Sauer plans new charter schools

After leaving the academy in June, Mary Catherine Sauer is now heading up a charter school management company

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Revolution Academy founder and former principal Mary Catherine Sauer recently left the public charter school in Summerfield and is heading a charter school management company that is seeking state approval to start three schools. If authorized by the North Carolina Board of Education, she said, a school proposed for Rockingham County would open a year from now. The two others in the High Point area and southeastern Guilford County would begin operating in August 2024.

Sauer said she left Revolution Academy at the end of June, but declined to discuss her reasons. The Summerfield resident helped organize the school in 2019. As principal, she oversaw its temporary operation in the Church on 68 in Greensboro until the opening of its campus on N.C. 150 in March 2021.

Sauer ended her duties as the academy’s principal this past March, turning over the responsibilities to Michele Harris. At that time, Sauer indicated she was taking charge of efforts to establish a charter high school that would serve Revolution Academy and other area students.

According to Sauer, the academy has a waiting list of about 900 students seeking admission, confirming the need for more charter schools and explaining why she’s seeking to open three charter schools as executive director of American Traditional Academies.

The charter school management company was formed with several others who have experience in the industry. According to the company’s website, Sauer serves as managing partner with Taft Morley, who arranged financing for Revolution Academy as chief operating officer of American Charter Development, a Springville, Utah-based developer and financier of charter schools.

Planning for the Rockingham County school – called Legacy Classical Academy – is underway with an informational meeting scheduled in Reidsville later this month, according to American Traditional Academies’ website.

Sauer’s experience organizing charter schools goes back a decade. She started Cornerstone Charter Academy in northwestern Greensboro in 2012 and Piedmont Classical High School in Browns Summit three years later.

Based upon her experience, Sauer said she believes charter schools operate more efficiently when affiliated with management companies as opposed to operating independently, as Revolution Academy does.

John Nosek, chair of Revolution Academy’s board of directors, and Vice Chair Jon Kreider didn’t reply to an email seeking comment for this article.

M.C. Sauer

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