities lacked access to charter and specialized school models.

Solution: Gardenhire helped lead the funding, strategy, and coalition-building to launch The Academy of Seminole, which has now expanded into the Academies of Oklahoma model. His work included:

• Provided startup philanthropic support to launch the school.

• Brought together business leaders and policymakers on the ground in the rural community of Seminole to secure long-term viability.

Impact:

• The Academy of Seminole evolved into the Academies of Oklahoma, creating a new framework for rural charter expansion.

• Oklahoma’s first successful rural charter school (and a unique model nationally) launched, paving the way for future growth.

• Positioned the model for replication, ensuring future expansion across rural regions.

This initiative filled a crucial gap in Oklahoma’s education reform movement, bringing school choice to areas that had previously lacked options.